We enjoy water kefir all year round as a fermented beverage full of healthy probiotics. Even our dog, Pearl, looks forward to her daily allotment each morning. It helps all of us maintain gut health. It’s our most consistent ferment.
While kombucha is more popular and well known, I find water kefir to be easier to ferment and a lot tastier! To learn more about this easy ferment and how to make it, check out my post, How to Ferment Water Kefir.
During the summer months though I especially look forward to making flavored bottles of water kefir in a second fermentation step.
This offers a bubbly refreshing fruity alternative to sodas, juices, or other sugar filled beverages that are tempting as thirst quenchers. I love experimenting with different flavor options!
Why Drink Water Kefir?
- It’s a probiotic rich drink full of valuable enzymes, B vitamins, and minerals.
- Water kefir is a great dairy free alternative to milk kefir while offering the same benefits.
- Drinking it regularly helps maintain a healthy balance of good bacteria in your digestive tract.
- It aids the immune system by optimizing gut health.
- With proper care you can use the same set of grains indefinitely to continuously ferment.
How to Make Carbonated and Flavored Water Kefir
What You Will Need:
- a clean sealed container for fermenting in like swing top bottles, clean soda or water bottles, or even a jar
- finished water kefir
- flavoring of your choice
- a small funnel
Notes and Tips for Flavored Water Kefir:
I use 16 oz swing top bottles for my second ferment. Some people prefer 32 oz bottles. I know others who use plastic bottles for their second ferment to completely avoid the possibility of exploding glass. That’s a great option if you’re absent minded about burping your ferments.
To flavor or carbonate water kefir you need finished water kefir or water kefir that has gone through the first fermentation process.
Flavorings can be anything from fresh fruit to juice to dried fruit or herbs and spices. For a 16 oz bottle I recommend adding 1/4 cup of juice, 1/8 cup of sliced fresh fruit, and just dash or a few leaves of spices or herbs. If you’re using a strong juice like lemon or lime start with only 1/8 cup of juice.
If you only wish to flavor your water kefir, you could move the bottles to the fridge immediately.
To carbonate the water kefir in addition to flavoring, leave the bottles out for 24 to 72 hours to undergo a second ferment. Remember to burp the bottles once a day! Pressure can build up quickly and lead to exploding bottles that are both dangerous and messy.
I’ve also taken to burping the bottles outside after having to clean watermelon off the ceiling once due to an unexpected pressure change. That sort of pressure has never occurred again but once was enough.
Flavored Water Kefir Directions:
1. Add your flavoring of choice to the bottom of your bottle or container.
2. Use the little funnel to pour the finished water kefir in. Leave at least 1 inch of head space of the top of the bottle.
3. To carbonate and flavor, allow 24 to 72 hrs for a second ferment. Burp the bottles once a day!
4. When the bottles have carbonation, move them to the fridge until you’re ready to enjoy. The cold stops the fermentation process and make the beverage even more refreshing.
10 Flavored Water Kefir Recipes to Try
All recipes are to make one 16 oz bottle of flavored water kefir and require adding just under 16 oz of finished water kefir.
1. Strawberry Pineapple
- 1 medium strawberry sliced
- 1 pineapple ring sliced or 3-4 chunks
- 1/8 cup pineapple juice
2. Pineapple Mint
- 1 pineapple ring sliced or 3-4 chunks
- 1/8 cup pineapple juice
- 5 – 6 mint leaves (chopped or muddled will give even more flavor)
3. Strawberry Watermelon with Lemon
- 1 medium strawberry sliced
- 1 watermelon chunk sliced (about 1/8 cup)
- 1/8 cup lemon juice
4. Blackberry
- 4 – 5 blackberries muddled up
Note: This is one that we definitely strain right before drinking to avoid annoying seeds. If you like mint, a few leaves are a refreshing addition to the blackberry
5. Mango Ginger
- 1 mango slice cut up or muddled (about 1/8 cup)
- 1/2 inch to 1 inch piece of ginger minced depending on how strong you like your ginger
6. Ginger Beer
- 1/2 inch to 1 inch piece of ginger minced
- 1/8 cup lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon sugar
7. Strawberry Lemonade
- 1 medium to large strawberry sliced
- 1/8 cup lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon sugar
8. Lemon Lime
- a tbsp lemon juice
- a tbsp lime juice
- 1 teaspoon sugar
9. Mojito
- 1/8 cup lime juice
- 6 to 8 mint leaves chopped or muddled
- 1 teaspoon sugar
10. Watermelon with Lemon Cucumber
- 1 watermelon chunk sliced (about 1/8 cup)
- half of a lemon cucumber sliced (about 1/8 cup)
Have you tried water kefir before? What are your favorite fruit flavor combinations for summer drinks?
FAQs
The best fruit to use is dried figs. It provides the essential minerals needed for the kefir grains to develop properly. Dried fruit such as dates, raisins, and cranberries can also be used.
What is the difference between kefir and water kefir? ›
Milk kefir, a probiotic beverage, is fairly well-known, and can be found in many grocery stores. Water kefir is another probiotic-rich beverage; however, water kefir is dairy-free kefir. Water kefir is also a lighter beverage and can be flavored any number of ways.
How do you add Flavour to water kefir? ›
A very simple way to flavour your water kefir is to add natural or artificial extracts. A little vanilla extract can turn kefir into a dessert drink! You can also try mint, almond, or orange blossom extracts. Be careful, it's concentrated.
How do I know if I killed my water kefir? ›
Normally, if the water kefir grains are able to turn sweet water into tangy kefir within 72 hours at temperatures between 22-26 degrees Celcius, then they are fine. To know if your water kefir grains are dead, use them to ferment a new batch and repeat this cycle at least 4 times.
Why add raisins to water kefir? ›
One of the reasons to add the raisins is that they will gradually rise to the top and “tell you” when the water is fermented. It is very accurate. Even when the raisins float you can leave it another day at room temperature to feed the bacteria in optimal conditions.
Can you drink kefir water everyday? ›
Most people can drink kefir every day without any problem. But if you have a weakened immune system, talk to your doctor before you start drinking it. Some studies show probiotics can cause infection in people who are immunocompromised.
Is water kefir anti inflammatory? ›
Drinking kefir water daily can add good bacteria to your digestive system, fight inflammation, and boost your overall health. Kefir water is a fermented, dairy-free, and probiotic-rich drink made from water kefir grains, and sugar water.
Is water kefir a laxative? ›
So even though kefir may act as a mild laxative, it did not cause diarrhea or softer stools for people who have normal bowel movements.
What bottled water is best for water kefir? ›
Bottled Water
Plain spring water is excellent, except “sparkling” or those with higher or added mineral content. Water labeled “drinking” is usually okay, but always read the ingredient label for additives.
What is the best sugar for water kefir? ›
What kind of sugar is best for my Water Kefir?
- Organic Cane Juice Crystals. Less refined than white sugar. ...
- Turbinado or Raw Sugar. Sugar that is spun to have most of the molasses removed. ...
- Rapadura or Sucanat. Sugar cane juice that has been pressed and dried. ...
- Brown Sugar. ...
- Coconut Palm Sugar. ...
- Maple Sugar or Syrup. ...
- Honey. ...
- Molasses.
Water Kefir can be made from almost all water (except reverse-osmosis or heavily chlorinated). All you need to add is some sugar, a couple pieces of dried fruit (sometimes) and a little lemon (sometimes).
Should I stir my water kefir? ›
Before pouring in the fermented water kefir, give it a good stir with a spoon to evenly distribute the probiotics.
What happens if you let water kefir ferment too long? ›
When water kefir is finished, it tastes a bit sweet still. If you prefer it more sour you can overferment it. If you leave it for a very long time it may become even to sour to drink. The same is with kombucha.
Why does my water kefir smell like rotten eggs? ›
If you continue to have cloudy and smelly water kefir, you may have to purchase new grains. It may take longer for the grains to ferment after dormancy but the yeast will stay in check.
What is the white stuff in my kefir water? ›
Kham yeast is a micro-organism that, in the presence of oxygen, sometimes forms a white film on the surface of kefir. Yeast can develop when kefir grains are left in their water too long or when the fermentation temperature is too high.
What fruits go well with kefir? ›
Smoothies are an easy way to start experimenting with kefir. Blend with fruit like bananas, berries and peaches, and flavors like vanilla and cinnamon, or try this tropical-inspired variation with pineapple.
Can you add fresh fruit to water kefir? ›
FRESH OR DRIED FRUIT
When using fresh fruit, leave in the water kefir no longer than 24 hours. For a stronger fruit flavor, strain out the fruit after 24 hours and add fresh fruit; continue to ferment another 24 hours. *Limit the flavoring period to 2-3 days if you are bottling the kefir in a tightly-sealed bottle.
What fruit is good for second ferment kefir? ›
What flavours can I add during this second fermentation??
- Fruits: Apple, Mango, Strawberries, Banana, Blueberries, Blackberries and Peaches all taste sweet and fresh.
- Spices: Nutmeg, Cinnamon or Cocoa Powder for sprinkling on top or whisking into your kefir.
Water Kefir Grains
Because the culture is related to classic kefir (which is grown in calcium-rich milk), it loves a mineral-rich environment. Using a less refined sugar, such as organic blond sugar or turbinado, can help feed your culture the nutrients it loves, especially if your water is low in minerals.
