If you’re someone who hates the natural taste of water, then you’re not alone.

More often than not, this is mainly due to odours or unpleasant tastes from added chemicals, minerals, or old pipes in tap water, which can make people avoid it altogether. Tap water can also taste different depending on temperature, plumbing, and where you live.

However, we already know that it’s important to get in our 6 to 8 glasses of water a day, so what can we do to improve the taste of our water and make it more appealing to drink?

There are actually quite a few things we can do that won’t take up a lot of your time! Stick with us as we walk through 10 easy ways to improve the taste of your water.

Key takeaways

• Drinking chilled water can make it taste fresher and help conceal noticeable tastes and odours.
• Filtering tap water or switching to spring water can provide a cleaner, more appealing flavour.
• Keeping bottles, glasses, jugs, and dispensers clean helps prevent unwanted tastes and smells.
• Fresh fruit, cucumber, herbs, and flavoured ice cubes are easy ways to add natural flavour to water.
• No-added-sugar squash, sparkling water, and herbal or iced teas can provide more variety if you struggle with plain water.
• Experimenting with different temperatures, flavours, and types of water can make staying hydrated more enjoyable.

1. Drink your water cold

So simple, we know, but it’s so effective!

If you drink tap water at room temperature, it can be good for those with sensitive teeth, but it can also make the water taste bland and flat.

Chilled water can taste fresher and more refreshing, making certain odours, tastes, and smells less noticeable, such as chlorine. Try keeping a jug in the fridge, adding a few ice cubes to your glass, or using a water cooler so you always have cold water ready to drink

2. Filter your tap water

If you’re not filtering your tap water before drinking, then this is most likely the cause of your distaste for it.

While UK tap water is completely safe and clean to drink, it contains added chemicals that are good for oral health but can also make the water taste a bit off to some.

Water filters reduce certain substances that can affect taste and smell, including chlorine, for cleaner, fresher water. There is a range of different filters you can buy online; just remember to clean them regularly so they work as they should.

3. Try fresh spring water

If you’ve tried a few different tips and tricks with your tap water and you’re still not loving it, it’s okay to turn to spring water.

Different types of water can have slightly different flavours because of the minerals naturally present. Spring water, for example, comes from an underground source and contains naturally occurring minerals that can influence its taste, which may suit your palate better.

At Drop Water Coolers, our bottled water coolers deliver a supply of fresh spring water, perfect for homes and offices, catering for up to 50 people.

4. Keep your bottle, glass, and dispenser clean

It’s not only the water itself that could be producing a horrible taste.

If you’re not keeping your glasses, water jugs, or water dispensers clean, a build-up of grime and residue may be affecting the taste of the water. Reusable bottles, lids, and straws can also gradually collect residue and develop unpleasant smells if they aren’t cleaned regularly.

Wash reusable bottles and glasses thoroughly, and keep taps and other areas that come into frequent contact with hands or glasses squeaky clean.

5. Add fresh fruit

Adding fresh fruit is one of the easiest ways to give plain water a little more flavour without reaching straight for sugary drinks.

Citrus fruits such as lemon, lime and orange are classics, but you can experiment with strawberries, raspberries, watermelon or pineapple too. Add a few pieces to a jug or bottle of cold water, then leave it to infuse in the fridge and work its magic.

You can also gently crush softer fruits before adding them if you want a stronger flavour. We suggest mixing and matching different fruits for a tasty fruit infusion. Here are some popular combinations:

• Lemon and strawberry
• Raspberry and lime
• Watermelon and lemon
• Apple and berries
• Peach and passion fruit

6. Experiment with cucumber and fresh herbs

Fruit isn’t your only option; cucumber and fresh herbs can give water a crisp, refreshing flavour without making it overly sweet.

Cucumber and mint are a classic combination, while lemon and mint, strawberry and basil, or cucumber and lime can add a little variety to your usual glass of water. You could also experiment with a little bit of rosemary, basil, or ginger for something different!

Start with just a few slices or leaves and add more if needed, as fresh herbs can become quite strong when left to infuse.

7. Make flavoured ice cubes

If you want to get a little bit creative, then why not make some flavoured ice cubes?

With this, instead of adding flavour directly to your water, you can infuse your ice cubes with fruits, herbs, or a little bit of squash to add a bit of tang, zest, or sweetness to your glass of water.

Try adding some chopped up raspberries, strawberries, mint leaves, slices of lemon, or lime to an ice cube tray before topping it up with water and freezing. As the ice melts, the flavour is gradually released into your drink, providing a new taste every sip.

8. Add a little no-added-sugar squash or cordial

If you’ve tried other things and it’s not working, adding a little bit of squash or cordial to your water goes a long way.

These can be quite sugary, so opt for ones with no added sugar if you want a healthier alternative. There’s plenty of flavours to choose from, so you can switch things up depending on what you fancy: citrus, berry, and tropical flavours are all popular favourites.

9. Swap still water for sparkling water

If you don’t like water because you’re not a fan of the plain mouthfeel or texture, why not add some fun to your daily life with sparkling water?

Most people reach for fizzy drinks because they’re more satisfying to drink, so the lack of fizz with normal water can be off-putting. Bubbles can make it feel more refreshing and give you something different without adding extra flavour.

If you do want to jazz it up a bit though, a squeeze of lemon, a few berries, or some cucumber and mint work well with sparkling water.

10. Turn your water into herbal or iced tea

You don’t have to drink only plain water to meet your daily hydration goal.

Herbal or iced teas are also really hydrating, and they come in plenty of flavours, from peppermint and ginger to berry, lemon, and other fruit blends. Enjoy them hot or leave them to cool in the fridge for a fresh, tasty drink on a hot summer’s day.

You can also add some fresh lemon, mint, or pieces of fruit for more flavour; just be mindful that herbal and iced tea already have added sugar.

Enjoy better-tasting water with Drop Water Coolers

Want fresh, chilled water ready whenever you need it?

Take a look at our bottled and mains-fed water coolers for homes and workplaces, with instant, fresh water whenever you need it.

We even offer a 14-day free trial, so you can try before you buy, with absolutely no pressure to complete a purchase once the time is up!