Did you happen to catch my video a few weeks back that was all about water kefir?
Well, if you missed it, let me summarize….
What is Water Kefir?
Water kefir is a fermented drink that is full of gut-friendly probiotics. It is a sweet and bubbly drink that takes on the flavor of whatever fruit, juice or sweetened tea you add to it.
How Is Water Kefir Made?
To make water kefir, water kefir grains are added to a specific ratio of sugar and water, and allowed to ferment for 12-48 hours. Temperature is the determining factor for how long the process takes. A warmer environment will make the fermentation process go much faster, while a cool environment slows things down.
Following the initial fermentation, the water kefir grains are strained from the liquid. The grains must be returned to fresh sugar water. The fermented sugar water liquid can be poured into a pop-top, or grolsch-style bottle or another fermented drink bottle, along with a desired flavor. (Be sure to only use bottles that are designed for fermented drinks. Yes, I speak from experience….)
The specific recipe for water kefir is: About 3 tablespoons of water kefir grains, 1/4 cup of organic cane sugar, and 3 cups of filtered water. See video at the bottom of this post for more details!
What are the Benefits of Drinking Water Kefir?
Because water kefir is fermented, it is a living food, full of microorganisms that are comprised of beneficial bacteria. These good bacteria create a proper balance inside the gut to help maintain a healthy body.
While it does contain enzymes and acids, they don’t seem to have quite as strong an effect as those in kombucha. However, water kefir contains a greater number of bacteria strains than those found in kombucha.
Cultures For Health
https://www.culturesforhealth.com/learn/kombucha/water-kefir-vs-kombucha/
Some of Our Family Favorite Flavor Combos
We have tried a lot of flavor varieties for our water kefir. Not all have turned out great… But some have been so good we were able to share with friends! And even they enjoyed the beverage!!
-Lemon and Honey: This is our hands-down fave flavor, and the one most people enjoy.
-Mixed Berry Tea sweetened with Sugar or Honey: For this flavor, I steep Raspberry Zinger and Blueberry tea bags in half the required amount of water and sweeten while warm. Be sure to let it fully cool before adding to the fermented sugar water so as not to kill the bacteria.
-Mint Tea and/or extract, Lime & Honey: The mint extract was made from last summer’s garden harvest, and is a spearmint variety. Either lime essential oil or fresh-squeezed lime juice can be used, along with sugar or honey to make a Mojito flavored water kefir.
For each of the flavors, I “eye-ball” the measurements, and aim for about 1/4 cup in each bottle.
Our family loves water kefir for the health benefits AND because it tastes yummy. It does not have the same twang as kombucha, and tends to be a bit sweeter. Because of the natural carbonation (a byproduct of the fermentation process,) the water kefir tastes a lot like soda, which is something we don’t often drink in our house. The kids feel like this is such a treat!
Okay, so maybe you are ready to jump on the water kefir band wagon? I strongly recommend ordering your water kefir grains from a reputable source, such as Cultures for Health. I have ordered the water kefir grains, a SCOBY for kombucha, as well as the starter for Matsoni yogurt from Cultures for Health. All have turned out to be a great addition to our diet.
Here is the direct link: Cultures for Health
I am not affiliated with the company, nor am I earning anything for directing you to them. I just am sharing the site with you because I have been so pleased with it!
Check out my video below as I make a batch of Lemon Honey Water Kefir!
Have any questions about water kefir or fermented foods? I’d love to hear from you!!
