21 Water Kefir Recipes and How to Make Carbonated Water Kefir - Simple Life Mom (2024)

21 Water Kefir Recipes and How to Make Carbonated Water Kefir - Simple Life Mom (1)

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I recently wrote about the health benefits of water kefir and how the mineral and probiotic content can change change the direction of your gut health, skin health, and even effect allergies. Now, I want to show you how to design your own water kefir recipes.

But first, you need to know how to get going!

21 Water Kefir Recipes and How to Make Carbonated Water Kefir - Simple Life Mom (2)

How to Make Water Kefir

Making water kefir is super easy! There’s no reason to buy it every time when you can make your own.

Ingredients and Tools Needed

You’ll need just a few ingredients to get started:

That’s it! You can’t grow kefir grains. They require a very specific environment to get started, so instead you’ll need to either find someone who has some extra grains for you to have (they grow and expand, making a friend with kefir grains and special friend indeed), or purchase some here.

Another thing to keep in mind is the tools you’ll need. You’ll want glass jars (Mason jars with metal lids are fine, but no metal in contact with the kefir water. It can interfere with the fermenting process), and a plastic mesh strainerfor pouring the liquid out and saving those precious grains for another batch. Don’t forget a cloth to cover the jar so that it has access to air, but no bugs or other things can get in. You can use a cheese cloth, but I just use a clean cloth napkin.

Procedure

So, how do you put it all together?

If you purchased dehydrated grains, then the first thing you’ll need to do is re-hydrate them. Basically you’ll want a 1:12 water to sugar ratio. Place 3-1/2 to 4 cups warm water in a 32oz jar and then add and dissolve 1/3 organic cane sugar. Add the grains and cover with a cloth. Let sit at room temperature for 3-4 days. Next, discard the start up liquid while saving the grains. They should be plump and ready to go!

Make another batch of water kefir by adding 3-1/2 to 4 cups warm water (not hot) to your jar and 1/3 cup sugar. Let sit at room temperature covered with a cloth for 24-48 hours. Strain and drink! It really is that simple!

Carbonate

If you’d like to build up some carbonation after the 24-48 hours, make sure there’s around an inch head space, seal, and leave on the counter at room temperature for another 24-48 hours. You can then refrigerate until ready to use and if sealed properly you should get a nice fizz after opening.

I’m sure you’d like to add some flavors too, so we’ll get to those DIY water kefir recipes, but first is upkeep.

Upkeep

Once you have water kefir grains, you can literally have 28-32 more ounces every 1-2 days. What if you don’t want to drink it that often?

When you’re overflowing and can’t drink your kefir water fast enough, just make a fresh batch of sugar water, add grains, seal, and place in your fridge for up to 3 weeks. Mark your calendar to change out the water at this time because you don’t want to forget. When you’re ready to make more, just add the grains to fresh sugar water and start the process at room temperature again.

21 Water Kefir Recipes and How to Make Carbonated Water Kefir - Simple Life Mom (3)

DIY Water Kefir Recipes

So, how about those great DIY water kefir recipes? If you’ve ever tried water kefir and didn’t care for the test, don’t be discouraged. There are hundreds of flavor combinations to try.

2nd Fermentation

You want to keep your kefir water virtually sugar free. That means when adding sugars like those in juices you’ll need to let it sit at room temperature for another 24-48 hours. If you’d like carbonation, seal before second fermentation and then after the 24-48 hours you can drink or refrigerate sealed for later.

Juices

Add around 1/2 cup juice to 4 cups of kefir water. Try juices like:

  • grape juice
  • apple juice
  • pineapple juice
  • cherry juice

Fruit

Add 1/2 cup – 1 cup sliced fruit after first fermentation, then ferment again. Try combinations like:

  • elderberries (clove and cinnamon stick, optional)
  • lemon and lime
  • strawberries and kiwi
  • blueberries and orange
  • Grapefruit
  • Strawberries and lemon juice

Coconut Water Kefir

If you’d like to make a few water kefir recipes with coconut, great! Make the batch as usual using coconut water instead of filtered water. Just make sure to ferment with regular filtered water and sugar after each coconut water fermentation to make sure the grains stay healthy.

Vanilla Water Kefir

For a yummy vanilla flavor, add 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract to a quart of water kefir. Juice combinations taste great with vanilla as well. Try:

  • Vanilla orange
  • Cream soda – Add vanilla extract and let ferment again for carbonation. Add a little cream to glass and pour in vanilla water kefir.

Ginger Water Kefir

Ginger is so great for the soothing the stomach, but it’s also an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant. This makes it a tasty and healthy addition to water kefir. Try combinations like:

  • ginger and sliced lemon
  • ginger and raspberries
  • ginger and cinnamon
  • ginger, turmeric, pepper

Herbal Water Kefir

Herbs add a lot of medicinal value. Add a handful of flowers or leaves to sugar water and ferment. Strain and let it ferment again for carbonation or drink right away. Herbs to try:

There are so many other herbs you can try of course, from dandelions and clover, to chamomile or hibiscus. Be creative and have fun experimenting.


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21 Water Kefir Recipes and How to Make Carbonated Water Kefir - Simple Life Mom (2024)

FAQs

How do I get more carbonation in kefir water? ›

Leave second ferment in warm place for 48 hours instead of 24. This allows more sugar to be eaten by the grains and provides more CO2 for the carbonation process. Be sure to open the lid every 12 hours, as sometimes carbonation happens very quickly. Make sure you add some sort of fruit or juice to the second ferment.

What is the disadvantage of water kefir? ›

It's usually well-tolerated. Side effects might include bloating, nausea, stomach cramps, diarrhea, and constipation. These symptoms usually go away after continued use. Pregnancy and breast-feeding: There isn't enough reliable information to know if kefir is safe to use when pregnant or breast-feeding.

Why isn't my water kefir carbonated? ›

During the first fermentation in the jar, the carbon dioxide created by the yeast evaporates in the air. Since most of the bubbles are not trapped in the liquid, kefir does not fizz much. Instead, it is when it undergoes a second fermentation, in sealed bottles, that the fizz develops the most.

What is the carbonation of kefir? ›

If you use too many grains and the kefir becomes fizzyit's a sign that a lot of carbon dioxide and a small amount of alcohol are being produced ( though likely to be less than 1%). It's the yeast. Milk kefir is carbonated naturally, by CO2 that the yeast produces.

How much baking soda do I add to water kefir? ›

The ratio of grains to water should be one tablespoon of grains to one cup of water. If adding molasses, you will need 1/2 teaspoon per batch. If using baking soda, use 1/4 teaspoon per batch. If you use too much of the soda, the batch will taste like salt, and it can kill off some of your grains.

How do you make water more carbonated? ›

Start by getting a soda maker or a carbonation system, like a Sodastream. You can also use a glass bottle or a plastic bottle with a tight cap to carbonate your water. Fill the bottle or the carbonation system with cold, filtered water. Add a small amount of natural sweetener, such as honey or maple syrup, to taste.

How do you increase carbonation? ›

Adding a teaspoon of sugar, fruit juice, or slices of fruit can aid in the carbonation process. One more thing to keep in mind, in regards to sugar, is that overdoing the first fermentation makes it difficult to achieve carbonation, even with added sugar during the second fermentation.

How do you carbonate a drink naturally? ›

Using yeast
  1. Fill a gallon-sized bottle with a warm beverage you want to carbonate; the yeast will not work in cold water.
  2. Add yeast. ...
  3. Cap the bottle and shake it well.
  4. Place the bottle in a dark, warm place for a few days to ferment.
  5. Once it's ready, refrigerate the bottle to halt the fermentation process.

What should you not mix with kefir? ›

We do not recommend mixing maple syrup, agave, or honey with your kefir. Maple syrup and agave have a high GI rating, which disrupts your microbiome. Honey is a natural antibiotic, which interferes with the good probiotics in the kefir.

How do I know if I killed my water kefir? ›

To know if your water kefir grains are dead, use them to ferment a new batch and repeat this cycle at least 4 times. If the grains are dead, the water will remain sweet, and there wouldn't be a sign of fermentation. Another way to know is the appearance of mold on the surface.

Who should not drink kefir? ›

It appears to be generally safe to consume, as long as people make and store it safely. While people who are lactose intolerant may be able to drink some kefir without symptoms, they should be careful to avoid drinking too much. People with milk allergies should avoid kefir unless it contains nondairy milk.

Should kefir be carbonated? ›

Your Kefir Soda should be fizzy and tangy and may have some background aroma, but it shouldn't be unpleasant. You can also make a new batch with a starter from a sachet, but this time use different juice/coconut water from another brand, with no additives or the least additives possible.

What happens if you add too much sugar to water kefir? ›

Too much sugar and the yeasts will either become slimy and overrun the bacteria or fall completely asleep and do nothing.

What happens if you over ferment water kefir? ›

It will become more curdled and you will see separation happening. The liquid whey will separate from more thicker kefir. Additional fermenting time will also change the taste, it will become more sour. Water kefir will not change much in appearance.

Is Sparkling kefir good for you? ›

Water kefir is a beverage favored for both its fizzy flavor and impressive health benefits. Besides packing a powerful punch of probiotics, this tasty drink has also been shown to amp up immunity, slow cancer cell growth and improve overall health.

Is homemade kefir fizzy? ›

It too has a slight fizz on opening the bottle. The 'fizz' in authentic kefir is caused by the naturally occurring yeasts which produce CO2 during the fermentation process. When we make our batches we watch the bubbles rise to the top of the tank once we've started stirring... it's alive!

Is it OK to drink fizzy kefir? ›

It also offers the same health benefits as regular kefir, with the added benefit of carbonation. However, some people may find that the level of fizziness is too intense or that it causes bloating or discomfort. Another advantage of fizzy kefir is that it can aid in digestion.

What are the benefits of drinking kefir soda? ›

Kefir is a fermented drink made with milk or water and kefir grains. Its consistency and flavor are similar to yogurt drinks, but kefir has more probiotics and good bacteria. Several studies show that drinking kefir can help improve your digestive and bone health and maintain your blood sugar levels.

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