Cherry Limeade Electrolyte Drink

A tasty herbal infusion, to support mineralization and deep hydration

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About this Drink

Let's talk about electrolyte packets. They serve a purpose, some are amazing! If I was traveling around, in need of emergency hydration or wanting to keep stock of backup electrolyte support - I'd reach for a good quality electrolyte packet. They have become so convenient, that we forget - with a little home prep - we can also make a deeply nourishing drink from home.

For everyday electrolyte support; we can make our own from home. Using natural ingredients that are full of minerals, vitamins, salts & FLAVOR.

Electrolyte packets focus on Potassium, Magnesium, Salt & Flavor.

This drink is loaded with not only Potassium & Magnesium, but many other minerals and vitamins - from using pure herbs.

This recipe is my take on a Cherry Limeade - infused with deeply nourishing herbs.

Herbal Infusions

We are making 2 herbal infusions for this drink. Which is simply Water + a combination of herbs that draw out the plants beneficial properties. This is going to load the water with the minerals and vitamins that we want to drink.

Using dried herbs, we're using both the Hot & Cold Extraction Methods.

Which basically just means (1) method uses hot water to extract the benefits from the herbs and (1) method uses cooler water to extract the benefits from the herbs. Some herbs do better with certain extraction methods, depending on how fragile/robust they are & which herbal properties we're trying to preserve.

The OTHER really cool part. I use my herbs 2-3 times before bringing them to my compost pile. So, 2-3 batches of tea. As soon as I complete my herbal infusion and strain out the herbs - I can make an entirely new batch and still draw out minerals/vitamins. Usualy at the 3rd batch, the benefits are fully used up, it is complete & can be composted. This re-use of herbs is what makes recipes like this incredibly budget friendly.

Breakdown of what I use in this recipe. All ingredients are Organic:

Oat Straw, Alfalfa, Nettle -> FULL of minerals and vitamins

Marshmallow Root ->a demulcent & very soothing

Lemon Balm -> calming properties, which I like to use in teas to help my body get into a Parasympathetic state

Spearmint -> cooling & refreshing

Sea Salt -> bringing powerhouse Sodium to our electrolyte drink

Fresh Lime Juice -> natural source of Vitamin C & minerals/vitamins

Maple Syrup -> accelerating hydration & flavor

Tart Cherry Concentrate -> the deep crimson pigment bringing in antioxidants & anthocyanins, the tart flavor balancing out the drink & a slough of other benefits. You can get this at most health food stores/online. You can also substitute this for the best organic cherry juice or you can find!

Cost Breakdown:

I buy my dried herbs bulk. I have jotted down the price breakdown, using all 1 lb bags of herbs. This is where savings can be seen so clearly!

Keep in mind you may find these herbs for even cheaper, this is my current pricing.

Since we can use these herbs 2-3 times before composting them, we get 2-3 full batches of tea from them. Which makes this recipe budget friendly. I've incorporated this into the price per serving calculations.

For the Oatstraw, Alfalfa, Nettle, Marshmallow, Lemon Balm, Spearmint used in this recipe...it worked out to be .75 cents total in herbs.

Because these herbs can be used 2-3 times, making 3 full batches of water....Using a 1/2 gallon jar - I can get as much as 48 servings.

That means, it is about roughly 0.02 cents of herbs per serving. WOOP

For the...

Lime, it's 0.18 per serving

Salt, it's 0.02 per serving

Maple, it's 0.28 per serving

Tart Cherry Concentrate, it's 0.52 per serving

For a grand total of $1.02 per serving

Generic electrolyte packets sit at about $1.50 per serving

To me...making our own drinks from home can not only compete with the prices of mega brands products, but the quality can far surpass. Which is a WIN!

In order to save the most you can on all ingredients, find your discounts.

I am so grateful to be able to work alongside incredible companies from time to time, to offer coupons to you all (that I also use). Which can help slash the bill from 10-20%. I am also an avid couponer/discount buyer at my local organic grocery store - which gives us mega savings on shelf products (like the Maple & Tary Cherry Concentrate used in this recipe).

I hope you enjoy -

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Cherry Limeade Electrolyte Drink

Servings: one 16 oz drink - Recipe also makes 1 gallon of herbal water, to use for future drinks

Ingredients

Herbal Infusion 1 (Hot Extraction)

• 6 Tbsp Dried Oatstraw

• 6 Tbsp Dried Alfalfa Leaf

• 4 Tbsp Dried Nettle Leaf

• 8 Cups Hot Filtered Water (Spring Water or RO would be ideal, which ever best quality of water you have!)

  
  

Herbal Infusion 2 (Cold Extraction)

• 4 Tbsp Dried Marshmallow Root

• 6 Tbsp Dried Lemon Balm

• 6 Tbsp Dried Spearmint

• 8 Cups Room Temperature Filtered Water (Spring Water or RO would be ideal, which ever best quality of water you have!)

Electrolyte Drink

• 1/2 - 3/4 cup 1st Herbal Infusion

• 1/2 - 3/4 cup 2nd Herbal Infusion

• 1 Cup - 1 1.5 Cup Water (Spring Water or RO would be ideal, which ever best quality of water you have!)

• 1 tbsp Maple Syrup

• Squeezes of Fresh Lime juice, to your desired liking

• 1/8-1/4 tsp Salt, i'm using Celtic Sea Salt (EDEN brand)

• 1 tbsp Organic Tart Cherry Concentrate ****

Recipe

Please keep in mind, you can half and even quarter the recipe for the herbal infusions. I am using a 1/2 gallon jar, but you can use smaller containers, depedning on what you have on hand.

Herbal Infusions

• Sanitize (2) large glass jars with lids (i'm using (2) 1/2 gallon Ball jars, make sure they are hot/cold safe)

• To the 1st jar - add dried Oatstraw, Alfalfa Leaf, Nettle

• Then fill the jar with 8 cups of hot water. Not boiling, not warm, hot.

• Place a lid on the jar, shake to combine carefully & let mixture sit overnight on the counter (8-12 hours)

• To the 2nd jar - add dried Marshmallow Root, Lemon Balm, Spearmint

• Then fill the jar with 8 cups of room temperature water

• Place a lid on the jar, shake to combine carefully & let mixture sit overnight in the fridge (12-24 hours)

• When each of the infusions are ready, sieve out the herbs to catch the liquid - squeezing the herbs in your clean hands to extract all the liquid from them

• These 2 Herbal Infusions can be used right away & keep in the fridge for 5-7 days

• The remaining herbs can be used 2-3 total times before being composted

• Simply add the herbs back to an empty jar and repeat the infusion process again. I like to do this immediately to keep things clean & tidy!

Drink

• To a 16-24 oz glass jar...

• Add Maple Syrup, Lime Juice, Salt

• Then add anywhere from 1/2 Cup - 3/4 Cup of Herbal Infusion 1

• Then add anywhere from 1/2 Cup - 3/4 Cup of Herbal Infusion 2

• Then add anywhere from 1 Cup to 1 1.5 Cup of Water - this will nicely dilute the herbal mixtures

• Top with Tart Cherry Concentrate/Cherry Juice

• Stir to combine, serve as is or top over ice for a chilled drink!

NOTES

**** I like to use Tart Cherry Concentrate, but you can also use fresh cherry juice! I would just add a tad more than 1 tbsp. Perhaps 2-3 tbsp.