Lets start with what is it! Water Kefir is a fermented drink which is packed full of good bacteria. These good bacteria get rid of the bad bacteria which are right now living in your gut (aren’t you glad you tuned it). These bad guys are there because of a few many things like taking antibiotics, having excess sugar in your diet and eating processed foods. If you have heard the phrase “probiotic”lately, this is one of the most potent of those.
It is similar to a fizzy soda but it is so good for you. You can flavor it in many ways once you learn how to make it. They are little alive crystals which multiply and if taken care of will provide you with a lifetime of water kefir. This drink is made with sugar and water but the sugar is all eaten up by the kefir grains or crystals. It is know by a few names, tibicos, SKG,sugar water kefir and a few others. This culture has been around for hundreds of years.
And once again, the good things in life are free, you cannot buy kefir grains in a store. You can only get these from someone else who makes kefir in their home like me.
Here are my two recipes:
1 cup water kefir grains
6-7 cups of good water (not chlorinated)
1/2 cup organic sugar, turbinado sugar, rapadura or even plain white sugar
1 tsp organic black strap molasses
1/8 tsp aluminum free baking soda (not baking powder)
piece of boiled egg shell membrane removed (optional)
optional- add a slice of lemon, a tiny slice of ginger, a few raisins or other organic unsulfered
dried fruit
You will need a glass container (no metal or plastic)
a plastic strainer to strain out kefir grains
Put your water in the container and add your sugar followed by the molasses
Put your lid on but not too tight, you want gases to be able to escape, otherwise your jar could burst. Put it into a cupboard and in 24 to 48 hours (depending on how fizzy you like it and how much of the sugar you want in it), your water kefir is ready. The longer the ferment the less sugar there will be in the final product. You can also do a second ferment to get lots of fizzy and make soda. You take your finished water kefir, bottle it and let it ferment at room temp for another day or two.
When it is time, strain your grains out into a glass container, put the kefir grains back into your fermenting jar and cover with some new sugar water mixture and repeat. Drink your water kefir.
My second recipe is much simpler but my grains only grow half as much with this recipe:
And once you start making this drink you will populate your gut with some wonderful, life chaging stuff and your little kefir friends will reproduce and you may have to have a give away of your own. Since all my jars are taken up with other things I had to steal some of Poppa’s beer glasses to keep all my extra grains.
Here is a picture of my extra grains just from the last 3 days, they are sleeping in the fridge until I can find them a home to go to.
Want in? Leave me a comment including your email address and make sure you are a follower and on earth day I will be picking a follower to receive their choice of grains or scoby.
I have been making water kefir but my grains aren’t multipling. I am going to try this thanks
what does this taste like? is it like soda water…I know you kind of mentioned, just wondering if it can be flavored like soda so my boys would drink it…
Maggie, You can flavor it with fruit or anything you can think of. It is bubbly more like champagne is than soda.
Jan, The baking soda fixes the ph in the water.
So…. why the baking soda?
I finally made my 1st batch of water kefir! I had to let the grains sleep in the fridge for a while since I was so busy, but since they multiplied after following the recipe and waiting 48 hours, I figured they were still alive. I am now on my 2nd jar:)
I finally made my 1st batch of water kefir! I had to let the grains sleep in the fridge for a while since I was so busy, but since they multiplied after following the recipe and waiting 48 hours, I figured they were still alive. I am now on my 2nd jar:)
I would love to try some kefir (water and milk) and kombucha!ann(dot)bergeron(at)gmail(dot)com
What a neat site – new here – have a sick daughter and think this will be good for her. Sorry to read about Angela above. My daughter's problems are not that bad – hopefully we can help her before she gets there. She has symptoms of chronic fatigue, etc….but she is getting better after 10 weeks in bed. Hopefully some kefir, kombucha, etc will help her.Emily
a friend of mine was just asking me where to get water kefir grains…where did you get yours? thanks for the insight! and yes, i already follow you. 😉
Saskia, If you don't win again, I can send you some for postage.
I had wanted to make some water kefir, was just looking online for grians. I used to make milk kefir
Oh – this sounds AWESOME! I hope I win! I'll share with everyone I know! (-:
Nora, I add the egg shell to mineralize the water. I went through months of battling to get my grains to grow but now since I been using this recipe, I can hardly keep up with the growth. Hope that helps.
Can you tell me why you add the baking soda? I've never seen that used before. Do you ever post ferment with juice? Thanks for being generous with your grains!!
Just found your site. Am looking forward to exploring. LOL I just ordered my first ever kefir grains. Water kefir, and they should get here by the weekend. I'm so excited!! I've also just started whey fermenting. Have kale blossom heads and scallions in ferment. Haven't got milk kefir or scoby yet, but they are next on my list. Debbie
This is exactly what my sister and I was talking about tonight. The water being so good. I have cancer/lupus/sarcoidosis and congestive heart failure. I am 47. My immune system is just not there at all. We are looking for things to try to boost me. I am having surgery soon to remove a brain tumor and want my body to be as ready as possible. Thank you for the recipes!