Five Herb and Berry “Swamp Water” Recipes from the Garden

I’m not exactly sure where the name Swamp Water came from. Perhaps because it sounds like something we dredged up, which I suppose is correct in a way. It is certainly a concoction of random greenery from the garden, but unlike the name implies, this refreshing summer treat is beautiful.

Swamp water is a summer tradition in our home. It’s cold. It’s refreshing. It’s hydrating. It has zero calories or sugars, and yet is a simple garden fresh treat. My husband is one of those people who, in his own words, “just has to have something cold to sip on” in the evenings. Often it’s a beer or wine, but he’s made an effort lately to grab a glass of swamp water.

And our kids? Those rascals love this stuff. Bonus – they love to gather goodies from the garden to create their own recipe. And anytime I can convince at least two of them to scamper into the backyard, baskets in hand, to gather food, it fills my heart. There is nothing like seeing kids romping through the grass and mud, barefoot and giggling, to see what treasures await them in the summer garden. That is a pure joy of summertime for a kid I tell you!

Perhaps one of the best qualities of Swamp Water is that you can make it with pretty much anything. In case you’re itching to try your own, here are five Swamp Water recipes we’re loving to get you started:

Five Herb and Berry Swamp Water Recipes from the Summer Garden:

1. Lemon slices/basil/mint – Is there anything better than lemon and mint? PS: if you’re looking for an amazing homemade ice cream flavor, this is it.

2.Tomatillo/parsley/cucumber – 2018 was the first year we grew tomatillos, and we were surprised by how well they did in the garden. Just two plants made waaaaay more than we use for guacamole, so this is a good way to use some extras. If you’ve never tried a tomatillo, they are in the tomato family but are green with a slightly citrus-y flavor.

3. Rosemary/cucumber/basil- Again, by mid summer the basil and cucumbers are abundant!

4. Raspberry/mint – our garden is usually overflowing with raspberries come late May, so this is a perfect early summer sipper.

5. Raspberry/Blackberry/mint – Yum!