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Lemonade is the classic drink for a hot summer day, but the usual recipes are super sweetened and involve a lot of sugar! I love the flavor and effervescence of other fermented drinks, so why not probiotic lemonade? I looked it up to find it was a thing and decided to give it a try.
The result was wonderful, and thanks to the benefits of fermentation this lemonade contains little sugar and lots of healthy bacteria that is good for gut health.
Real Lemonade… With Probiotics!
I’m a big fan of water kefir and kombucha for their probiotics and beneficial enzymes. They do require specific cultures though, so if you don’t happen to have a SCOBY sitting around your kitchen, you are pretty much out of luck.
Luckily, there is an easy lacto-fermented drink that you can make with basic ingredients from your grocery store, and your kids will probably even drink it!
This probiotic lemonade is very easy to make and is ready in just a couple of days. As I mentioned, you don’t need any special ingredients like kefir grains or kombucha starter to make it (just the liquid from some strained yogurt).
As for the flavor, we all loved it (even the kids) and now keep a batch going through most of the summer months.
What Makes Probiotic Lemonade?
Full disclosure: this recipe does call for whey, which is basically the liquid drained off of yogurt. It’s packed with probiotics and easy to make if you start the night before. The recipe is here.
I get lots of requests for a dairy-free option for this recipe (or a way to make it if you just don’t have whey around). I haven’t tried to make a dairy-free version myself yet (will update when I do), but there are dairy-free yogurts or yogurt starters that may work. I’ve also heard of using kombucha or a ginger bug as a starter. Let me know if you try it!
Probiotic Lemonade Recipe
Ingredients
- ¾ cup sugar or sucanat
- 2½ to 3 quarts filtered water
- 10 lemons or limes juiced to make about 1 cup
- 1 cup whey here's how to make it
Instructions
- In a gallon size glass jar, stir together sugar and just enough hot water to dissolve the sugar.
- Add the lemon juice and fill the jar about ¾ full with filtered water.
- Make sure the liquid is at room temperature and then add the whey.
- Cover tightly and let sit on the counter for 2-3 days.
- After 2-3 days, keep the lemonade in the refrigerator and drink 4-6 ounces per day. The flavor will continue to develop.
- Since the sugar ferments out, it is rather tart. Add a couple drops of stevia if it is too tart for you!
Notes
Nutrition
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Feeling adventurous? Will you try this healthy drink? Tell me below!
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Hi! I followed this recipe exactly and after 36 hours, there are no bubbles forming. Is there something that could have gone wrong during this process? Thanks!
I made a similar recipe for lacto fermented lemonade, I wanted it fizzy and it took about 12 days. However, in one bottle there seems to be floaters. Like a mass of whey. Anyone know what this might be and is it safe.
I used the whey i strianed off of my (store bought) soy yougurt and it worked perfectly! Dairy free is definetly an option!
Hi!
How “fresh” does your whey have to be? After reviewing multiple recipes and info about whey it sounds like it can last 6 months in the fridge? What is your experience?
Thanks!
Anne
How do you start a new batch? Start over?
Hi! Thanks so much for the recipe! Turned out delish! I made admit 2 litres about 2 weeks ago. Only 3/4 of the way through it but the liquid at bottom of the jar is looking a bit ‘furry’. The rest is crystal clear. Do you think it’s still ok to drink? I’m thinking it may be like the mother in my kombucha but not sure. Any ideas? Also how long should it last for?
I don’t know about the “furry” part, but if you are refrigerating the lemonade after the 2 days, you should not have “furry” in it. If you do refrigerate it, it will last quite awhile. You’d probably have drank it up by that time. Mine lasts only a day or two after I make it. Good luck.
oops on my part, I thought you were talking about the probiotic lemonade, but you were talking about water kefir grain drink. I’ve used kefir grains, but prefer the probiotic lemonade and Kombucha, instead.
Thanks for your reply. I think there was a small amount of the actual yogurt in with my whey when I strained it off and it settled to the bottom of the jar. It wasn’t too much to begin with, but I think it kind of ‘grew’ after a week or so. I ended up not drinking it after I posted, just to be safe, but think that if it was yogurt, it still should have been ok. Anyway, I’ll try again and this time make sure I strain my whey a couple of times to make sure it is free from the yogurt.
I don’t know what you used to strain the yogurt, but a flour sack towel or cotton dish towel works really well. Lining a sieve over a bowl, put the yogurt into the towel and tie up and hang it up. I’ve used a wooden spoon and rubber bands hooked to a cupboard handle.
As for the 2 days of fermentation, cover the jar with a coffee filter and rubber band…Do Not Cap It. After the 2 days, and the fermentation is done, then cap it and put in the fridge.
What measurement of the water kefir grains do you use??? Love your stuuf!
It depends on how much you are making. I believe it is 1 TBSP per quart. I haven’t made it in a while, but that is what I remember using. I made mine in juice jars that I had washed out and saved. They work well.
I have a question.
How do you test the alcohol content of drinks like this? I’d prefer not to drink anything over .5% alcohol as it is a part of my religion not to drink alcohol so I’d really like to find out.
I’m aware that fermenting fruit juices produces a lot of alcohol, then this recipe calls for added sugar and is a closed fermentation process so those all increase the alcohol content right?
Also the more carbonation also means a higher alcohol content right? If the bubbles stay once the lid is off that is. If they rise once the lid is removed then it is fine or so I’ve read. Anyway you describe it as ‘fizzy’ so I’m just wondering about that too?
Anyway I’d appreciate any insight on that as I’d like healthy probiotic drinks and this is an inexpensive way to go about it as we have a lemon tree outside.
TIA
Ashleigh