Mash and roughly chop 1 cup of strawberries just enough to release juice and aroma while keeping some texture — this is about fragrance and freshness, not purée.
Add the mashed strawberries to a large pitcher, pour in the lime juice, add the honey and fine sea salt, and stir thoroughly until the honey is fully dissolved and the base tastes lightly bright and clean.
Add ice-cold water to reach a total volume of about 3.2 liters, then add the sliced strawberries and lime slices, stirring gently once or twice to distribute without breaking the fruit.
Refrigerate for at least 1 hour for a light, crisp infusion; for a more pronounced strawberry character, infuse up to 4 hours, but do not exceed this time or the fruit will lose clarity and turn dull.
Serve well chilled directly from the pitcher, or over ice if preferred, keeping the fruit in the water for visual freshness.
