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If you are looking for the perfect summer refreshment to share with your friends, this bee balm, mint, and melon infused water won’t disappoint. It’s very simple to make, but is full of flavor (and flair) to take your summer revelry to the next level!
Summer Herbal Perks
Peppermint is a cooling herb that can really help you beat the heat – especially when paired with watermelon. This herb has a familiar taste that needs no description, but you may not be as familiar with peppermint’s distant relative, bee balm. Most often described as somewhat sweet, with hints of oregano and bergamot citrus, this herb has a unique flavor all its own.
As a matter of fact, bee balm comes in two varieties. Monarda didyma has a red, pink, or salmon flower, while M. fistulosa has lavender colored blooms. There are many garden cultivars that exist as well, with blooms of every shade of red, lavender, and pink. Although the two original species should be sought if you want the most potent herbal preparations, for this recipe it is fine to use any cultivar of either species with a pleasing aroma.
Bee balm blossoms are stunning and quintessentially summer, which makes them perfect for celebratory summer libations. Read on for the recipe!
Bee Balm and Melon Infused Water Recipe
Make sure your herbs are clean by rinsing them under running water. Other than that, there’s very little prep needed for this recipe!
Ingredients
3 quarts filtered water
1 cup watermelon, cut in small pieces
10 bee balm leaves (fresh)
10 mint leaves (fresh)
Sprigs of mint and bee balm flowers for garnish.
How to Make
1.Pour 3 quarts of filtered water into a pitcher.
2. Roughly chop the bee balm and mint leaves and add them to the pitcher.
3. Add the watermelon to the pitcher and stir well.
4. Cover the pitcher and transfer to the fridge for at least 30 minutes before straining and serving.
5. Sweeten with a touch of honey or stevia if desired.
6. Add a few sprigs of peppermint to the serving glasses for garnish, and add a few bee balm flowers to the pitcher for decoration. You can leave the flowers on the stem with the leaves or take them off and add the flowers by themselves.
Make Mine Agua Fresca, Please!
The instructions here are for an herb and fruit infused water, but you could also turn this into a delicious agua fresca if your palate is more adventurous. For a more fruity, more traditional take on agua fresca, blend the melon, herbs, and water together in a blender (up to 4 cups melon per three cups of water), allow to sit in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes, and strain through cheesecloth before serving.
About Agatha
Agatha Noveille is an herbalist based in Atlanta, Georgia. Her herbal recipe book, The Complete Guide to Adaptogens, is available wherever books are sold.
Bee balm is a wonderful addition to your spice rack, too! Read Creative Ways to Use Bee Balm in the Kitchen for more ideas.
