Make Your Own Water Kefir | Authentic Water Kefir Grain

Description

Make your own probiotic bubbling fermented soda with these real water kefir grains!

What is Water Kefir?

Water kefir is a delicious homemade and healthy fermented soda. Making water kefir yourself is mind-blowingly simple, tinglingly fresh, incredibly tasty, and very satisfying. Below you can read the recipe for making water kefir. These DIY champagnes contain about half a percent of alcohol.

What is the difference between water kefir and milk kefir?

Although it shares its name with that other kefir we make from milk, the two are not related at all. Admittedly, 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. Other names include tibicos, tibi, bébéés, or Japanese water crystals. Find milk kefir here.

What is the difference between water kefir and kombucha?

Water kefir and kombucha are both fermented drinks. Both contain various bacteria and yeasts, and both are wonderfully fresh and carbonated. 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, while water kefir often contains dates and figs. Read more about our kombucha starter here.

Which microorganisms are in water kefir?

Although no two water kefir colonies are the same, they generally consist of a range of Lactobacillus, Streptococcus, Pediococcus, and Leuconostoc bacteria and Saccharomyces, Candida, and Kloeckera yeasts.

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.

What are other names for water kefir?

Other names include

• tibicos
• tibi
• bébéés
• Japanese water crystals.

What is the difference between fresh and dried water kefir grains?

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

• Easy to ship/take with you, including abroad.
• Does not degrade during transport.
• Lightweight (shipping costs).
• You can purchase them even if you don’t plan to make water kefir that same week.
• After activation, the taste of our water kefir is identical to that of fresh grains.

How do you make water kefir yourself with real water kefir grains?

In this water kefir recipe, you will learn how to make this delicious soda yourself. The base of your water kefir consists of our starter, water, sugar, and flavorings of your choice. Often these are (citrus) fruits, dried or fresh, but the variation is endless. Fruit juices, herbs, spices, ginger, you name it. Unlike milk kefir or kombucha, the flavor released by the microorganisms themselves is fairly neutral. The bubbles are key. Essentially, it’s a great way to turn your regular homemade lemonade into homemade fizzy soda in just a few days. The DIY champagnes contain about half a percent of alcohol.

Contents

• 5 grams of organic dried authentic water kefir grains
• Equivalent to 30 g of fresh water kefir grains
• Enough to prepare the first 300 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 microorganisms (Lactobacillus, Lactococcus, Leuconostoc, Saccharomyces, Acetobacter).

Making water kefir yourself

Requirements

• Bottle, jar, plastic container, whatever for first fermentation
• Strainer
• Strong and sealable bottle (swing-top bottles, PET bottle, champagne bottle + cork) for 2^nd fermentation

How do you activate dried water kefir grains?

Your water kefir grains are dried, so they are in a resting state. You need to wake them up before you can get started.

1. Dissolve 30 g of cane sugar in 300 ml of tap water and add the dried water kefir grains
2. Let ferment for 1 to 2 days.
3. Strain and discard the water.
4. (optional: repeat steps 1-3 a few times until you notice activity (bubbles, growth)).
5. Strain and use the grains for water kefir.

Ingredients for 600 ml of water kefir

• Activated water kefir grains
• 600 ml tap water
• 30 g cane sugar* or organic sugar
• Optional: 1 to 2 slices of lemon
• Optional: 1 to 2 dried fruits (fig, apricot, …)

Getting started, for 1 liter of water kefir

1. Take 600 ml of water. Tap water is fine
2. Dissolve the sugar (at room temperature) in it and add the grains.
3. optional: add the fruit and flavorings.
4. Let ferment for 24-48 hours at room temperature (approx. 20-24 °C).
5. Filter the contents with a strainer to remove the fruit and kefir grains.
6. Proceed to the optional steps below
7. Or chill the water kefir in the refrigerator
8. Use the kefir grains for a new batch

Optional:

1. Pour the water kefir into a sealable PET bottle, swing-top bottle, or champagne bottle. Add extra flavorings if desired and let it build pressure for 24-48 hours at room temperature. For extra fizz!
2. Let cool in the refrigerator.
3. Serve and enjoy.

*Note: if you notice your water kefir becoming slimy, or the grains a bit mushy, replace the cane sugar with granulated sugar (after rinsing your grains well).

Want to learn more about fermentation?

Also check out this starter kit where we combine our water kefir grains with our beautiful kefir jar so you have everything you need to make your own water kefir in one go

Online On-Demand Workshop ‘Make your Own Water Kefir’

In this Online course ‘making water kefir’, food writer, fermentation expert, and author of Over Rot Meneer Wateetons teaches you everything about making water kefir. Water kefir is a delicious homemade fermented soft drink. Making water kefir yourself is amazingly simple, refreshingly fizzy, incredibly tasty, and offers endless flavor possibilities.