Learn how to make refreshing lemon mint and cucumber water with just a few fresh ingredients. It's a simple way to add flavor to plain water, and it only takes a few minutes to prep a big pitcher.
Fresh lemon slices, cucumber slices, and mint leaves infuse the water with a light and crisp flavor that's perfect for summer, parties, or everyday sipping. You can enjoy it right away, but the cucumber and mint flavor will be faint at first. It tastes best after chilling for at least 1 hour.
This lemon cucumber mint water recipe is more of a starting point than a strict formula. The ratio below is what my family and I enjoy, but you can add more lemon for a stronger citrus flavor, use extra mint, or reduce the ingredients for a lighter flavor. For more refreshing drinks, try my passion fruit mocktail, pineapple slushie, cucumber lemon ginger water, or pineapple cucumber smoothie with kiwi.
Jump to:
Recipe features
- Easy to customize with more or less lemon, cucumber, or mint to suit your taste.
- A simple way to naturally flavor water when plain water sounds boring.
- Made with fresh, simple ingredients like cucumber slices, lemon, fresh mint, and water.
- No added sugar - just a light, refreshing and hydrating beverage.
Ingredient notes
Please see the recipe card below for exact measurements for the infused water.
Cucumbers - We tested with both English and garden cucumbers. Either one works, but we thought garden cucumbers gave the infused water a stronger cucumber flavor.
English cucumbers have thin skin and small seeds. They're usually longer and sold wrapped in plastic. Garden cucumbers are common in North America and have thicker skin and larger seeds. The skin of garden cucumbers can also be bitter, so taste it if you're unsure.
After testing, we didn't find peeling necessary for cucumber water, but leaving the peel on adds a pretty pop of green with the lemon slices. If your garden cucumber is waxed, you may want to peel it first. Thinly slice the cucumber and discard the ends before adding it to the pitcher.
Lemon - Thinly slice 1 medium lemon, removing the seeds as you go. If your lemon is large or extra-large, you may not need to use the whole thing. Keep the rind intact when slicing so the lemon slices hold together in the pitcher, which helps prevent too many pieces of pulp from floating in the water.
Mint - Fresh mint adds a bright, refreshing flavor, but it can become overpowering if you use too much. For 6 cups of water, I use about 12 fresh mint leaves, but you can easily add more or less to taste. Choose fresh green leaves without brown spots.
I've only tested the recipe with spearmint, since that's what I usually find at my local grocery store. If you use a stronger mint, like peppermint, start with less and adjust as needed.
How to make lemon mint and cucumber water
1. Wash the cucumber, lemon, and mint leaves first.
2. Thinly slice ½ of a cucumber and 1 medium lemon, then add the slices to a large pitcher with the fresh mint leaves. I skip the lemon end slices that are mostly peel and pith.
3. Pour 6 cups of water over the cucumber slices, lemon slices, and mint leaves. You can enjoy the water right away, but the cucumber and mint flavor will be faint. It tastes best after chilling in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour, so the flavors have time to infuse.
4. Once the first batch is used, you can refill the pitcher with more cold water and reuse the ingredients. The second batch will have a lighter flavor.
How long to infuse cucumber lemon and mint water
You can drink the cucumber mint water right away, but it tastes best after chilling for at least 1 hour. This gives the cucumber, lemon, and mint time to infuse into the water.
For a stronger flavor, let it chill for 2 to 4 hours. If you let it sit overnight, the flavor will be more concentrated, especially if the water level gets low. Add more cold water if the flavor becomes too strong.
Tips for the best flavor
- Slice thinly. Thin cucumber and lemon slices infuse into the water faster.
- Remove the lemon seeds and skip the end slices, which are mostly peel and pith. This helps keep the flavor fresh instead of bitter.
- Use fresh mint leaves without brown spots for the best flavor.
- Chill before serving. The water tastes best cold, and the flavor gets stronger as it sits. Serve over ice if drinking right away, but keep in mind that melted ice can dilute the flavor.
- Taste and adjust. Add more lemon, cucumber, or mint for a stronger flavor. Add more cold water if the flavor is too strong.
- Top off the pitcher as needed. As the water level gets lower, the flavor becomes more concentrated.
- Use a large enough pitcher. I use a 2-quart pitcher, which gives the water, lemon, cucumber, and mint plenty of room.
- Keep the ingredients below the water line so they stay fresh and continue to infuse the water.
Troubleshooting
Too weak? Let it infuse longer, or add more cucumber, lemon, or mint.
Too strong? Add more cold water or remove some of the lemon and mint.
Too bitter? Remove lemon seeds, skip the end lemon slices, and peel thick-skinned garden cucumbers if the peel tastes bitter.
Mint turning brown? Fresh mint can darken as it sits. Once the water tastes flat or the mint turns brown, make a fresh batch.
Variations
Enjoy the lemon mint leaves cucumber water as is, or change up the flavor with one of these simple variations.
- Use ½ grapefruit instead of lemon for a slightly sweeter, more bittersweet citrus flavor.
- Try Meyer lemons for a softer, slightly sweeter lemon flavor.
- Swap the citrus and use lime instead of lemon for a brighter, tangier cucumber and mint water.
- Add sliced strawberries for a fruity twist. Keep in mind that berries soften faster than cucumbers, so the water is best enjoyed within 1 day.
- Add fresh raspberries for a lightly sweet-tart flavor and a pretty pink tint. Like strawberries, raspberries are delicate and may shorten the storage time.
- Add thinly sliced fresh peaches for a lightly sweet, refreshing summer drink. Peaches will soften as they sit, so this variation is best enjoyed within 1 day.
Storage
Lemon mint and cucumber infused water will last about 2 days in the refrigerator. Once the first batch is used, you can top off the pitcher with more cold water and reuse the ingredients once. The second batch will have a lighter flavor, so let it sit again for at least an hour to help the cucumber, lemon, and mint infuse into the water.
When the water starts to taste weak or flavorless, it's time to make a fresh batch. I also make a new batch when the mint leaves start to turn brown. If you want to enjoy it right away, serve it over ice. Just keep in mind that as the ice melts, it can dilute the flavor.
Lemon water with cucumber and mint FAQs
Yes, you can make a single glass. Use 12 to 16 ounces of water, 1 to 2 thin lemon slices, about 4 thin cucumber slices, and 2 to 3 mint leaves. Let it sit for at least 10 to 15 minutes before drinking, or longer for a stronger flavor.
Yes, you can use sparkling water, but it's best to add it right before serving so it stays bubbly. If you plan on adding sparkling water later, reduce the amount of still water when infusing the cucumber, lemon, and mint to make a more concentrated batch.
Then pour half a glass of infused water, and top off the other half with sparkling water before serving.
I haven't tested this recipe with bottled lemon juice, so I can't say for sure how well it would work. Fresh lemon slices usually give the freshest flavor. Bottled lemon juice can taste sharper and more concentrated, so it won't have the same light and fresh flavor.
Yes, you can reuse the cucumber, lemon, and mint once by topping off the pitcher with more cold water. The second batch will have a lighter flavor, so let it chill again to help the ingredients infuse.
Once the water tastes weak, the mint turns brown, or the cucumber and lemon start to look tired, it's best to make a fresh batch.
Related recipes
- Banana and carrot smoothie
- Arugula smoothie
- Spinach pineapple smoothie
- Pineapple beet smoothie
- Orange carrot ginger smoothie
- Ginger lemon and cucumber water
I hope you enjoy the infused water. If you did, please feel free to rate the recipe and leave a comment.
Recipe
Lemon Mint and Cucumber Water
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 6 cups 1x
- Diet: Vegan
Description
Learn how to make refreshing lemon mint and cucumber water with just a few fresh ingredients. It's a simple way to add flavor to plain water, and it only takes a few minutes to prep a big pitcher.
Ingredients
- 6 cups (1.42 liters) water
- ½ cucumber, sliced thinly
- 1 medium lemon, sliced thinly
- 12 medium fresh mint leaves (I use spearmint)
Instructions
- Wash the produce first. Then thinly slice ½ of a cucumber and a lemon.
- Add the slices along with the mint to a large pitcher. I skip the lemon end slices that have no pulp and are just pith and peel.
- Then pour 6 cups of water into a large pitcher.
- Store in the refrigerator for 1 hour to chill and let the flavors infuse into the water.
- Consume within 2 days.
Notes
If you use a stronger mint, like peppermint, start with less and adjust as needed.
If you use the original batch in under two days, top off the pitcher with more water to enjoy a second batch.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: beverage
- Method: no bake
- Cuisine: american
Sophie says
I'm not a big water drinker so I'm trying different infused water recipes to try to drink more water. Thanks for the recipe, it worked well and I really enjoyed the mint!
Allie says
I'm glad you enjoyed the recipe and thank you for leaving a comment!