When I was in high school, I was one of those dorky kids who carried a plastic bottle of water around with me all day, every day. It was just a plain, disposable bottle that I used over and over again (this was long before we knew that that wasn’t such a good idea), but I loved being able to skip the water fountain and have my water right with me.
Though the vessel has changed over the years a bit (I’m currently switching between a wide mouth quart jar and this guy), toting liquid around with me on my daily routine is still a habit. It makes me feel better and more functional. It also helps me avoid headaches, which are my eternal plague.
There is just one thing in life that gets in the way of my water loving ways and that’s the taste of the water in Philadelphia. Even after filtering, it never tastes great. While I still drink vast quantities of it plain and flat, I’m also always searching out ways to tweak and improve it.
Enter the Takeya Fruit Infusion Jug
. It has a strainer built into the top, so you can fill it with fruit and water and then pour without hunks of lemon or apple falling into your glass. Thanks to the nice folks at Takeya, I’ve had this jug in my kitchen since the summer and have put all manner of berries, apples and stonefruit into it. I am as smitten with it as one can be with a hunk of BPA-free plastic and silicone.
These days, my favorite combination is sliced apple, lemon and ginger (for best ginger extraction, crush it a bit before adding it to the water). I realize that the same thing could be done with a jar or other vessel, and I’ve done just that many times in the last few years. But having a pretty jug designed precised for the task makes it slightly easier and more fun.
I tend to keep it in the fridge and refill it throughout the day with fresh water and I drink. The combination of fruit and chill transforms Philly’s funky water into something quite tasty. I’ve also been known to pop a handful of fresh herbs like mint or lemon verbena in there when they’re handy. Oh, and see that picture up there? I did that to show you that it is entirely leak-proof. A definite virtue.
So, those same kind Takeya folks have given me one of these raspberry-colored, fruit infusion jugs to give away to a Food in Jars reader. If you want a chance at it, here’s what to do…
- To enter the giveaway, leave a comment on this post and tell me what combination of fruit you’d put in your fruit infusion jug.
- Comments will close at 11:59 pm eastern time on Tuesday, November 15, 2011. Winner will be chosen at random (using random.org) and will be posted to the blog on Wednesady, November 16, 2011.
- Giveaway is open to U.S. residents only (apologies to my more far-flung readers).
- One entry/comment per person, please.
Disclosure: Takeya gave me the jug pictured above and are provided the one for this giveaway. As always, my opinions are still all my own. It’s a good product and I’m happy to be able to share it with you guys.
Update: My contact at Takeya just told me that they’re going to be hosting a Twitter party on November 15 with more chances to win their products. Click here for more information!
I would do berries with a vanilla bean or ginger with orange slices.
Well, after trying your combination, am thinking that raspberries and peaches would be a good combo. Maybe a little ginger in there, too. Oh, the possibilities are endless!
this is the coolest thing since sliced bread! I would like to try something with basil in it.
There are so many combos that I would do but my favorite at work are: Grapefruit and rasberry, the grapefruit is so refreshing and the rasberries breakdown and infuse the water anyway! YUMMMMM
apples pears and maybe ginger
Apples and cranberries would make a nice seasonal drink. Lemon and ginger would be good too.
I would add crushed pomegranate, lime, and apple with a couple crushed cherries.
Cranberries and cinnamon. Delicious. Halved grapes would be lovely, too.
I would try mint & lemon. And then Lemon & ginger. And then orange & mint. And then…. 🙂
Mint and cucumber, I think.
I love to put cucumbers in water as well as basil with lime, makes for a refreshing touch in hot summer weather. Orange slices and ginger are good too.
Mmmm…lemons and limes!
Fresh oranges are great in water. I would love to win an infusion jug!
How fun! I would definitely use it for lemon, lime and homegrown herbs!
Oh, I’ve had my eye on one of these for a while now. Such a cool idea! I think I’d start off with pineapple and maybe some orange slices.
I’m craving something tart, so I think I’d try lime and maybe cranberry.
I think if it was hot I’d like to try kiwi or cranberry and lime. This time of year maybe apples and blueberries with a lemon.
I think strawberries and orange slices would be lovely.
I would put strawberries and lime 🙂 It sounds so refreshing….
Citrus and ginger, definitely!
Watermelon and basil. What a cool product!
Pomegranate arils!
I like the cucumber, lime and mint combination. Fresh and refreshing every time! Thanks!
I would do raspberries and lime.
These are all excellent suggestions–I’m so thirsty now!
I’d try a combination of lemon, ginger and basil: warm, bright, and herbacious.
I would do a mix of citrus and pretend that I was at the spa!
I always like lemon and lime in my water. Your apple combo sounds delicious! Strawberries in the summer would be refreshing too.
Lemon is my usual but I love a fresh peach slice in water. Cucumber is refreshing and most berries look pretty as well as give a nice flavor.
I love the citrus and herb combination idea. Lemons, limes, mint!
Any combination of: mint, cucumber, grapefruit, lemons, limes, oranges, raspberry!
I’ve never done an infusion before, but I think I’d like to try grapefruit and mint.
I’d like to try coconut water, pineapple and maybe vanilla bean for a tropical flavor. Thanks Takeya for this generous prize opportunity!
Citrus! Grapefruit, lemon, and lime.
I start every day off with big glass of water with blackberries, raspberries (picked and frozen this summer) and lime juice.
Cranberries and orange slices would make me very happy!
Cucumber, mint, and lemon. OR oranges, lemons, and strawberries….. I’m incredibly excited about the infinite combinations for this! Thanks for the opportunity!
I’m a citrus girl – so I’m thinking lemon, lime, and maybe some orange would be nice. Any or all 🙂
That looks just lovely! I would add whatever fruits are in season and growing around my house – tangerines, calamansi, guavas, maybe a little mango and pineapple, and of course mint. I might even try infusing different fruits into coconut juice. (I’m not sure that I qualify for this giveaway, as I live on Saipan; but we are a part of the U.S. and USPS domestic rates apply 🙂
pineapple and mint would be my mix of choice. these look amazing!
I’ve lived in Philly – the water there is an absolute delight compared to the area I live in now, and as a result I don’t drink nearly enough of it as I should. I’ve been drinking pitcher after pitcher of iced tea, but I think I’ll have to give your idea a try. Apple and ginger sounds amazing. I have tried popping a star anise into my bottle of water in the past, and just love it! Love the pitcher too! I feel obligated to throw in a ‘pick me!!’
This looks like a great idea. I have been trying to drink more water and cutting out the soda. Sometimes plain water gets old and the powders for water bottles just taste nasty to me.
I’m a sucker for ginger & lemon, whether hot or cold. We make hot ginger tea many nights after dinner, but it would be great to have a cold version to sip throughout the day!
I’d do a mix of apple slices, a cinnamon stick, an orange slice or two, and lemon slice.
I would love to try the combo of lime, ginger and a little hot chili for some zing!
Today I am in the mood for orange slices & strawberries!
Mixed berries for sure!
mango-lime!
Citrus, anything. It’s not a fruit, (well, maybe it is) but I’ve also had cucumber water which was surprisingly refreshing!
Lime and Coconut sounds like an interesting mix worth trying.
I would give orange and apple slices with cloves a try. Sounds good for fall thirst buster.
I was going to say citrus fruit, but after reading the comments I think it would be frozen fresh pineapple slices and frozen grapes.
I don’t drink water at all unless it’s fizzy and/or black, so this would hep me drink more water.
Wild blackberries and raspberries with lemon. Yum!
I would use lemons, limes, and raspberries!
How about blood orange, pineapples and ginger? Sounds good to me. Thanks for sharing!
Cucumbers and mint!! Mmm!
Like so many others here, my first thought was “Lemon!” but there are so many great suggestions! I think they made me thirsty. I need some water. Naturally flavored, if you please.
Seasonal! Right now I would do asian pear and maybe a lovely spice, such as star anise. Ooh, and something would get ginger, that’s for sure!
Apple, ginger, pear–I love that combination.
I would use a variety of fresh herbs. I really like lavender, lemon balm and mint.
Lemon-raspberry….sounds yummy
raspberries and lime!
Lemon and ginger sounds awesome! I can’t get enough lemon in my water. I have a feeling I’d try to put anything I could get my hands on in my water if I had this baby!
So many combinations cross my mind immediately:
Slightly crushed blueberries, a slice of lemon and a single clove.
Or
Pear chunks with a tiny splash of balsamic vinegar
Apple, Pear and a cinnamon stick.
Overripe figs with a tiny sliver of bay leaf.
I am headed downstairs right now to stare at my fruit drawer!!
I LOVE this idea. I have a “vessel fettish” as my family has noticed, and I have not seen a pitcher like this one before. Thank you for giving me ideas for Christmas presents! I have been drinking lemon/parsley water lately, sometimes with cranberries. But I have lots of lemon balm in my yard each year and that is a delight as well!
Lots of ginger, pears and cranberries. . .sweeten with some honey
I would love to win this…I’d start with apples and pears! 🙂
Definitely ginger and lime! Or orange and cinnamon! What a cool thing to have in the kitchen!!! Thanks for sharing!
Oh! I’m a sucker for cucumber in water, but that ginger, apple, lemon sure looks tasty too!!
Basil, lime, and strawberries. Yum!
How about basil, lemon and ginger? Yum.
Cucumber & Mint…….Spa Water!
summertime was ALL about cucumber & lemon water. this would be perfect for that!
I’d put in spearmint, lemon, and raspberries or strawberries. Thanks!
This is a cool idea. I think I would like mint and strawberries in the spring, and i love your combo of ginger and apple. I have a lot of new herbs I planted in my garden this year I would like to play with, like pineapple sage and different types of thyme!
I absolutely adore your blog! I would make strawberry lemon infusion. Or strawberry mint. Pears and apples make me happy in the fall! Thank you and keep writing!
What a great idea! I hate just plain water, but also don’t want the calories of juice. Right now, I’d put apple slices in it. Mostly because I have a ridiculous amount of apples waiting to be used. Maybe a cinnamon stick in there, too, to make it real fall-like.