Make your own water kefir | real water kefir grains

Description

Make your own probiotic bubbly fermented soft drink with our water kefir grains!

What is water kefir?

Water kefir is a delicious homemade, healthy fermented soft drink. Making your own water kefir is mind-bogglingly easy, tingly fresh, incredibly delicious, and very satisfying. Further down you’ll read the recipe for making water kefir. These DIY champagnes contain about half a percent alcohol.

What is the difference between water kefir and milk kefir?

Although it shares the name with that other kefir made from milk, the two are not related at all. Granted, water kefir grains eat sugars and produce carbon dioxide, lactic acid and alcohol in the process, and they grow and form lumpy SCOBYs, symbiotic colonies of bacteria and yeasts. But that’s where the similarities end.  You can find milk kefir here.

What is the difference between water kefir and kombucha?

Water kefir and kombucha are both fermented drinks. Both contain different bacteria and yeasts, and both are deliciously fresh and contain bubbles. However, they are made with very different microorganisms. The taste of kombucha is often a bit more acidic than water kefir. Kombucha is traditionally made from sweet tea, and water kefir often contains dates and figs. You can read more about our kombucha starter here.

What microorganisms are present in these water kefir grains?

While no two water kefir colonies are the same, they generally consist of a range of Lactobacillus, Streptococcus, Pediococcus and Leuconostoc bacteria as well as Saccharomyces, Candida and Kloeckeragists.

Where does water kefir come from?

The origin of water kefir is not entirely clear, but it is made in several places around the world. Other names include tibicos, tibi, bébéés or Japanese water crystals.

Why choose our freeze-dried water kefir grains?

Fresh and dried water kefir grains are exactly the same. The dried ones just need a few days to rehydrate. On the other hand, buying dried water firk grains has many advantages:

• Easy to ship/carry, even abroad.
• Does not deteriorate in transit.
• Light weight (shipping cost).
• You can purchase them already, even if you don’t plan to make water kefir immediately that week.
• After activation, the taste of our water kefir is identical to that of fresh grains.

Contents

• 5 grams organic dried real water kefir grains (comparable to 30 grams of fresh water kefir grains)
• Enough to prepare the first 800 ml of water kefir, and then continue for the rest of your life.
• The shelf life of our dehydrated water kefir grains is 1 year.
• Includes activation / maintenance instructions and kefir recipe.
• Composition: water kefir micro organisms (Lactobacillus, Lactococcus, Leuconostoc, Saccharomyces, Acetobacter).

How to activate the water kefir grains?

Your water kefir grains are dormant, you activate them as follow:

• Dissolve 30 g cane sugar in 800 ml tap water and add the dried water kefir grains.
• Ferment for 1 to 2 days.
• Strain and discard the water.
• Repeat 1 or 2 times

How do you make your own water kefir?

In this recipe for water kefir, you will learn how to make this delicious soda yourself. The basis of your water kefir consists of our starter, water, sugar, and flavorings of your choice. These are often (citrus) fruits, whether or not dried, but the variations are endless. Fruit juices, herbs, spices, ginger, you name it. Unlike milk kefir or kombucha, the taste given off by the microorganisms themselves is quite neutral. The bubbles take center stage. Actually, it’s mostly a good way to turn your regular homemade lemonade into homemade sparkling lemonade in a few days. The DIY champagnes contain about half a percent alcohol.

Needed

• Bottle, jar, plastic container, or similar for initial fermentation
• Colander
• Strong and sealable bottle (swing-top bottles, PET bottle, champagne bottle + cork) for 2nd fermentation

Ingredients for 800 ml of water kefir

• around 30 grams of hydrated and started water kefir
• 1 liter of water
• 1 to 2 slices of lemon
• 1-2 dried fruits (fig, apricot, …)
• 30 grams of granulated sugar

To get started, for 800 ml of water kefir

1. Take a liter of water. Tap water is fine, preferably even a little hard. Kefir grains need minerals.
2. Dissolve the sugar and the water kefir starter culture in the water.
3. Add the fruit and flavorings.
4. Allow to ferment for 48 hours at room temperature (20-25°C). When the dried fruit comes to the surface, your kefir is ready. Filter the contents with a colander to remove the fruit and grains.
5. Optional: pour the water kefir into a sealable PET bottle, bracket bottle or champagne bottle. Add any additional flavorings and allow to pressurize for 24-48 hours at room temperature.
6. Allow to cool in the refrigerator.
7. Serve and enjoy.

Buying a water kefir starter culture?

Order your water kefir grains at startercultures.eu, the European webshop for all your fermentation, sausage, and charcuterie needs. By Meneer Wateetons, renowned Dutch fermentation and meat expert and author. Order on weekdays before  3 pm and we’ll ship the same day.  Questions on the usage? Ask them in our chat, we’ll here to help!

Online Kombucha making course

In 29 bite sized English spoken video lessons you will learn all about making kombucha at home, without the need for special tools, in this online course by the founder of startercultures.eu. You will learn to ferment Kombucha, promote your probiotics and save money, by never having to buy Kombucha again!