Drinking plenty of water is important – but it’s hard to get your recommended eight cups per day if you’re not fond of the taste. Luckily, we have some top tips to make water taste better, so staying hydrated feels more like chilling out and less like a chore.
1: Squash
This low-calorie addition to your eight-a-day goes by various names. Whether you call it squash, cordial — or diluting juice if you’re in Scotland — it’s a quick and easy way to add some fruity flavour to your drink.
Squash comes in many different flavours, including popular choices like blackcurrant, orange or elderflower. And if you like fruity drinks, squash is a great way to have your (fruit)cake and eat it too, with much less sugar than your typical fruit juice drink.
2: Infused water
Infusing your water with fruits, vegetables or herbs is a great way to jazz up your H2O – without any added sugar.
Making infused water is easy: simply take a few of your favourite ingredients — like lemon slices, mint or berries — and let them sit in a jug of water for a few hours. The flavours from your ingredients will slowly mix with the water, adding some delicious new tastes.
The great thing about infused water is how much choice you have. In the mood for something crisp and clean on a hot summer’s day? Try adding some cucumber slices to your drink. Craving some citrus? Add orange or lime slices for some fruity flavour. It’s up to you!
3: Herbal tea
Dropping a herbal teabag into a cup of hot water is a great way to make sure you stay hydrated while enjoying the nation’s favourite pastime: drinking tea.
From cooling peppermint tea to spicy ginger tea, tart rosehip tea and more, there are plenty of different herbal options to keep you refreshed.
4: Flavour drops
Flavour drops are additives that dissolve in water. They come in all kinds of different flavours. There are even choices for people with a sweet tooth – like vanilla or caramel-flavoured drops.
Some flavour drops come with added sugar or sweeteners, so make sure you check the ingredients and nutrition labels before you choose. Naturally flavoured drops, made from fruit extracts, are a great way to get the tasty drink you want — without the added calories.
5: Filtered water
Did you know you can change the way your water tastes without adding anything to it at all? Water filters can improve not just the taste, but also the quality of the water you drink.
Many different things can affect the taste of water – including minerals and contaminants, which can be removed by a water filter.
Filtered water often tastes fresher and cleaner than unfiltered tap water. If your regular water is leaving a bad taste in your mouth, consider giving a filter a try.
Making sure you drink enough water is essential on hot summer days – but there are other ways to beat the heat as well. Check out some of our tips for staying cool during heatwaves.
