Every so often, a new ‘water’ emerges, claiming to have a zillion-and-one health benefits (think: maple, birch, artichoke and, of course, coconut water), and all of a sudden your Instagram feed is clogged with shots of said super-water. Now, a new one has hit the market, and it might just blow the rest of them out of the, err, water.
Enter cactus water. Extracted from the prickly pear cactus, the water is more like a juice, and it’s loaded with similar health and beauty benefits to coconut water. It’s hydrating and antioxidant-rich, but lower in sugar and calories, and has a thinner consistency.
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Okay, so it isn’t entirely new –Mexicans have been drinking cactus water for generations, and it has long been hailed as a medicinal elixir for health issues like dehydration and muscle tissue damage. But, prepare to start seeing bottles of the stuff on shelves in Oz.
Still not sold? Research has shown that if you drink it before alcohol, the prickly pear extract can help to reduce the symptoms of a hangover, like a nausea and dry mouth. Winning!
Vogue.com has come up with some ingenious cocktail recipe ideas that incorporate cactus water, so you can get all the delish flavour and less of the pain the next day.
DESERT DISCOVERED
4 tbsp Caliwater Cactus Water
2 tbsp tequila
muddled cucumber
CACTUS SUNRISE
4 tbsp Caliwater Cactus Water
2 tbsp pomegranate liquor
2 tbsp tequila
squeeze of lemon
squeeze of lime
HOT DESERT LEMONADE
4 tbsp Caliwater Cactus Water
2 tbsp tequila
squeeze of lemon
squeeze of lime
squeeze hot honey
Do you love experimenting with new health foods and drinks? Would you like to try cactus water?
