Easy Fermented Lemonade -Homemade Probiotic Soda
This easy fermented lemonade is the perfect way to hydrate in the summertime. Made with traditional lemonade ingredients, but with the addition of yogurt whey which reduces the amount of sugar in the lemonade during the fermentation process. This fermented lemonade is a delicious, refreshing bubbly probiotic drink you'll want to make all summer long.
Equipment
- 1 Tea towel or fine cloth
- 1 Collander or fine mesh strainer and bowl for catching whey from the yogurt
- 1 Half-gallon jar OR flip top bottles optional, but these will help create the carbonation during the second ferment.
- 1 Long spoon or whisk for stirring lemonade
Ingredients
- 1.5 cup sugar
- ¾ cup fresh lemon juice
- 1.5 cup whey, strained from full fat yogurt
- 8 cup water
Instructions
- Squeeze the juice from some fresh lemons.To a half-gallon jar add the sugar, lemon juice, water and whey. Stir or shake vigorously until sugar is dissolved. Place a lid on the jar (or pour lemonade into flip-top bottles) and allow it to sit out at room temperature for 2 to 4 days. The exact fermentation time will depend on the temperature of your house, and how fizzy you want your lemonade.Remove the lid to allow the gasses created by the fermentation to release once a day. When you feel your lemonade is fermented to your liking, place it in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. The lemonade will continue to ferment at a slower rate while in the refrigerator, and continue creating gut-healthy probiotics.Serve cold over ice.
Notes
Fresh lemon juice is very important for this lemonade. Bottled lemon juice is not as bright and sweet, and doesn't make as good of a probiotic drink. A lemon juicer will greatly speed up the process of juicing the lemons for this lemonade ferment.
Avoid using chlorinated water. Well water or filtered water make the best ferments.
Open the lid of your lemonade once a day to release pressure. Then put it back on so it can capture the carbonation.
This probiotic lemonade will continue to ferment even when in the refrigerator, although being at a colder temperature will certainly slow down the fermentation.
It will keep in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. The carbonation and flavor will continue to improve while in the refrigerator.
If it is summertime and your kitchen is warm, the lemonade will ferment at a faster rate, and could be fizzy enough after only two days. Try a glass and see how you like the taste before putting it into the refrigerator.
Putting the lemonade into swing-top bottles is optional, but it helps to trap the carbon dioxide, making the lemonade more fizzy.
If you see a cloudy substance start to collect at the bottom of the bottle, it's just some of the yogurt solids that slipped into your yogurt whey. It won't hurt anything.
