Make Your Water More Elegant By Adding A Sprig Of Fresh Rosemary

Water is an essential component for all life, and the human body is mostly made of it (per Medical News Today). And with more consumers ditching single-use plastic for reusable water bottles, it's never been trendier or greener. But water can be ... well, watery. And, as such, there are no shortages of ways to fancy up this vital element. We add flavors and vitamins and electrolytes, extract mineral-rich sources from spring-fed mountains, and market it to everyone to fitness buffs to yoga moms.

But one of the easiest tricks for enhancing water is plunking some kind of fresh fruit, vegetable, or herb into it. Restaurants often use lemons for flavor and garnish, and you can make simple flavored and infused waters at home. But have you tried water with rosemary? 

Rosemary is a common, warm-weather perennial garden plant in the mint family, native to the Mediterranean and popularly used in folklore, medicine, cosmetics, and cooking, according to Britannica. Per Online Etymology Dictionary, rosemary's name comes from the Latin for "dew of the sea," so this stuff's clearly made to go in a glass of water.

While using spray bottles of rosemary water for hair growth has become a TikTok trend (per Popular Science), the herb makes for a delicious way to upgrade your drinking water, too.

Rosemary is versatile and affordable, and making rosemary water couldn't be easier (per Eater). Simply stick fresh, clean rosemary in glasses or pitchers of water. You can also use rosemary in cocktails, mocktails, iced tea, and more. Try whipping up a homemade rosemary ginger fizz, or go with a cranberry-rosemary spritzer for an alcohol-free option. Rosemary adds a savory flavor to countless drinks without overpowering them (and stirring your drink with a rosemary sprig is just plain fun).

Rosemary water can also be purchased pre-made by companies including No. 1 Botanicals, whose rosemary extract drink was inspired by actor Henry Cavill's time with the centenarian citizens of Acciaroli, Italy (per the brand's website).

In addition to rosemary's anti-inflammatory, circulation-boosting properties, Healthline reports that rosemary teas contain many antioxidants and may help with blood sugar, vision, brain and mental health, and more. Making them is as simple as steeping fresh or dried rosemary in hot water and drinking the resulting piney, herbal beverage. (Be careful not to let any rosemary infusion you plan to consume sit for too long, as it can become bitter-tasting.) However, it should be noted that, per Healthline, rosemary can interact negatively with some medications.

Flavor-wise, you can add rosemary to a steamer basket to bathe the ingredients in its savory scent and rich flavor. For an even more adventurous way to use rosemary, try using the sprigs as skewers. (There are even cultivars, such as "Barbecue Rosemary," sold specifically for this purpose.) Perhaps it's time to get some rosemary and poke around.