A week or two ago I reported that a study found alcoholic drinks such as tequila as high in antioxidants. I suggested we make our own brew to boost the antioxidants in our diet. My preferred "brew" is a drink called water kefir. Missy asked about my water kefir process.
The trick is going to be finding the grains. There are internet communities where people share them.
Water kefir instructions: Innoculating the Water
(1) Dissolve 1/3 cup sugar with warm water in a clean glass jar.
(2) Add one quart of water. (See instructions below on adding juice or fruit as well.)
(3) Add grains.
(4) Place in cupboard or other spot out of direct sunlight.
(5) Cover jar with a clean dish towel.
(6) Let sit for 24 hours
(7) Strain grains from liquid
(8) Add juice, reuse grains. Go back to step 1 with grains.
In the steps above, if you add no fruit or juice, you will have sugar water with beneficial bacteria. It's not too tasty. To get some flavor, you have a couple of options:
One-step kefir soda (uses dry fruit)
• 1/3 cup of sugar dissolved in 1 quart water
• Add grains when water has cooled
• Add 1-3 pieces of dried fruit (e.g., pineapple, apricot, papaya, mango)
• Ferment for 24 hours or until it reaches desired sweetness. (A longer fermentation process will reduce the sugar content and raise the alcohol content, though this recipe will not turn into "hooch." There is not enough sugar.)
• Strain grains, start new batch, drink soda.
Two-step kefir soda (uses fruit juice)
• 1/3 cup of sugar dissolved in 1 quart water
• Add grains when water has cooled
• Ferment for 24 hours or until it reaches desired sweetness. (A longer fermentation process will reduce the sugar content and raise the alcohol content, though this recipe will not turn into "hooch." There is not enough sugar.)
• Strain grains, start new batch.
• Add 1-2 cups of fruit juice to kefir water. Ferment for another 24 hours or until desired sweetness.
Note: Juice can be added initially to the grains to make it a "one-step" process, but grains will take on the color of the juice. It may also be difficult to remove all of the fruit pulp when straining the grains.
Lemonade
Use the two-step kefir approach. Instead of 1-2 cups of fruit juice, add the juice of one lemon. Let the drink ferment to your desired sweetness. Left another day or two to ferment, this is a very low-sugar, satisfying drink for active days in the sun.
Kefir "Grains": What they are and where to get them
Just to clarify since a lot of comments have asked about "grains." The grains are not at all what you are thinking about when you hear the word "grain." Water kefir grains are in the jar in the picture above. They are a symbiotic mass of bacteria and they reproduce. What you need to do is find someone with grains to share with you. There is a Yahoo group on kefir where you can post and you can usually find someone to send them to you for the cost of shipping.
Comments (19)
What does it end up tasting like? Sort of like a wine cooler? I'm in the process of making it now.
Posted by Missy` | May 14, 2007 3:48 PM
Posted on May 14, 2007 15:48
Missy,
It's not really alcoholic, just a bit bubbly (if you use water grains). It also just depends on how sweet you drink it. I let mine sit for a while until it is approaching vinegar. It has almost no sugar, which I prefer. I give my son a batch that hasn't brewed as long which is a bit sweeter.
Post back about your batch!
Amanda
Posted by Amanda Rose | May 15, 2007 11:34 AM
Posted on May 15, 2007 11:34
I just finished making it today. It smells like a wine cooler to me and is very bubbly like that too. The taste really reminds me of a wine cooler. Is this normal? It has that fermented fruity smell to it. I wonder if it's somewhat an acquired taste? I thought it was ok and could probably learn to love it, but my hubby didn't really care for it. I guess I'll give it to my kids next and see what they think. I think I'll give the lemon version a try next.
Thanks for your great instructions!
Missy
Posted by Missy` | May 15, 2007 7:02 PM
Posted on May 15, 2007 19:02
It probably is an acquired taste, Missy. Most people who drink mine like it, but some think it tastes like rotten fruit.
Posted by Amanda Rose | May 22, 2007 1:35 PM
Posted on May 22, 2007 13:35
Then I think it must have turned out exactly right! :) It's just hard to know when it's something you've never tasted before. Thanks!
Posted by Missy` | May 22, 2007 1:59 PM
Posted on May 22, 2007 13:59
Are you getting used to it? Does anyone there like it yet? :)
Posted by Amanda Rose | May 22, 2007 5:02 PM
Posted on May 22, 2007 17:02
By grains, do you mean barley, rye, etc.?
Barbara
Posted by Barbara | May 23, 2007 9:18 AM
Posted on May 23, 2007 09:18
Barbara,
No, the grains are not like the grains you are thinking about. They really need another name. The are in the jar in the picture and look like little clear blobs.
Amanda
Posted by Amanda Rose | May 23, 2007 9:23 AM
Posted on May 23, 2007 09:23
Question: I have some kefir starter grains for milk - can I use those? Or are water kefir grains something different?
Posted by R-M | June 2, 2007 6:53 AM
Posted on June 2, 2007 06:53
Question: I have some kefir starter grains for milk - can I use those? Or are water kefir grains something different?
Posted by R-M | June 2, 2007 6:54 AM
Posted on June 2, 2007 06:54
R-M -- You can use milk grains but I would alternate them back into the milk because they do need the milk to stay well-nourished. There is a different type of grain just for water kefir -- look at the picture of the jar and you can see that they are more translucent than the milk grains
Amanda
Posted by Amanda Rose | June 2, 2007 12:38 PM
Posted on June 2, 2007 12:38
Amanda, where or how can I get my hands on these grains. What exactly is milk grains
Posted by Angela | June 14, 2007 6:27 AM
Posted on June 14, 2007 06:27
Amanda, where or who can I get these grains from.
Posted by Angela | June 14, 2007 6:32 AM
Posted on June 14, 2007 06:32
Angela -- The "grains" are pictured in the post. The milk grains are more white -- those in the picture are water grains. Probably the best place to find them now is the yahoo group with members who share them. They multiply, so friends give them to friends. There are lots of "friends" on the Yahoo group.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Kefir_making/
Amanda
Posted by Amanda Rose | June 14, 2007 3:26 PM
Posted on June 14, 2007 15:26
I have made this drink for years using organic grape juice and my own kefir. I have a goat herd and make my own raw kefir. Instead of buying the "grains" (I believe they are called water grains as they are "rinse-able" but kefir is NOT), you can substitute kefir from the health food store (Kroger carries it also). Just put a tablespoon or two in it and proceed. It is called "kefir duva" if you want to do more searching on the internet. Kefir is fermented as is this drink and delivers 1% alcohol or more, depending on the recipe! Kefir has CURED my stomach issues by the way! I am also a big Kombucha fan and have some great unorthodox ways to make it. Thanks and I hope this was helpful to someone. I have never shared over the net so this is a new experience.
Posted by Trisha | July 14, 2007 4:20 AM
Posted on July 14, 2007 04:20
Trisha, would you please post your kombucha recipes.
Many thanks,
SG
Posted by sgbold | July 14, 2007 6:35 AM
Posted on July 14, 2007 06:35
I too would like ther Kombucha receipe/It agrees with me, and actually I enjoy the taste. Grape taste will be even better!
They (health food stores) flavor it with cranberry or grape.
I await your posting of your receipe.
Thank you so very much.
SB
Posted by Susan Brott | July 15, 2007 8:28 AM
Posted on July 15, 2007 08:28
I'm interested too Trisha! Post away! We haven't had kombucha around here in a long time, but I would track down a scoby and try it.
Amanda
Posted by Amanda Rose | July 16, 2007 6:05 PM
Posted on July 16, 2007 18:05
I have water kefir and milk kefir grains if anyone is still interested. Check out my store. www.fotvn.com/store
Posted by Michele | May 20, 2008 12:37 PM
Posted on May 20, 2008 12:37