Plum, Thyme, and Chile Infused Water

Floral plums, woodsy thyme, and fresh chiles add complex flavor in this infused water that’s herbaceous and tart.

By
Leah Colins
A studio portrait of editor Leah Colins.
Leah Colins
Senior Culinary Editor

Leah is the Senior Culinary Editor at Serious Eats, and was previously a recipe developer and editor with America's Test Kitchen for almost 9 years. She has developed recipes for and edited over 20 cookbooks ranging in topic from bread baking to plant-based eating to outdoor grilling and so much more. While there, she also developed recipes and articles for Cooks Illustrated Magazine, Cooks Country Magazine, and ATK's digital platform.Before her life as a recipe developer, she cooked in 5-star and Michelin-starred fine dining establishments from coast to coast such as The Herbfarm and Aubergine Restaurant at L'Auberge Carmel; she also treasures her time flipping burgers on flattops in her teenage years, and baking and boxing cookies and pies at a wonderful family-owned German bakery in her early professional life.

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Published July 13, 2023
Infused water

Serious Eats / Amanda Suarez

Why It Works

  • Mashing a portion of the ingredients with a small amount of water extracts the essential flavors in a short steeping time.
  • Plums add both bright acidity and delicate floral notes to the infused water.
  • A final decorative garnish adds visual appeal and fresh flavor.

Lately, I find myself drawn to slightly savory drinks. Perhaps it’s my aging palate, but my days of sipping cloyingly sweet lemonade or comparable fruit-laden drinks are long behind me. On the rare occasion I escape my two kids to socialize with other adults at a local cocktail bar, my drinks of choice are often spiked with smoky mezcal or peaty whisky and muddled with a generous amount of potent woodsy herbs to drive home that savory kick.

My love of slightly savory drinks has now moved beyond the occasional cocktail and has inspired my hydration routine. In this infused water, the combination of tart plums, woodsy thyme, and a kick of spice from a fresh chile creates a drink that is intentional in its balanced savoriness. The earthy aroma of the thyme and sharp acidity of the plums hits you with the first gulp, but these flavors mellow sip after sip, giving way to the delicate floral notes of the plum and the gentle heat of the chile, which builds slowly while drinking. It makes for a fun and exciting way to stay hydrated that is a welcome change from drinking plain water.

For this recipe, I used the infusion technique I established in my cucumber water recipe, where I muddle and steep the flavoring ingredients with a portion of the water for 30 minutes to one hour before straining and discarding the solids, and topping off with the remaining water before serving. I thinly slice the plums and chiles for mashing, which maximizes surface area while still leaving the pieces large enough to make targeting them with the muddler easy.

Ingredients for infused water in a bowl

Serious Eats / Amanda Suarez

A few delicate slices of plum and fresh chile with a thyme sprig or two is both beautiful and adds a pop of fresh flavor back into the water right before serving. This jewel-toned infused water packs a bit of a punch, but sometimes that’s the motivation I need to stay hydrated.

Recipe Details

Infused Water Recipe

Prep 20 mins
Refrigeration 30 mins
Total 50 mins
Serves 6 to 8

Ingredients

  • 8 cups cold water(1.9L) , divided
  • 3 plums (12 ounces; 340g), halved, pitted, and cut into thin wedges, divided
  • 3 thyme sprigs, plus extra for garnish
  • 1 Fresno or jalapeño chile, stemmed, seeded, and sliced thinly into rounds, divided (see notes)

Directions

  1. In a large bowl or 8-cup liquid measuring cup, combine 1 cup water (236ml), 2/3 of the sliced plums, thyme, and half of the sliced chile. Using a potato masher or muddler, mash plum mixture until broken down and all juice is expressed from plums, about 1 minute.

    Muddling plums, chiles and thyme

    Serious Eats / Amanda Suarez

  2. Stir in 3 cups (710ml) water. Refrigerate covered until flavors meld and mixture is chilled, 30 minutes to 1 hour.

    Pouring water into fruit mixture

    Serious Eats / Amanda Suarez

  3. Strain infused water through a fine-mesh strainer set over a large serving pitcher, pressing on solids to extract as much juice as possible. Discard solids.

    Straining fruit from water in fine mesh strainer

    Serious Eats / Amanda Suarez

  4. Stir in remaining 4 cups (945ml) water. Just before serving, garnish pitcher or individual glasses with remaining plum slices, additional  thyme sprigs and remaining half of the sliced chile. Serve over ice.

    Overhead view of finished water

    Serious Eats / Amanda Suarez

Notes

Other stone fruit such as peaches, nectarines, or apricots may be substituted for the plums.

Adjust the fresh chile amount to your preferred spice level, or omit completely.

Feel free to adjust the amount and cutting technique of the ingredients used as the final garnish in the water. This is your opportunity to be creative and add your personal touch.

For a fun final garnish, serve with decorative ice cubes filled with small pieces of fresh produce or herbs frozen in the center.

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