How ‘Bout Dem Melons? We Try WTRMLN WTR

I know it’s not technically summer yet, but that doesn’t stop me from getting excited when I get a little hint of what’s to come: longer days, lots of miles on my bike, swimming in lakes instead of my gym’s stuffy indoor pool, and all the fresh produce I can carry home from the farmers’ market.
One of my summer staples is watermelon. In addition to being a delicious addition to anything from margaritas to salads to sorbet to pickles, it’s a great item to have in an athlete’s diet. Studies have shown that watermelon can reduce post-workout soreness, thanks to an abundance of the amino acid L-citruline.
It’s also low in calories (48 in one cup) and high in water (92 percent!), making it a great way to rehydrate after a sweat session. One cup of diced watermelon provides about a quarter of your vitamin C for the day and 10 percent of your vitamin A needs. It also has more lycopene — a phytochemical linked to lower rates of cancer and heart disease — than raw tomatoes.
Plus, it’s tasty. But I didn’t need to tell you that, right?
Recently, WTRMLN WTR asked if we wanted to sample their product. Being the resident melon-lover of the group, I was happy to take on the task. To be honest, I thought “watermelon water” meant I’d receive bottles of watermelon-flavored water — you know, the artificially-enhanced crap laced with high-fructose corn syrup. But when I received my box of WTRMLN WTR, I was pleasantly surprised to see that wasn’t the case.

WTRMLN WTR is just that: watermelon water. It contains watermelon flesh, watermelon rind and a bit of lemon juice. These three ingredients are cold-pressed to preserve the nutrients in the juice, then bottled — with no added waters or sugars.
Because of the simplicity in which the water is prepared, it tastes like the real thing, not a cartoon version of watermelon. After a workout, it’s bright and refreshing. It also makes great watermelon agua fresca and cocktails for those looking to go the fancy pants route at cookouts this summer.
The only downside, in my opinion, is the price. A 12-pack of WTRMLN WTR is $72, or $6 a bottle. That’s in line with pricing for most cold-pressed juices (for example, one of my favorite cold-pressed juices at Whole Foods goes for $7.99 for 12 ounces). For me, that makes WTRMLN WTR a treat, not a regular post-workout drink.
This summer, I’ll be getting my watermelon the old-fashioned way: lugging a huge one home from the farmers’ market and digging in with a fork.
What foods “taste like summer” to you? For me, it’s watermelon, sweet corn and fresh basil! –Susan