How to Make Water Kefir Soda (Recipe)

I’ve been making it for about a year. The flavors for the second ferment are limitless and so fun to be creative. I use a Pickle-it jar for the first ferment and flip top bottles for the second. The carbonation is over the top (literally) and my ceiling proves it! Cleaning jars and bottles—I poor boiling water over the jar and bottles before I use them to sterilize before each batch. May not be necessary but I like feeling cleaner about it. Let the jars cool before you start, however. I have also made batches using lavender tea (first make big batch of tea and use it for first ferment). It is great before bed. I’ve made it with other teas as well (green, mint, burddock, dandelion). I try to make slightly herbally medicinal batches from time to time. Like I said, it is limitless what you can do. My grains like orgainc sugar and a pinch of himalyan sea salt and bottled spring water in the first ferment, best. I think grains vary…some like molassas…mine hate it. Some things to try for the second ferment—cherry juice and chia seeds (similar to Synergy brand), grapefuit, elderberry (fights virus), ginger, pinapple and coconut. I sweeten with stevia in f2. I am hopeful most of the sugars have been eaten up by the grains by the time it is done so I think it needs a little extra sweetness. It is limitless and so fun.

I was wondering if I put minced ginger (or lemon, or pineapple, or orange) in the coffee filter and tie it and put it in the bottle with kefir for the second fermentation would it still be flavoured and bubbly?

I have been making water kefir for several months now. It was working well, but now I’m wondering if my storing it in the refrigerator after each batch is causing it to be less carbonated. I store in the refrigerator 1-3 days after each batch covered in water. Would that be causing a lack of carbonation? Also the grains have grown a lot and I wonder if having too many grains could be a source of the problem.

I have been making and drinking 2nd ferments of kombucha and water kefir. But have been noticing that when I drink the kombucha I tend to get that gnawing feeling in my gut about 2 am or a few hours after drinking in the day. I am not noticing this with the water kefir. I really enjoy the taste and have consumed about 6 oz in the morning and then again about oz of either in the mid day or evening. Any input on why this gnawing feeling? I do not have ulcers and feel good overall besides excessive swelling and arthritic pain in my hands in which I only noticed recently after the drinking of the tea.

Great video. I thought kefir grains had to go into milk periodically?

Can you use home-made jam in your second ferment? From what I am understanding the sugar would be perfect for a bubbly kefir, but not sure about the pectin content???? I am rehydrating my grains now and will be ready for my first batch the first of the week….any input will be appreciated. I am also starting my first Kombucha brew, and have drank some that is marketed in a local healthfood store, but have never tasted Kefir. I’m taking a leap of blind faith here! 🙂

Wondering what the shelf life is for kefir water. Should it be stored in the refrigerator or can it be stored in a cool dark place. I’d like to sell it at farmers markets………….also interested in perhaps selling grains……..how feasible would this be?????

Hello, I’ve tried for a couple months to get some water kefir to be successful. CFH even sent me a second packet of water kefir grains thinking there was possibly an inert packet sent to me the first time. I’ve tried using Trader Joes evap cane juice sugar, adding some sea salt, using spring water from a local public tap, molasses… it’s never done anything. no change in flavor or aroma. Would you have any opinions?? I change it out every two days, sometimes three if I notice it is still just as sweet thinking it just needs time.
I look forward to brewing kombucha once I’m done nursing my very last ever baby. He just turned one, so it could be any time.. maybe… but water kefir was supposed to hold me over til then!
Thank You!!