Water Kefir Drink (good soda substitute!) Recipe

"You have to have the kefir grains to make this. If you want some, PM me and I can mail you some. This is a very healthy, very easy drink. You can flavor it so many different ways too. It has lots of good bacteria and yeast. It turns out almost sugar free (if not all) as the grains eat the sugar during the fermentation. Any fermented food is very good for you and should be eaten a little each day. For the drink, start with a little bit and work your way up. Some people can't drink a lot right away. More tips within the recipe. Cook time is fermenting time. The grains are live, so they will multipy. Give any extras away, if you can."

Original is 2 servings

Metric US

I've Tried It

Ingredients

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1/2 cup water kefir grains
1/2 cup table sugar, or other natural type
2-3 dates or 1-2 figs or small handful raisins

1/4 tsp crushed boiled eggshell or 1 tsp molasses (save the shells from hard boiled eggs)
2 quarts cold spring water or well water (NOT city water - the chlorine will kill the grains)

Nutritional

Serving Size: 1 (167.9 g)
Calories 252
Total Fat - 0 g
Saturated Fat - 0 g
Cholesterol - 0 mg
Sodium - 59.6 mg
Total Carbohydrate - 66.3 g
Dietary Fiber - 0 g
Sugars - 0 g
Protein - 0 g
Calcium - 20.8 mg
Iron - 0.6 mg
Vitamin C - 0 mg
Thiamin - 0 mg

Step by Step Method

Step 1

In a 2 quart glass container, add all ingredients, stirring well to dissolve the sugar. Some recipes say not to use filtered water, however I have used it, along with the egg shell, with success.

Step 2

Cover the container, lightly (not tightly), and place on the counter. Let ferment for 24 hours, to start. If you want, you can try letting it go for 48 hours, but the longer it goes, the stronger it gets.

Step 3

Strain out the grains and use them again. Or, if you want to save them, put them in a small glass container, cover with water and a little sugar, and place in the fridge until ready to use.

Step 4

Some flavors: Juice from 1 lemon or 2 limes. Fresh or frozen fruit, pureed. Ginger. Mint leaves. For juice, after the first ferment, you can add 1/2 can of grape (or other juice) concentrate. If you want it to taste like a wine cooler, remove the grains, use some grains that are only reserved for juice. Put the juice grains back in the glass container, along with the kefir and 1/2 can grape juice. Ferment for another 24 hours. Remove grains and drink. You can leave it on the counter or place in fridge. Placing in fridge will reduce the bubbles. .I wouldn't recommend the juice and 2nd ferment for children though.

Step 5

For homemade root beer: place all ingredients in the glass container, along with 1/2 tsp root beer syrup, and ferment for 24 hours. Remove grains, add some liquid stevia and drink. Keep in fridge to stop the fermenting