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Okay, I’m back from the depths of the dessert world, with double chocolate cookies from last week, and I thought I would post something a little bit more beneficial and healthy for you today! How about that!
Most of you remember that I am having some adventures with kombucha. I had also heard from some friends that kombucha is stronger tasting, and that perhaps I would like water kefir instead, which has a more mild taste.
I was doing a little research after asking around for anyone making water kefir (and finding no one), and came across several recommendations for getting a starter culture from Yemoos. So, that’s exactly what I did. Here’s what Yemoos has to say about water kefir:
“Water Kefir (Tibicos, Búlgaros, Japanese Water Crystals, California Bees) is a wonderful mildly zesty fermented sugar-water beverage. It can be likened to a natural, light and refreshing soda – perfect for a healthy drink alternative.”
Since I heart soda (a bit too much), I thought this would be great to try! So, I ordered my starter culture and a few days later it arrived in the mail, complete with an adoption certificate. I also loved the fact that Yemoos’ cultures are all geared toward brewing in normal quart sized ball jars (of which I have MANY…thanks to canning!). So, I am able to make up small batches of water kefir and try as I go.
So far, I have made two batches. With the first batch, after tasting some without any flavoring (not bad, very mild, and definitely tastes like sugar (which is different since I am used to drinking diet soda)), I then added some of my homemade vanilla. It was very good (despite the fact that I am not a big cream soda fan, and that’s kind of what it tasted like) and semi fizzy (not a ton, but not flat either). Total brewing time for batch one was 48 hours. Batch two I brewed for 72 hours, because I wanted to see if I could get it less sugary, and I found that the taste was a bit different (I haven’t flavored it yet with the vanilla), and I would say that I prefer the 48 hour brew when comparing the two unflavored varieties. The second batch was also a bit less fizzy than the first, which I didn’t like too much either.
I’m looking forward to experimenting with different flavors and things to do. In fact, I have some grape juice in the fridge now, so I might just go try that one next! Here’s the basic recipe I used based on the one from the Yemoos web site:
Water Kefir
1/4 cup water kefir grains
4 cups spring or mineral water (I used my tap water which is from a well)
4 tbsp white sugar
1 tbsp sucanat
1 quart ball jar
paper towel and screw top lid (or you can use these awesome elastic jar cloth covers)Rinse the water kefir grains lightly with water and add to the 1 quart jar. Add sugar and sucanat to the jar, and add the 4 cups water (or until right at the top of the neck of the jar). Stir (use only wooden or plastic utensils for this) until sugar is dissolved. Cover with paper towel, and screw lid on. Place in an area out of direct sunlight and let your kefir grains sleep for 48 hours. When done fermenting, drain kefir grains and enjoy! Use the grains for the next batch.
I flavored mine with about 2 tsp homemade vanilla (for 4 cups of water kefir) and let it rest in the fridge for another day.
What are you doing in the kitchen?
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Thank you for sharing and have a great week!
Dr. Laura
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I should be getting some kefir grains soon and I am SO excited to try it, finally!
I also linked up my Sprouted Flour Cookie recipe, it’s my newest adventure in the kitchen. Thanks for hosting!
Jill recently posted..Sprouted Flour Cookies
Thanks for linking up Jill! I just sprouted some flour, so I’m definitely going to check out your cookies! I’m doing a little sprouted flour experiment here too!
Dr. Laura
Twitter: amoderatelife
Hi Dr. Laura! If you like soda and you dont want sweet, I would suggest you make a whey soda. I absolutely adore it and I always have a culture going. You can check my site for a recipe for fizzy limeade and traditional limeys. The finished product if you leave it in the fridge for a bit more fermentation tastes just like tonic water! I love it. Kefir, it should be noted, especially water kefir can produce a distinct amount of alcohol so if you are abstaining, you should be aware of that. I love to experiment with all these different types of lacto fermented beverages and food. So good for you! Today I am linking up a chicken paprikash that was delicious and perfect for a cold winter night! We have more snow on the way–ugh! hugs! alex
alex@amoderatelife recently posted..Hearth and Soul Hop-Volume 33!
Hi Alex,
I’ve seen your recipes for fizzy limeade on your web site, but I don’t have any whey, which is the only thing holding me back from trying that. Thanks also for pointing out the alcohol in the water kefir as well. And thanks for linking up another one of your fantastically delicious recipes!
Dr. Laura
Thanks for hosting Laura!
-Brenda
Sense of Home recently posted..Orecchiette with Pulled-Pork Sugo
Hi Dr. Laura,
Looks like you have lots of good food here today to get through the storm. I have brought my Roasted Chicken with Winter Vegetables. Thank you for hosting today!
Miz Helen recently posted..Lemon Cheese Cake With Sour Cream Topping
Thanks Miz Helen – we are preparing for lots of snow!
Dr. Laura
My husband loves water kefir. We make ours with 1/4 c organic cane crystals, 1 tbsp organic unsulphured molasses, and grains in a one quart jar. Let is sit and do its thing for 48 hours, stain, and add 2 tsp of organic bourbon vanilla. We cap it and let it sit on the counter so that it gets extra bubbly.
Megan @ Purple Dancing Dahlias recently posted.. One Snowy Night
Megan, thanks for sharing your variation! I love that you can do so many different things
I’ll have to try your sugar combo!
Dr. Laura
Hi Laura ~ first time linking, I am sharing one of our gardening techniques for maximizing the space we have to grow veggies and a recipe for Creamy Sesame Beans & Celery. Thanks for hosting!
Megan @ Purple Dancing Dahlias recently posted.. One Snowy Night
I love your linky! Thanks for hosting!
Jane recently posted..Red Velvet Heart-Shaped Whoopie Pies for Valentine’s Day
Jane, thanks for visiting!
Dr. Laura
Here is my method for kefir soda. I make it by the pint. Double for a quart. Put 3 tbsp. sucanat in a pint jar, fill to almost full with water. Stir well. Add kefir grains, couple of tbsp. Cover with a coffee filter and rubber band it. Let sit 2 days, then strain. Put a small amount of juice ( grape is a favorite) in a bottle like an empty Snapple bottle. Add the kefir soda. Let sit one day, the chill. Open carefully, it can really fizz. Kelly the Kitchen Kop had her brother-in-law check the alcohol level in hers and it was negligible. She has a post on it.
Barbara, thank you for sharing your recipe! I’m going to try the grape juice next
YUM! And, thanks also for the information about the alcohol levels. I couldn’t taste anything, so I figured there was not much in there (and I don’t drink alcohol at all, so I can REALLY taste it if there is even a little tiny bit). But, thanks for confirming that with info from Kelly to back it up!
Dr. Laura
Twitter: amoderatelife
Hi Dr. Laura, thanks for linking this great Kefir adventure up to the hearth and soul hop. You can make whey really easily by straining some yogurt through cheese cloth. The yellow liquid is whey, and just put it in a glass bottle in the fridge to use when you need to. Also the yogurt will be lovely creamy yogurt cheese! All the best! Alex
alex@amoderatelife recently posted..Hearth and Soul Hop-Volume 33!
Hi Alex, thanks for the whey info – but we don’t really eat yogurt at my house (gasp!) and definitely not the plain kind, but I might have to just get some to do the whey part.
As always, thanks for your information!! I love it!
Dr. Laura
I made water kefir for the 1st time. I used organic grape juice. I used 1/4 c sucanet for 1 qt. It tasted flat and vinegary. I kept the Kefir in the mason jar after removing grains and adding juice. Should I have use a different container?
Twitter: fudgerippleblog
this is so interesting. i could probably use a dose or two to combat all the bad stuff i have been indulging in! thank you for sharing with tuesday night supper club.
christy recently posted..rock candy
I eat kefir and I make my son eat kefir everyday, I like this because it is a drink. I am definitely going to try it. Come link this up to my paty too!http://goodbyecityhellosuburbs.blogspot.com
karen recently posted..Warm Drinks and GOOOOOOD reads!
Karen, water kefir and dairy kefir are two different things…sounds like you might be eating the dairy kefir so far? Thanks for visiting!
Dr. Laura
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[...] buying any soda at the store (that does not include soda at restaurants), and instead enjoying my water kefir, kombucha, or my favorite sweet tea [...]