This nourishing probiotic drink makes a wonderful alternative to conventional soda and juice. It’s also cheap! Once you obtain the grains, your cost is simply the sugar.
Water kefir requires three essential ingredients: starter, sugar and water. Don’t worry if sugar is not part of your daily diet. The sugar is “eaten” by the grains or starter, and the drink transforms into a nice boost to your immune system.
Save Recipe
Ingredients
- 3 c. water
- 3 tbsp. sugar (a combination of molasses and sugar is ideal: 1 tbls molasses 2 tbls sugar)
- 3 tbsp. water kefir grains
Instructions
- Combine water and sugar; stir until dissolved.
- Add a pinch of sea salt and/or baking soda if you are not using molasses to ensure the grains get plenty of minerals.
- Pour sugar solution into quart-size container or jar.
- Add water kefir grains.
- Cover with a breathable cover such as cheesecloth and place on the counter at room temperature away from direct sunlight for 48 hours.
- Strain the grains. (Reserve the grains for the next batch or store them.)
- Add desired flavorings to the fermented water such as fruit or ginger.*
- Cap the lid tightly.
- Place on the counter for additional 24 hours to develop flavor and add carbonation. The grains will slowly multiply. You may store these in a mild sugar solution in the fridge or pass the extras along to a friend.
*Other possible additions include:
- Cinnamon Sticks
- Vanilla
- Raspberries
- Cranberries
- Peeled ginger
- Slice of organic lemon
- Figs
- Dates
- Fresh mint
- Fresh fennel
Related Posts
- 60
Coconut water is ideal for exercise enthusiasts as it has all the salts and sugars our body needs for re-hydration following intensive workouts. When the water is properly fermented it has even more benefit! The natural sugars in coconut water are “eaten’ by the grains (or starter) and the result… - 57
Should you make water kefir with an airlock or just cover it with a cloth? Is the process more like kombucha or sauerkraut? I have been making water kefir for several years now and so far have not used an airlock. I cap the jar tightly during the second ferment… - 46
Versatile and full of rich probiotics, dairy kefir is simple to make and fun to drink! The word kefir (pronounced kəˈfir/ kə-FEER), comes from the Turkish word "Keif" which means "good feeling". With more than a dozen strains of bacteria and yeast, dairy kefir offers a diverse blend of probiotics. (See… - 42Hippocrates said that our food is our medicine, and our medicine is our food. Nothing illustrates this more than the probiotic food kefir. I feel like I'm running a compounding pharmacy every time I make it. Kefir is made using "grains" to ferment any milk (goat, cow, coconut, etc.), incorporating…
- 41
This raspberry lemonade is perfect for summer. Not only is it delicious, it offers a nice probiotic boost. Made with homemade whey or water kefir grains this drink nourishes and refreshes. [mpprecipe-recipe:39] DIY Raspberry Lemonade Gelatin Use this recipe with a high-quality gelatin and add some collagen to your diet.…
I am interested to make water kefir . Where is a good source to get water kefir grains ?
Do we need to buy organic ? Thank you so much.
I have some to offer if you want to email me directly: andrea@it-takes-time.com I don’t worry too much about organic. If the grains are thriving that’s enough of a sign in my mind.
Andrea, we are planning to try this water kefir recipe as soon as we can get the grains. Question: Since we are concerned about GMO, how can we be sure that the grains are not contaminated with GMO?
Also wanted to let you know that my Mycotoxin panel test results are in…all are negative! I am feeling quite relieved. Waited a long time for this testing and Medicare covers it, if one has the original Medicare coverage.
Ruth
Nice to hear, Ruth. The grains are clusters of bacteria and yeast and are not technically grains. I have no worries about GMOs, but the sugar could be genetically modified, which is why I suggest organic.
I am trying to cut all sugar out of my diet can I use stevia, monk fruit or something else?
We have completely cut out sugar. For a fermented beverage like this sugar is the food and the alternative sweeteners are not. Because they don’t have carbs and the sugar they can’t transform sweetened water into something healthy like this. Most of the sugar is consumed by the grains. The final product is not sweet so you will be able to tell if most of the sugar is gone. This is the same principle as brewing kombucha.