Water kefir recipe – how to make probiotic lemonade

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Homemade water kefir tastes tangy, fruity and refreshing. It is like a probiotic lemonade that contains lots of vitamins, minerals and beneficial bacteria. You can easy make water kefir at home and then flavor it as you wish. It is a delicious natural alternative to soft drinks from the supermarket. You can find a detailed water kefir recipe with the exact quantities and step-by-step instructions below.

What is water kefir?

Water kefir is a probiotic fermented drink made with water kefir grains. They look like small crystal-like gelatinous balls. The starter culture consists of various beneficial bacteria and yeasts.

To make water kefir, the grains are placed in sugar water with a little dried fruit and lemon. The bacteria and yeasts start a fermentation process. The result is a healthy carbonated drink with a low residual sugar content.

Ingredients for water kefir recipe

Here I go into detail about the ingredients you need to make the drink. You can find all the quantities and precise instructions in the recipe box at the end of the article.

Water kefir grains

To prepare the probiotic drink, you will need water kefir grains. You can buy them online or get them from someone in your neighborhood who has too much of them.

Water

You can use tap water (in Germany) or still mineral water. The water must be dechlorinated. Filtered water is unsuitable as it lacks the minerals that the kefir cultures need.

Ideally, the sugared water should be at room temperature. Hot water kills the living microorganisms. Cold water does not harm them, but the fermentation process then starts more slowly.

Sugar

Sugar serves as a food source for the microbes in the grains. Under no circumstances should you leave it out. Otherwise the cultures will starve.

You can use normal white sugar, brown sugar or organic cane sugar. However, as organic cane sugar still contains some minerals that the water kefir can use, it is a better choice.

Honey is not suitable for making water kefir. You should also not use sweeteners such as stevia and xylitol.

The bacteria and yeasts contained in the grains consume the sugar. This produces carbon dioxide, among other things. The longer the fermentation process takes, the lower the sugar content in the finished drink. Over time, it tastes less and less sweet and more sour.

Dried fruit

Dried fruit serves as a source of nitrogen for the starter culture. It is important that you only use unsulfured fruit for this.

They also give the water kefir more flavor and aroma. For example, you can use dried cranberries, raisins, dates, figs, apricots or prunes.

Lemon

Lemon slices are added to acidify the fermentation mixture. The lemon must be organic, just like for the lemonade, the limonnik or the lemon crinkle cookies. Wash them thoroughly beforehand.

The acidity protects the drink from foreign germs. The lemon also provides a delicate and refreshing flavor. You can use freshly squeezed lemon juice instead of lemon slices.

Required equipment

All the equipment and utensils you use to prepare water kefir must be made of plastic or glass. Wood can also be used in an emergency. The grains must never come into contact with metal objects, as this can damage them.

In addition, all utensils must be very clean. No detergent residue should be left on them, as the kefir cultures do not like chemical substances.

You will need the following equipment and utensils to make water kefir:

• a large glass jar,
• a plastic strainer,
• a plastic or wooden spoon,
• a plastic funnel,
• one or more glass bottles.

Buy water kefir

You can order water kefir grains online. You may also have someone in your neighborhood who gives them away, trades them or sells them.

There are even complete water kefir kits that contain all the necessary utensils and ingredients for your first batch. They can make it easier for you to start making the probiotic drink.

If you take good care of the kefir cultures, they multiply quickly. After making several batches, you will have far too much of them and can give some of them away to family, friends or acquaintances.

Different flavors

During secondary fermentation, you can flavor your water kefir with fresh fruit, herbs, fruit juices, teas or spices. This allows you to add variety and create a delicious soda to suit your taste.

For example, put some berries or chopped fruit in a glass bottle and then fill it up with the strained water kefir (without grains) from the first fermentation. Close it and leave the drink to infuse at room temperature for around 24 hours. A lot of carbon dioxide will form during this time. You should therefore open the bottle regularly and check that the pressure in the bottle is not too high.

You can also use fresh herbs instead of fruit. Spices, such as vanilla, are also suitable. Or add a small piece of ginger.

You can also flavor the water kefir with various fruit juices, herbal or fruit teas during secondary fermentation. To do this, partially fill a glass bottle with any juice or tea and then pour the water kefir into it.

It is important that you use pure juices without preservatives or other additives. You should also avoid teas with artificial flavors.

After secondary fermentation, place the drink in the fridge to slow down the fermentation process. It tastes best chilled anyway.

How to store water kefir grains unused

If you do not want to make water kefir for a longer period of time, you can store the grains in sugar water or dried in the fridge. Please note that you may have to start several batches afterwards so that the kefir cultures become active again as usual.

Storing grains in sugar water

This method is ideal if you want to take a break from water kefir for several weeks.

1. To do this, dissolve 50 g of sugar in around 200 ml of water, pour the sugar water into a glass container and leave to cool briefly.
2. Rinse the grains with clean water and add them to the sugar water so that they are completely covered.
3. Now cover the glass container (do not seal it airtight!) and place it in the fridge.
4. You can store the kefir cultures in this way for about two weeks. As soon as the sugar water no longer tastes sweet but sour, you need to replace it.

Storing kefir water grains dried

If you don’t want to use your kefir cultures for several months, you can store them dried in the fridge.

1. Rinse the grains with water and spread them out on a clean tea towel.
2. Leave them to dry completely in a dark, ventilated place at room temperature.
3. Then transfer the dried kefir cultures to an airtight glass container and store them in the fridge for up to around 6 months.

The water kefir is

• probiotic,
• fruity,
• sparkling,
• tangy,
• refreshing,
• sweet-sour,
• very tasty,
• healthy,
• low-sugar,
• unique,
• vegan,
• with lots of beneficial bacteria,
• natural alternative to industrially produced soft drinks,
• available in many flavors,
• easy to make at home,
• ideal refreshment for hot summer days.

How to make water kefir: tips and tricks

• You can use tap water (in Germany) or still mineral water for the water kefir recipe. Chlorinated or filtered water is not suitable.
• Ideally, the sugar water should be room warm and must never be hot.
• Dried cranberries, dates, figs, apricots and prunes can be used instead of raisins. Only use unsulfured dried fruit.
• Lemon must be organic. Instead of lemon slices, you can add some freshly squeezed lemon juice.
• Organic cane sugar is best suited for making water kefir. Alternatively, you can also use normal white or brown sugar.
• You can also use more than 30 grams of grains for the quantities of ingredients specified in the recipe. Please note that the more grains are involved in the fermentation process, the faster it will take place.
• The carbon dioxide produced in the drink must always have the opportunity to escape.
• The starter culture must never come into contact with metal objects. All the utensils you use must be made of glass or plastic.
• All equipment and utensils must be well cleaned and free of detergent residue. Wash your hands thoroughly too. Also, do not touch the grains unnecessarily with your hands.
• If your finished drink smells musty, shake it off. Then rinse out the grains thoroughly and start a new batch.
• Water kefir always contains a very small amount of alcohol.
• I have used freshly squeezed lime and grapefruit juice in the recipe for the secondary fermentation. Instead, you can use other pure fruit juices without preservatives, fresh fruit, herbs, teas without flavorings or spices.

Have you made water kefir with this recipe? I look forward to your result, your star rating and your comment below on how it turned out and how it tasted.

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