Lightly crush the mint rather than chopping it finely. This releases aroma while keeping the drink neat and easy to strain or remove the leaves from later.
Add ice close to serving time whenever possible. If a large amount of ice sits in the pitcher for an extended period, it can melt and gradually dilute the drink.
Thin lemon slices also make attractive garnishes and are easy for guests to handle while drinking.
Storage
If you have leftover lemon water, keep it in a covered pitcher or container in the refrigerator.
For the freshest flavour, consume it within 24 hours, although the drink can be kept for up to 2 days when properly refrigerated.
Mint may become stronger the longer it remains in the liquid, so remove the leaves if the herbal flavour becomes too pronounced.
Lemon slices can also be removed during storage if the beverage develops a stronger or slightly bitter citrus character.
Why This Recipe Is So Convenient
This drink is useful because it requires almost no preparation beyond squeezing the lemons and combining the ingredients. There is no cooking, blending, or specialised equipment beyond a citrus juicer.
It can also be adapted easily. Leave out the sweetener for a sharper beverage, increase the sweetness when desired, or experiment with ginger, cucumber, chia seeds, basil, or black salt.
With only a few minutes of preparation, you can make a pitcher of bright, chilled lemon water suitable for everyday drinking or serving to several people.
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