If you haven't tried Water Kefir, you're in for a treat.
This naturally carbonated beverage delivers all the refreshing fizz and flavor of soda pop without the fake sugar, artificial flavors, artificial colors, aspartame and added caffeine. Plus, Water Kefir packs loads of probiotics to help restore and maintain good intestinal health.
Make Your Own Water Kefir Soda at home.
Its super easy and inexpensive, anybody can do it! To get started you'll need Water Kefir Grains, water,sugar and basic kitchen equipment. Water Kefir Grains can be Live or Dehydrated.
Use Pure Fresh Water and Organic Sugar
Water - For best results use pure, fresh water. Make sure the water is chlorine free or your Kefir Grains can be killed. If you live in a city or town you can use tap water but boil it first to evaporate the chlorine and then let it cool to 24-26°C (75-80°F) before using. Avoid using a microwave oven, its best to use a kettle or pot to boil the water.
Water Kefir grains do not do well in distilled or reverse osmosis water due to the lack of minerals. If you use distilled or RO water add a couple drops of mineral supplement (available at natural food stores) or a pinch of grey sea salt. You can also use clean well water if the iron content is not too high. After a bit of experimentation, you'll discover what works best for you.
Sugar - Organic blonde cane sugar is recommended. This results in fast growing, healthy grains and excellent tasting water kefir. A tablespoon of rapadura or sucanat sugar added to the blonde cane sugar is a nice addition. Avoid using bleached white table sugar or honey. Honey is antibacterial.
Equipment
Use clean, dedicated equipment to make your water kefir, this helps to avoid contamination and bad taste. Plastic and glass is preferred. Equipment cleaned in the dishwasher works just fine.
Equipment Required
2 - funnels 15cm (6") and 10cm (4")
2 - measuring cups - 1 & 4 cups.
1 - Large wood or plastic spoon
2 - large glass bowls
1 - fine mesh plastic strainer - I use a 18 cm (7") strainer - smaller strainers are handy for when your grains first arrive
1 - Tablespoon
1 - 500 ml (1 pint) glass jar to get started. Other sizes as required as you increase production.
- Bottles and/or jars with tight sealing lid as required. Bottles can be clear or brown.
- Jars for storing extra grains.
- Cloth and rubber bands for lids - We use mesh cloth bags - Lets the cultures breathe, keeps everything else out.
- Stick on thermometer or infrared temperature gun to monitor temp.
You'll likely modify the list as you go but this will get you off to a good start.
If Your Grains Have Traveled to You
Travel is stressful for kefir grains and now its time to rebalance and rejuvenate the cultures. You accomplish this by completing two water/sugar cycles before starting fermentation. If you have live grains please proceed to "OK, Let's Get Started".
If you Have Dehydrated Grains
Here is the rehydration process for Dehydrated Water Kefir Grains
Mix ½ tablespoon of sugar in 1 cup of non-chlorinated, room temperature water. Add Kefir Grains.
Let this sit 24 hours.
After 24 hours, pour the mixture through a strainer and discard the water.
Repeat steps 1-3 one more time using 2 cups of water and 1 tablespoon of sugar.
Rinse the rehydrated grains and continue at "OK Let's Get Started"
OK, Let's Get Started
In a clean, glass jar dissolve 1 tablespoon of sugar in 1 cup of water 24-26°C (75-80°F) then add your water kefir grains. Cover the jar with a clean thin cloth and hold the cloth in place with a rubber band. Let this ferment in a warm spot 21-26°C (70-80°F) for 48 hours. The Kefir Grains need sugar to survive and will starve if left too long. Water that is too hot will kill the grains. On top of your fridge is usually a good spot to ferment. We have also found that in the oven with the light on is a good place, especially in the winter. Make sure you use an aquarium thermometer and keep the temperature between 24-26C (75-80F)
After the first 48 hours
Drain the mixture into a plastic strainer and discard the sugar/water mixture. Rinse the grains with non-chlorinated water. Repeat "OK Let's Get Started" one more time before moving on. After the second 48 hours, you are now ready to proceed with fermentation, this is where the fun starts.
Basic Water Kefir Recipe - Using Two Stage Fermentation
1 Tablespoon of Water Kefir Grains
1 Tablespoon of organic sugar + a pinch of rapadura or sucanat sugar
1 cup of water 24-26°C (75-80°F)
For Fermentation Stage 1 you can use any multiple of this formula depending the quantity of kefir grains you have. Example: 6 tablespoons kefir grains, 6 cups of water and 5 tablespoons of organic cane sugar + 1 tablespoon of rapadura or sucanat sugar.
Fermentation Stage 1
1. Combine the sugar and water and stir until the sugar is fully dissolved, add the Water Kefir Grains. Cover with a cloth lid and let sit in a warm place 24-26°C (75-80°F) for 48 hours.
2. After 48 hours pour the mixture through a strainer and set the grains aside along with enough liquid to cover any extra grains youmight have.
3. Taste the mixture using a straw. It will be less sweet than when you started. If you want your water Kefir a little on the sweet side, you can proceed to Stage 2 and bottle your water kefir. If you want the sugar to be all used up, then cover and let it sit an addition 24 hours before proceeding to Stage 2.
Fermentation Stage 2
Pour the liquid in bottles along with fruit juice. Orange, Pomegranate, Cranberry, Cherry, Peach and Mango are excellent. Ideally the juice is organic. You can also use fresh made juice. Start with 1 ounce of juice to 1 cup of water kefir and then adjust to your taste. Try experimenting with different juices and unsulfured, dried fruits. Some folks enjoy water kefir without any additional juice or other flavors, this is where you can have fun experimenting.
Seal the bottles with tight fitting lids and let sit 48-72 hours. Test after 48 hours by slowly cracking the lid on the bottle. Be careful here. The contents are most likely under pressure and can make quite a mess if you open the bottle too quickly. If your Water Kefir is ready it will fizz up, you can now place the bottles in the refrigerator and this will stop the fermentation process. If the Kefir has little or no fizz, add ½ teaspoon of sugar or if you have room add more juice and then wait another 24 hours.
Note: If don't want the fizz (carbonation) then refrigerate your kefir as soon as you bottle it.
You can make larger batches by simply multiplying the ingredients and keeping the proportions the same as above.
Now that you've completed your first batch of Water Kefir it's time to start the process all over again using the basic recipe above. Feel free to get creative by adding a bit of dried fruit, crystallized ginger, root beer concentrate or vanilla to the bottle during the 2nd fermentation stage.
What to do with the extra grains?
As you progress you'll eventually have extra grains. Put them in a jar along with the ¼ cup of reserved liquid from the first fermentation stage. Cover with cloth lid and seal with a rubber band. Store in the extra grains beside your next batch of Water Kefir. Once you have an extra ½ cup or so you can increase your batch size accordingly.
Thank You! I wish you much success and health.
Shannon Berreth is the owner of GoGo Kefir located in Alberta, Canada.
GoGo Kefir specializes in Organic Water Kefir Grains, Organic Milk Kefir Grains and Organic Kombucha. To check out our entire line of products please visit http://water-kefir.ca
By Shannon Berreth
Article Source: Discover How to Make Your Own Water Kefir at Home - It's Quick and Easy
This naturally carbonated beverage delivers all the refreshing fizz and flavor of soda pop without the fake sugar, artificial flavors, artificial colors, aspartame and added caffeine. Plus, Water Kefir packs loads of probiotics to help restore and maintain good intestinal health.
Make Your Own Water Kefir Soda at home.
Its super easy and inexpensive, anybody can do it! To get started you'll need Water Kefir Grains, water,sugar and basic kitchen equipment. Water Kefir Grains can be Live or Dehydrated.
Use Pure Fresh Water and Organic Sugar
Water - For best results use pure, fresh water. Make sure the water is chlorine free or your Kefir Grains can be killed. If you live in a city or town you can use tap water but boil it first to evaporate the chlorine and then let it cool to 24-26°C (75-80°F) before using. Avoid using a microwave oven, its best to use a kettle or pot to boil the water.
Water Kefir grains do not do well in distilled or reverse osmosis water due to the lack of minerals. If you use distilled or RO water add a couple drops of mineral supplement (available at natural food stores) or a pinch of grey sea salt. You can also use clean well water if the iron content is not too high. After a bit of experimentation, you'll discover what works best for you.
Sugar - Organic blonde cane sugar is recommended. This results in fast growing, healthy grains and excellent tasting water kefir. A tablespoon of rapadura or sucanat sugar added to the blonde cane sugar is a nice addition. Avoid using bleached white table sugar or honey. Honey is antibacterial.
Equipment
Use clean, dedicated equipment to make your water kefir, this helps to avoid contamination and bad taste. Plastic and glass is preferred. Equipment cleaned in the dishwasher works just fine.
Equipment Required
2 - funnels 15cm (6") and 10cm (4")
2 - measuring cups - 1 & 4 cups.
1 - Large wood or plastic spoon
2 - large glass bowls
1 - fine mesh plastic strainer - I use a 18 cm (7") strainer - smaller strainers are handy for when your grains first arrive
1 - Tablespoon
1 - 500 ml (1 pint) glass jar to get started. Other sizes as required as you increase production.
- Bottles and/or jars with tight sealing lid as required. Bottles can be clear or brown.
- Jars for storing extra grains.
- Cloth and rubber bands for lids - We use mesh cloth bags - Lets the cultures breathe, keeps everything else out.
- Stick on thermometer or infrared temperature gun to monitor temp.
You'll likely modify the list as you go but this will get you off to a good start.
If Your Grains Have Traveled to You
Travel is stressful for kefir grains and now its time to rebalance and rejuvenate the cultures. You accomplish this by completing two water/sugar cycles before starting fermentation. If you have live grains please proceed to "OK, Let's Get Started".
If you Have Dehydrated Grains
Here is the rehydration process for Dehydrated Water Kefir Grains
Mix ½ tablespoon of sugar in 1 cup of non-chlorinated, room temperature water. Add Kefir Grains.
Let this sit 24 hours.
After 24 hours, pour the mixture through a strainer and discard the water.
Repeat steps 1-3 one more time using 2 cups of water and 1 tablespoon of sugar.
Rinse the rehydrated grains and continue at "OK Let's Get Started"
OK, Let's Get Started
In a clean, glass jar dissolve 1 tablespoon of sugar in 1 cup of water 24-26°C (75-80°F) then add your water kefir grains. Cover the jar with a clean thin cloth and hold the cloth in place with a rubber band. Let this ferment in a warm spot 21-26°C (70-80°F) for 48 hours. The Kefir Grains need sugar to survive and will starve if left too long. Water that is too hot will kill the grains. On top of your fridge is usually a good spot to ferment. We have also found that in the oven with the light on is a good place, especially in the winter. Make sure you use an aquarium thermometer and keep the temperature between 24-26C (75-80F)
After the first 48 hours
Drain the mixture into a plastic strainer and discard the sugar/water mixture. Rinse the grains with non-chlorinated water. Repeat "OK Let's Get Started" one more time before moving on. After the second 48 hours, you are now ready to proceed with fermentation, this is where the fun starts.
Basic Water Kefir Recipe - Using Two Stage Fermentation
1 Tablespoon of Water Kefir Grains
1 Tablespoon of organic sugar + a pinch of rapadura or sucanat sugar
1 cup of water 24-26°C (75-80°F)
For Fermentation Stage 1 you can use any multiple of this formula depending the quantity of kefir grains you have. Example: 6 tablespoons kefir grains, 6 cups of water and 5 tablespoons of organic cane sugar + 1 tablespoon of rapadura or sucanat sugar.
Fermentation Stage 1
1. Combine the sugar and water and stir until the sugar is fully dissolved, add the Water Kefir Grains. Cover with a cloth lid and let sit in a warm place 24-26°C (75-80°F) for 48 hours.
2. After 48 hours pour the mixture through a strainer and set the grains aside along with enough liquid to cover any extra grains youmight have.
3. Taste the mixture using a straw. It will be less sweet than when you started. If you want your water Kefir a little on the sweet side, you can proceed to Stage 2 and bottle your water kefir. If you want the sugar to be all used up, then cover and let it sit an addition 24 hours before proceeding to Stage 2.
Fermentation Stage 2
Pour the liquid in bottles along with fruit juice. Orange, Pomegranate, Cranberry, Cherry, Peach and Mango are excellent. Ideally the juice is organic. You can also use fresh made juice. Start with 1 ounce of juice to 1 cup of water kefir and then adjust to your taste. Try experimenting with different juices and unsulfured, dried fruits. Some folks enjoy water kefir without any additional juice or other flavors, this is where you can have fun experimenting.
Seal the bottles with tight fitting lids and let sit 48-72 hours. Test after 48 hours by slowly cracking the lid on the bottle. Be careful here. The contents are most likely under pressure and can make quite a mess if you open the bottle too quickly. If your Water Kefir is ready it will fizz up, you can now place the bottles in the refrigerator and this will stop the fermentation process. If the Kefir has little or no fizz, add ½ teaspoon of sugar or if you have room add more juice and then wait another 24 hours.
Note: If don't want the fizz (carbonation) then refrigerate your kefir as soon as you bottle it.
You can make larger batches by simply multiplying the ingredients and keeping the proportions the same as above.
Now that you've completed your first batch of Water Kefir it's time to start the process all over again using the basic recipe above. Feel free to get creative by adding a bit of dried fruit, crystallized ginger, root beer concentrate or vanilla to the bottle during the 2nd fermentation stage.
What to do with the extra grains?
As you progress you'll eventually have extra grains. Put them in a jar along with the ¼ cup of reserved liquid from the first fermentation stage. Cover with cloth lid and seal with a rubber band. Store in the extra grains beside your next batch of Water Kefir. Once you have an extra ½ cup or so you can increase your batch size accordingly.
Thank You! I wish you much success and health.
Shannon Berreth is the owner of GoGo Kefir located in Alberta, Canada.
GoGo Kefir specializes in Organic Water Kefir Grains, Organic Milk Kefir Grains and Organic Kombucha. To check out our entire line of products please visit http://water-kefir.ca
By Shannon Berreth
Article Source: Discover How to Make Your Own Water Kefir at Home - It's Quick and Easy
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