How To Make Water Kefir - Homemade Probiotic Soda
Learn how to make water kefir, a homemade probiotic soda that is rich in gut health benefits. Water kefir is a probiotic drink made from the fermentation of sugar water with a starter culture, aka kefir “grains,” which contain Kefir beneficial bacteria and yeast. Water kefir is simple and easy to make in your own kitchen and is a favorite summer drink in our home. We rarely buy any soda, but we do enjoy a cold bubbly drink, especially in the summertime. Water kefir is made with fruit or fruit juice and since we have plenty of grape juice from our orchard each year, we make lots of grape water kefir every summer.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Tastes like a delicious fruit-flavored soda.
- Full of probiotics and good bacteria.
- Very inexpensive and easy to make.
- Can be made in many different flavors.
- Easy to keep up with so you can make a fresh batch everyday.
- A great way to get dairy free probiotics, as some people can't have yogurt or milk kefir.
Ingredients
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Tools
How to Make Water Kefir
First Fermentation
To a half-gallon jar add ½ cup of sugar (I prefer cane sugar, but white sugar is fine too), and fill it with hot tap water.
Stir or shake vigorously until sugar is dissolved. Add ½ cup kefir grains to the jar.
Add a couple of raisins to the jar. This step is optional, but when the raisins float, that means the kefir is ready to go on to it's second ferment.
Place a lid on the jar (a regular sealing lid works fine, although many people just cover with a cloth and rubber band).
Allow the jar to sit out at room temperature to do the first ferment for 24-48 hours. In the summertime, when it's warm, it's usually ready after 1 day. If your house is cooler than 68 degrees, it may take longer. Adding the raisins to the jar will tell you when it's ready. (If you forget about it and leave it longer, it will still be fine, the grains just might get a little more hungry).
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After the first ferment is complete, strain off the kefir grains using a mesh strainer or a fine tea towel. This plain water kefir can be consumed this way, but it's much better after you flavor it.
The strained off kefir grains can be added to a jar of warm sugar water again to start another batch of kefir.
Second Fermentation
To each flip-top bottle, add ¼ to 1 cup of juice, or a few pieces of fresh or frozen fruit. Add the plain water kefir from the first ferment to each flip-top jar, leaving at least a 1-inch headspace.
Seal the top of each flip-top bottle and allow it to set out at room temperature for 1 to 2 days. After the first day, carefully crack open the top of the flip-top bottles to see if it has developed any carbonation. If you hear a loud "pop", and/or it starts bubbling over you will know it's well carbonated and bubbly. If you barely hear a "pop", then it probably hasn't fermented long enough to be bubbly. You can drink it at any time, but it's best when drank after it's carbonated and bubbly. Feel free to leave it set out longer if it's not bubbly enough, and you can even try setting it in a warmer location like outside for a few hours. You will figure out how long to let it ferment based on the temperature in your home, etc.
Once the fermentation is complete, serve the finished water kefir over ice, or place the flip top bottles in the refrigerator until cold and then serve. They can be in the refrigerator for several days with no problem.
Feel free to vary the amounts of juice or fruit to the amount of plain water kefir, and vary the timing of both the first and second ferments. You can't hurt it at all, and you will figure out your favorite combinations and flavors for making water kefir.
Tips
- Water kefir grains will multiply naturally if you make water kefir often. You can use the extra grains to make additional batches of kefir, give them away to friends so they can make kefir, or even put them in your compost pile.
- Avoid using chlorinated water as it can harm the grains. Filtered water or well water is always best.
- If the water kefir isn't fizzy enough when you uncap it, just put the cap back on and allow it to continue fermenting at room temperature. Check daily until the carbonation is to your liking.
- To bring your cultures back to life after being in the refrigerator or being dehydrated for the winter, just feed them by putting them in ¼ cup sugar and 1 quart warm water. Everyday, drain the liquid off and feed again. Add a couple of raisins to your jar and when they float, you'll know that the live cultures in your kefir grains are fully rehydrated and ready for making kefir.
- Ideas For Different Water Kefir Flavors:
- Use coconut water instead of regular water for the first fermentation. Skip the second ferment, and you have coconut water kefir.
- Vanilla - add vanilla extract and a little sugar for the second ferment. It will taste like cream soda.
- Grape - add grape juice to the second ferment.
- Fresh berries or fresh fruit - add any kind of fresh berries or fruit to the second ferment for a refreshing fruity fermented beverage
- Lemon - add lemon juice and you'll have a version of fermented lemonade
- Dried fruit - if it's wintertime and you don't have access to as much fresh fruit - just use dried fruit for your second ferment.
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How To Make Water Kefir - Homemade Probiotic Soda
Equipment
- 1 Fine mesh strainer
- 1 Quart or half gallon jar
- 1 Flip bottle tops
Ingredients
- .5 cup Water kefir grains
- .5 cup Sugar
- 8 cups Water
- Juice or fruit - to flavor the water kefir during the second ferment
Instructions
First Fermentation
- To a half-gallon jar add ½ cup of sugar (I prefer cane sugar, but white sugar is fine too), and fill it with hot tap water.
- Stir or shake vigorously until sugar is dissolved. Add ½ cup kefir grains to the jar.
- Add a couple of raisins to the jar. This step is optional, but when the raisins float, that means the kefir is ready to go on to it's second ferment.
- Place a lid on the jar (a regular sealing lid works fine, although many people just cover with a cloth and rubber band).
- Allow the jar to sit out at room temperature to do the first ferment for 24-48 hours. In the summertime, when it's warm, it's usually ready after 1 day. If your house is cooler than 68 degrees, it may take longer. Adding the raisins to the jar will tell you when it's ready. (If you forget about it and leave it longer, it will still be fine, the grains just might get a little more hungry).
- After the first ferment is complete, strain off the kefir grains using a mesh strainer or a fine tea towel. This plain water kefir can be consumed this way, but it's much better after you flavor it.
- The strained off kefir grains can be added to a jar of warm sugar water again to start another batch of kefir.
Second Fermentation
- To each flip-top bottle, add ¼ to 1 cup of juice, or a few pieces of fresh or frozen fruit. Add the plain water kefir from the first ferment to each flip-top jar, leaving at least a 1-inch headspace.
- Seal the top of each flip-top bottle and allow it to set out at room temperature for 1 to 2 days. After the first day, carefully crack open the top of the flip-top bottles to see if it has developed any carbonation. If you hear a loud "pop", and/or it starts bubbling over you will know it's well carbonated and bubbly. If you barely hear a "pop", then it probably hasn't fermented long enough to be bubbly. You can drink it at any time, but it's best when drank after it's carbonated and bubbly. Feel free to leave it set out longer if it's not bubbly enough, and you can even try setting it in a warmer location like outside for a few hours. You will figure out how long to let it ferment based on the temperature in your home, etc.
- Once the fermentation is complete, serve the finished water kefir over ice, or place the flip top bottles in the refrigerator until cold and then serve. They can be in the refrigerator for several days with no problem.
- Feel free to vary the amounts of juice or fruit to the amount of plain water kefir, and vary the timing of both the first and second ferments. You can't hurt it at all, and you will figure out your favorite combinations and flavors for making water kefir.
Can't wait to try making some!