The art of watering fruit juice

[Ebbie]

A little expose on how and why I water fruit juice.

First, why?

Well, as much as I would like to, I just can't seem to drink plain water. Believe me, I've tried. I simply like my "water" to have a little flavour to it. So I like to drink juice. And since 1 cup of fruit juice provides 100% of the daily required vitamin C I don't need more than 1 cup a day.

So, if I had a choice between 1 cup of juice and 2 cups of water OR 3 cups of watered juice I'd take the latter. Also, drinking 3 cups of watered juice spreads out the vitamin C intake throughout the day instead of all at once.

So that's the why. Now the how.

First I buy concentrated juices as they are more inexpensive than fresh or bottled juice. You know these things:



I most often buy store brand for more savings. Just make sure there is some vitamin C content as a some of the juice mixes have NO vitamin C. So read the label. Yeah, I know some will say there's too much sugar in these things etc. but remember by watering I'm only ingesting 1 cup a day.

The key is to ease into the watering. For concentrates it's normal to add 3 cans of water. So begin by adding and extra half can, then an extra can and so on. Easing into it will gradually get you used to tasting the watered juice as normal. Currently I've worked my way up to adding THREE times the water recommended. So basically 9 cans of water to 1 can of concentrate. Because a pitcher won't hold this amount of water, I use only half a can at a time (covering the rest and putting it back in the freezer). So half a can of concentrate to the equivalent of 4 or 5 cans of water.

Watering works best with juices that have strong flavours to begin with. I find it doesn't work well with orange juice (or orange "punches") or peach concentrate. They just don't have enough ummphh to accomodate watering down (according to my taste buds, however, it might be fine for someone else). Grape is a good choice, since it has a strong flavour. I've also recently found a "strawberry/kiwi" concentrate and a "blueberry/something" concentrate that both watered well due to their strong original flavour.

I also "dress up" serving the juice. In other words, I use ice cubes and usually a straw in a tall cool glass and it feels like an elegant treat. They now market those water cooler drinks that are just a little flavouring in water so think of these as something comparable.

Anyway, just thought I'd share something I do that helps me to save money.

[imagine]

I water juice too.

Why? Because my mom did. It just doesn't taste right to me full strength.

Here is how we do it.

I too use the 100% juice concentrate.

I put it in a 2 Quart pitched and fill with water to the top.

Then when we pour a glass we fill the glass half full and top off the glass with water.

My youngest child doesn't think the juice is made until you add the water in the cup.

[lisettelovebug]

We water ours down just because it's too strong at 100% and because it's cheaper. we use 75% juice and 25% water approximately.

[lisettelovebug]

I forgot to add in that we use juicy juice and water it down. - not concentrate.

[Bethany]

One of my favorite drinks is to take about 32 ounces of water with a splash (maybe 1/4 cup) of juice and add lotsa ice and a packet of Sweet and Low. It's so good with orange juice or grape juice. I could drink it all day.