Your skin, muscles, tendons, and ligaments are all made of a protein called collagen. It is vital to a strong body, good skin health, and reduced joint pain. It can even help aging skin have a more youthful appearance.
We can get collagen from the foods we eat like bone broth, chicken, fish, berries, and egg whites; Your body uses amino acids that it extracts from the protein you eat and produces collagen. Sometimes that simply is not enough though. Sometimes you need a little boost of collagen to get that glowing, youthful skin or stronger tendons and ligaments.
And that’s when you reach for your collagen water.
What is Collagen Water?
Collagen water is water that has been infused with collagen, usually in powder form. There are many different types of collagen on the market and they come in an abundance of flavors, so you have a lot of options when it comes to what is right for you.
There are ready-made collagen water beverages available, Vital Proteins has a nice one, but that can get expensive. It is super convenient though, so it’s a tradeoff.
However, homemade collagen water is less expensive and more customizable to your tastes. Learning how to make collagen water has virtually no learning curve at all. You just get a container of collagen powder and scoop out what you want for each serving, or you can get the individually packaged doses. Those are great if you are away from home. Then you follow one of these awesome recipes here and you’re set!
You can also get collagen capsules and even drink shots, but the powder is what is used for collagen water.
So what is collagen water made of? Whatever deliciousness you want to put in it!
What is the Best Collagen to Take?
When you are trying to decide on the best collagen, it is really a personal choice. There are many brands out there so just see what you like. Some of the more popular collagen brands are:
- Vital Proteins
- Ancient Nutrition
- Garden of Life
- Great Lakes
- Physician’s Choice
- Further Food
You may be able to contact some of the brands you are interested in and get a sample. Some health food stores will also give you a sample to help you decide on which is right for you.
Collagen Water Recipe Round-Up
The best time to drink collagen water is, well, anytime! Some people like to drink it in the morning while others enjoy the refreshing boost later in the day. It’s up to you when you want to drink yours.
To a Tea Collagen Water
Ingredients:
- 1 scoop unflavored collagen powder (or whatever the serving size is)
- 1 bottle of water or 16 oz of filtered water, chilled or room temperature
- Sweetener
- Herbal tea bag (I adore Pinkie Up Apple Spice Cake)
- A few slices or pieces of complimentary fruit
Instructions:
1. Mix the collagen with the water until the powder is dissolved.
2. Put your tea bag in the water and allow it to steep for 10 to 15 minutes, depending on how strong you like it.
3. Add your sweetener to taste.
4. Drink it as is, chill it, or ice it, your choice. For a little extra fruity zing, drop some fruit slices in the water.
Tropical Collagen Water Cooler
Ingredients:
- 1 scoop unflavored collagen powder (or whatever the serving size is)
- 1 16 oz bottle of coconut water, room temperature
- 5-6 pineapple chunks with 1 teaspoon of the juice
- Sweetener, if desired
Instructions:
1. Mix the collagen and coconut water together until the powder is dissolved.
2. Add the pineapple chunks and juice. Let chill for about an hour.
3. Serve over ice or straight out of the bottle.
A Midsummer’s Night Collagen Water
Ingredients:
- 1 scoop of powdered collagen (or whatever the serving size is)
- 1 bottle of water or 16 oz of water
- ¼ of a cucumber, sliced thin
- ¼ of a fresh lemon, sectioned and cut (or you can removed the skin from the sections)
- ½ to 1 cup fresh blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, or strawberries (you can crush slightly for a “berrier” taste)
Instructions:
1. Mix together your collagen powder and water until the powder is dissolved.
2. Add your cucumber and lemon.
3. Add the berries. If you are crushing them, put them in a bowl and pour some of the collagen water over them. Crush then pour the berries and water back into your collagen water. This will keep you from diluting your water and give you the greatest fruit flavor.
4. Chill for about an hour to allow the flavors to blend.
Iced Chocolate Coffee
Ingredients:
- 1 scoop chocolate collagen powder (or whatever the serving size is)
- 1 bottle water or 16 oz of water
- 1 coffee shot (regular or decaf) or 1/3 cup coffee (more if you like it stronger)
- Sweetener of your choice, to taste
- Almond milk (if desired)
Instructions:
1. Mix the collagen powder and water until the powder is dissolved.
2. Add the coffee and mix well.
3. Add your sweetener to taste.
4. Add a dash of almond milk if you like.
5. Serve over ice and drink right away.
Lemon Ginger Refresher
- 1 scoop of powdered collagen (or whatever the serving size is)
- 1 bottle of water or 16 oz of water
- ¼ of a fresh lemon, sectioned and cut (or you can remove the skin from the sections)
- ¼ to ½ inch of fresh ginger, peeled and grated
- Sweetener of your choice or honey powder.
Instructions:
1. Mix together your collagen powder and water until the powder is dissolved.
2. Add the lemon.
3. Add the grated ginger (you might want to use a tea bag for the ginger if you don’t like the pieces floating in your water)
4. Add the sweetener.
5. Chill for an hour or pour over ice and enjoy right away.
Carrot Cake
Ingredients:
- 1 scoop of powdered collagen (or whatever the serving size is)
- 1 bottle of water or 16 oz of water
- 1 carrot, peeled and grated
- ¼ teaspoon cinnamon (Vietnamese or Saigon cinnamon are the BEST!)
- Pinch of nutmeg
- Splash of vanilla almond milk
- Sweetener to taste
Instructions:
1. Mix together your collagen powder and water until the powder is dissolved.
2. Add the carrot and chill for about an hour.
4. Add the cinnamon and nutmeg to the chilled water. Add almond milk and sweetener to taste.
5. Drink right away.
Mint Julep
Ingredients:
- 1 scoop of powdered collagen (or whatever the serving size is)
- Water
- Sweetener
- ½ cup ginger ale
- Fresh mint leaves
Instructions:
1. Put the mint leaves in a small saucepan but leave a few out to use as garnish.
2. Add water just to cover the leaves and bring to a boil over medium high heat. Stir frequently.
3. Add your sweetener. If you use white sugar, you will get more of a mint syrup. Stir over the heat until the sweetener is completely dissolved.
4. Remove the mint concoction from the heat and allow it to cool.
5. Mix together your collagen powder and about ¼ cup of water until the powder is dissolved.
6. Fill your cup with crushed ice.
7. Pour about ½ cup of ginger ale over the ice.
8. Add about ¼ cup of your mint concoction to the ginger ale.
9. Add your collagen water.
10. Stir to mix, garnish with a mint leaf, and enjoy.
Strawberry Freeze
Ingredients:
- 1 scoop of powdered collagen (or whatever the serving size is)
- 1 bottle of water or 16 oz of water
- 1 cup fresh strawberries, cleaned and quartered (you can also use frozen)
- Sweetener to taste
- ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
- Ice
Instructions:
1. Mix together your collagen powder and water until the powder is dissolved.
2. Add the strawberries, sweetener, and vanilla. Mix well.
3. Put the strawberry mixture in a blender. Add ice and pulse until you have a frozen, icy drink that is slushy consistency.
Cranberry Fizz
Ingredients:
- 1 scoop of powdered collagen (or whatever the serving size is)
- 1 bottle of water or 16 oz of water
- 1 cup fresh cranberries, slightly crushed (you can use cranberry juice in a pinch)
- ½ cup ginger ale
- Mint leaves, crush some and leave some intact.
Instructions:
1. Mix together your collagen powder and water until the powder is dissolved.
2. Add the cranberries and let chill for about an hour to allow the juices to really seep into the water.
3. Add the ginger ale and crushed mint leaves. Stir.
4. Pour over crushed ice and garnish with a couple of mint leaves.
Citrus Punch Cocktail
Ingredients:
- 1 scoop of powdered collagen (or whatever the serving size is)
- 1 bottle of water or 16 oz of water
- ½ to 1 can citrus fruit medley (mandarin orange, grapefruit, pink grapefruit, or any combination of citrus)
- ½ cup ginger ale
- Sweetener to taste
Instructions:
1. Mix together your collagen powder and water until the powder is dissolved.
2. Remove the citrus fruit slices from the can but reserve some of the juice.
3. Add the citrus fruit slices to your collagen water.
4. Add the ginger ale and stir.
5. Add a tablespoon of the juice from the citrus fruit slices – more if you like.
6. Add sweetener is desired.
7. Pour over crushed ice and drink right away.
Watermelon Crush
Ingredients:
- 1 scoop of powdered collagen (or whatever the serving size is)
- 1 bottle of water or 16 oz of water
- 1 cup fresh watermelon, crushed, seeded and cut from rind
- 5 or 6 fresh mint leaves, crushed
- Sweetener to taste
Instructions:
1. Mix together your collagen powder and water until the powder is dissolved.
2. Add the watermelon and crushed mint leaves.
3. Chill for about an hour if you want stronger flavors, or pour over crushed ice and drink right away.
Tips for Making Collagen Water at Home
An infuser bottle is great when you are using fresh fruit in your collagen water.
Monk fruit, Stevia (you can get drops enhanced with flavors like French Vanilla), or agave can enhance your collagen water and make it taste even better.
Add a tablespoon or two of apple cider vinegar to any of these recipes for an added boost of wellness.
Several brands offer flavored collagen powder. Get creative!
Use soda water or carbonated water with any of these recipes for some fizzy fun!
The longer you leave fruit in the water to infuse, the stronger the fruit flavors will be.
Find a collagen powder for water that you like. Think about taste, texture, and how well it dissolves in the water.
Make a bottle or two in the morning so you can enjoy your collagen water on the go and get the most out of the fruit infusions.
Slightly crushing the fruit releases the juices and flavors faster and more efficiently.
Infuse your water with fruit ahead of time and add your collagen powder as you go.
Fruit juices are a nice alternative if you don’t have fresh fruit on hand. Just add it a tablespoon at a time until you get the desired strength.
If you use fruit juice, look for unsweetened to no sugar added varieties to cut down on your sugar intake.
Add some ice and put any of these recipes in the blender for a quick collagen water smoothie or slushie.
Related:
Best Collagen Drinks
How To Make Collagen Drink At Home
How to Mix Collagen Powder Without Clumping
How to Make Collagen Taste Better
