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There was a thread on here about kefir...well I just discovered on a blog about traditional foods that you can make water kefir. All you need is water, real sugar (not honey), and if you want you can spice it up with other fruits, ginger etc. You get a carbonated beverage with probiotics. Once you have your kefir grains the cost is minimal. Water kefir grains are different than milk kefir grains although apparently you can "train" your milk kefir grains. Here are the directions.
Has a lost love of soda pop been nagging at you too long? Weve developed a love of water kefir or tibicos in our home. Water kefir is a fermented beverage teeming with beneficial bacteria. Easily flavored, remarkably simple to prepare and more palatable than kombucha, water kefir offers a nice, pleasant alternative to commercial sodas. Water kefir is similar in flavor to a dry, mildly alcoholic and slightly fizzy lemonade. Like many probiotic foods and beverages, water kefir is an acquired taste especially if youre accustomed to overly sweet, sugary beverages. Its also on my list of 10 dairy-free probiotics.
Water kefir, like kombucha, is first cultured by introducing a scoby (symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeasts) into sugar water. The beneficial bacteria and yeasts present in the water kefir grains metabolize the sugar and turn it into actic acid. Water kefir grains are small, translucent, gelatinous structures and are comprised of assorted bacteria including lactobacillus hilgardii which gives them their characteristic crystal-like appearance. When water kefir grains are properly cared for and regularly cultured, they produce a wonderful probiotic-rich beverage and will continue to grow and reproduce.
Water Kefir: The Basics
Equipment for Preparing Water Kefir:
* Nonmetal Strainer
* Wooden or Plastic Spoon
* 1/2 Gallon Mason Jar with Lid
* 6 12 oz Bottles with Lids
Ingredients for Preparing Water Kefir:
* 1/3 Cup of Water Kefir Grains (see sources)
* 3 Tablespoons Organic Raisins or Other Unsulphured Dried Fruit
* 1/2 Cup Organic Sugar (Yes, sugar.)
* 1/2 Organic Lemon
* 1 Thin Slice Fresh Ginger, Peeled
* 1 Quart to 1 1/2 Quarts Filtered, Chlorine-free Water
Instructions for Preparing Water Kefir:
1. Disolve sugar into water. Do not use honey in place of sugar. Honey has antimicrobial properties and will damage your water kefir grains or delay their proliferation.
2. Add water kefir grains, raisins, half a lemon and slice of ginger to the mixture of sugar water in a 1/2 gallon mason jar.
3. Allow your water kefir to brew in a lidded mason jar at room temperature for 24 72 hours depending on the strength you prefer and the temperature of your home. The warmer your home is, the faster water kefir will brew.
4. Strain the water kefir grains, raisins, lemon and ginger from the water kefir and bottle the liquid into smaller containers.
5. Allow the smaller bottles to sit out for another 24 48 hours to continue fermentation and produce natural carbonation.
6. Serve cold over ice and enjoy!
Water kefir is remarkably versatile. This basic recipe for water kefir can be altered slightly to introduce different beneficial herbs or flavors to produce a wide array of probiotic beverages. Some people enjoy replacing the ginger with fresh mint, anise or cardamom while others replace raisins with figs. Ive even used dried cherries for a lovely rose-hued water kefir.
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Someone else posted a comment on that blog:
I have been making water kefir for a couple of months now and we love it. Our favorites have been black raspberry, red raspberry and peach. (although we like it with pretty much anything). I just add 1/4 c. sugar to a quart jar, then add 3 c. water, then shake until dissolved, then add kefir grains(about 2 T.) and then a handful of fresh or frozen fruit. It is pretty much always fizzy, but I brew every 24 hrs. and I notice that it is a lot better on the warmer days. The only problem I have is that they dont seem to be multiplying. How much and how fast should they?
The source for kefir grains is:
http://www.culturesforhealth.com/Water-Kefir/Water-Kefir-Starter-Kit-with-Half-Gallon-Jars-p12.html
Has a lost love of soda pop been nagging at you too long? Weve developed a love of water kefir or tibicos in our home. Water kefir is a fermented beverage teeming with beneficial bacteria. Easily flavored, remarkably simple to prepare and more palatable than kombucha, water kefir offers a nice, pleasant alternative to commercial sodas. Water kefir is similar in flavor to a dry, mildly alcoholic and slightly fizzy lemonade. Like many probiotic foods and beverages, water kefir is an acquired taste especially if youre accustomed to overly sweet, sugary beverages. Its also on my list of 10 dairy-free probiotics.
Water kefir, like kombucha, is first cultured by introducing a scoby (symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeasts) into sugar water. The beneficial bacteria and yeasts present in the water kefir grains metabolize the sugar and turn it into actic acid. Water kefir grains are small, translucent, gelatinous structures and are comprised of assorted bacteria including lactobacillus hilgardii which gives them their characteristic crystal-like appearance. When water kefir grains are properly cared for and regularly cultured, they produce a wonderful probiotic-rich beverage and will continue to grow and reproduce.
Water Kefir: The Basics
Equipment for Preparing Water Kefir:
* Nonmetal Strainer
* Wooden or Plastic Spoon
* 1/2 Gallon Mason Jar with Lid
* 6 12 oz Bottles with Lids
Ingredients for Preparing Water Kefir:
* 1/3 Cup of Water Kefir Grains (see sources)
* 3 Tablespoons Organic Raisins or Other Unsulphured Dried Fruit
* 1/2 Cup Organic Sugar (Yes, sugar.)
* 1/2 Organic Lemon
* 1 Thin Slice Fresh Ginger, Peeled
* 1 Quart to 1 1/2 Quarts Filtered, Chlorine-free Water
Instructions for Preparing Water Kefir:
1. Disolve sugar into water. Do not use honey in place of sugar. Honey has antimicrobial properties and will damage your water kefir grains or delay their proliferation.
2. Add water kefir grains, raisins, half a lemon and slice of ginger to the mixture of sugar water in a 1/2 gallon mason jar.
3. Allow your water kefir to brew in a lidded mason jar at room temperature for 24 72 hours depending on the strength you prefer and the temperature of your home. The warmer your home is, the faster water kefir will brew.
4. Strain the water kefir grains, raisins, lemon and ginger from the water kefir and bottle the liquid into smaller containers.
5. Allow the smaller bottles to sit out for another 24 48 hours to continue fermentation and produce natural carbonation.
6. Serve cold over ice and enjoy!
Water kefir is remarkably versatile. This basic recipe for water kefir can be altered slightly to introduce different beneficial herbs or flavors to produce a wide array of probiotic beverages. Some people enjoy replacing the ginger with fresh mint, anise or cardamom while others replace raisins with figs. Ive even used dried cherries for a lovely rose-hued water kefir.
---
Someone else posted a comment on that blog:
I have been making water kefir for a couple of months now and we love it. Our favorites have been black raspberry, red raspberry and peach. (although we like it with pretty much anything). I just add 1/4 c. sugar to a quart jar, then add 3 c. water, then shake until dissolved, then add kefir grains(about 2 T.) and then a handful of fresh or frozen fruit. It is pretty much always fizzy, but I brew every 24 hrs. and I notice that it is a lot better on the warmer days. The only problem I have is that they dont seem to be multiplying. How much and how fast should they?
The source for kefir grains is:
http://www.culturesforhealth.com/Water-Kefir/Water-Kefir-Starter-Kit-with-Half-Gallon-Jars-p12.html