Cucumber Mint Water

I'll never forget the first time I saw a pitcher of lemon infused water. I was young and not very worldly, and I was working as a flight attendant for an international airline. Back then we used to serve the passengers water out of plastic pitchers, water poured right out of the tap from the galley onboard the airplane! I kid you not! Can you imagine? This was in the days before everyone started drinking bottled water, well except on the flight to Los Angeles - everyone asked for bottled water on those flights. So one day I was working this flight and one of the senior flight attendants popped a couple of lemon wedges into the water pitcher. Based on the other girls' expressions I wasn't the only crew member wondering about the lemons floating around in the pitcher. I remember thinking "wow, that's a little presumptuous of her to think that everyone wants their water lemon flavoured" but she swore that it would make the stale water taste better. And she was right. With just a hint of lemon the airplane water was transformed into an enjoyable glass of water.

It would be years before I would encounter flavour infused water again. I noticed that some of the nicer hotels started providing an icy cold water dispenser for arriving guests during the summer season. It was especially appreciated after traveling all day. Often the pitchers would have sliced lemons, limes or oranges infusing the water. It was so refreshing! Cucumber water however still eluded me until I first experienced it at a day spa. It turns out that spas have been offering their clients cucumber water for ages and ages, because of the cleansing and soothing properties it offers. Cucumber infused water will also provide you with essential vitamins and minerals and besides that, cucumber is crisp and cool and will help you feel that way too!

To make this refreshing beverage slice the cucumbers very thin. Thin slices will allow the nutrients and flavours to infuse into the water more readily. And besides, it just looks so pretty when the slices are thin and delicate looking! I also recommend making this ahead of time and popping it in the refrigerator. Cucumber water should be kept cool at all times. In my experience if it's left to warm up to room temperature the cucumbers can become mushy. Serve your water with ice cubes to keep your cucumbers fresh!

Oh! And the mint! I like to add mint to my cucumber water. I love the scent of fresh mint right out of the garden and you can have mint available year round - right at your back door. Just plant a bit of mint in a contained area where it's accessible to the kitchen! The mint also adds some sweetness which is so nice with the cucumber flavor and mint also has medicinal properties that will benefit your body.

So when the heat outside is turned up treat yourself to a cool refreshing glass of cucumber mint water!

INGREDIENTS

- cold filtered water
- 1/2 cucumber sliced thin
- mint leaves


DIRECTIONS

1. Add water, cucumber slices and mint leaves in a pitcher
2. Cover and refrigerate for 20 munutes
3. Serve with some cucumber and mint leaves in a glass and top with fresh ice and enjoy!
​