You guys. YOU GUYS. I am SO excited to share this with you today! This is THE awesomest food creation ever in existence. Totally not overreacting here, btw.
You’ve all heard of Kefir, right? No? Well, I first saw Kefir at a health food store in the dairy isle. I was told it was like yogurt, only better. I bought some and sure enough, it tasted like yogurt.
Fast-forward 3 years.
I knew that if I wanted to make yogurt I needed to buy a culture, or starter. I needed that bacteria to turn my raw goat’s milk into yogurt. I bought some, but then realized I could also buy Kefir. I decided I needed to figure out the difference between the two.
-Yogurt & Kefir both ferment milk.
-Yogurt is made from bacteria
-Kefir is made from yeast & bacteria.
-Yogurt provides the food for the friendly bacteria in your intestinal tract & keeps it clean.
-Kefir actually colonizes your intestinal tract with the friendly bacteria your body needs.
I had been making yogurt for a couple years, and then when I went to order more starter culture at Cultures for Health, I decided to order some Kefir. Then I noticed they had 2 different kinds.
Milk Kefir & Water Kefir.
Water Kefir? What?
Turns out water kefir is the most awesomest creation ever! They have the same health benefits as Milk Kefir. Basically you put these little yeast/bacteria grains in sugar water(it has to be a healthy or unrefined sugar btw), they eat the sugar and produce carbonation! Oh my gosh forget world peace I want to make my own carbonation!
I bought some right away, and made my very own soda!
In the words of Dora the Explorer it was, “DELICIOSO!” *blink*blink*
And get this… wait, are you sitting down?
Those little water kefir grains? They grow and reproduce and will LAST. YOUR. ENTIRE. LIFE.
Did you freaking hear me people?! Go ahead, I’ll wait while you run around your house screaming.
Okay, whew. Now here’s my recipe for homemade soda pop that’s actually healthy! There are 2 methods of making homemade soda pop you can choose from.
Homemade Soda Pop
Method #1: The Juice Method
Ingredients:
2-4 TBS. of Water Kefir Grains – click here to buy
3-5 mineral drops — click here to buy
1 gallon of fruit juice either fresh or store bought (no added sugar, 100% juice, organic is best)
Glass bottles or jars — click here to buy
Step 1 – Add all the Water Kefir grains to juice.
Step 2 – Close lid LOOSELY and leave on counter for 12-24 hours.
Step 3 – Strain out Kefir grains, pour juice into bottles (or one big jar) cover tightly with a lid. — click here to buy bottles.
Step 4 – Leave on counter another 12 hours.
Step 5 – Store in fridge for up to a week.
the end.
See how simple it is? Now here’s another method to choose from…
Method #2: The Water Method
Ingredients:
2-4 TBS. of Water Kefir Grains — click here to buy
3-5 mineral drops — click here to buy
1/2 gallon of filtered water
1/2 c. organic cane sugar
1 c. low acidic juice (apple, grape, cherry) or 1 peel from an ORGANIC acidic fruit (lemon, lime, orange, grapefruit)
Glass bottles or jars — click here to buy
Step 1 – Mix water with mineral drops & sugar, then add all the Water Kefir grains to.
Step 2 – Close lid LOOSELY and leave on counter for 12-24 hours.
Step 3 – Strain out Kefir grains, pour juice into bottles (or one big jar), add juice or peel, then cover tightly with a lid.
Step 4 – Leave on counter another 12 hours.
Step 5 – Store in fridge for up to a week.
Oh, and carbonated Kefir Soda works totally opposite than commercial carbonation. Kefir Soda gets MORE carbonated as it sits in the fridge. MORE. Like endless. And MORE.
NOTE: This DOES NOT produce alcohol, although if you let it sit on your counter for longer than 72 hours, it has the potential to produce alcohol, so I guess it’s up to you 😉
You can also make sparkling lemonade, root beer, & coconut water soda. If you buy the Kefir grains from Cultures for Health these recipes are included. I love Cultures for Health, they always have cheap shipping!
When you don’t want to make soda, you can store your Kefir grains in the fridge in a little jar of sugar water or juice. Remember to change every 2 weeks to keep them alive.
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| Take that Coca Cola! |
We have been enjoying homemade soda for the past 2 months or so and just loving it! It’s so nice to get that fizzy carbonation and giving our bodies good healthy bacteria for our guts. I love your guts too, that’s why I’m sharing. Are you as excited as me??
Sources:
https://www.kefir.net/kefir-vs-yogurt/
I’m interested in making water kefir and making my own cokMel from there… can you use monk fruit or Stevia in place of raw sugar? Trying to do less sugar in my life.
Hi Mel-
Haven’t tried it that way. You can give it a whirl and see if it works though. Let us know how it turns out.
Thank you -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
Theres the russian style sodas that I make called kvass. Its made with water, stale country bread (oil-free, egg-free, sugar-free kinds), cane sugar and/or honey, and let it ferment for up to 7 days. ?? I flavour it with chopped fruits, ginger and raisins in second ferment in a bottle. And thats my homemade soda.
Thank you so much for this article!!!
I can’t wait to try it with my family !
VJ
Oh my word this is THE.BEST.THING. I have ever read in the history of the internet in my entire life not even kidding and you explain it so incredibly well and thank you forever. And ever. Most definitely going to do this.
Would you recommend this for someone who is also trying to fight systemic candidaisis?
Yes!
Can you use honey to make the soda?
Not a good idea to use honey, it will weaken the kefir grains. You might get away with it once or twice, but in between refresh your grains with sugar and minerals (they thrive on bicarb, or eggshell)
Ok. I’m seriously stoked. I’ve got to make this happen. I gave up my one diet soda a day and started doing fruit juice with La Croix. I’m not sure how healthy it is, (What are natural flavors? Please, someone explain that.) but I know it’s not full of good bacteria. Definitely getting started on making my own soda. And you’re so funny!? I mean, really.
OK I don’t know if I missed this but shouldn’t you cover with something breathable? as you do with kombucha, and milk kefir?
No, water kefir works best anaerobically!
🙂
I love your blog and I just got your book!
As I research “where to buy”, I noted that the Culture For Health says the seeds they sell is for 1-2 qts of juice (2 tsp grains rehydrate to 3-4 Tbsp).
Your recipe here calls for 1 gallon of juice and 1/4 c grains (however your book recipe does say 1/2 gallon and 1/4 c grains).
I just want to make sure that the amount of grains sold by Culture For Health is enough for the 1/2 gallon of juice… Thanks!
Hi Karen!
Thanks for buying my book! When you first buy from Cultures for Health, you’ll make a smaller batch, but each time you make a batch, they’ll grow! You’ll eventually have grains growin’ outta your ears:) Probably by the 3-4 batch, you’ll have enough to make my large recipe.
This sounds fantastic. I don’t drink a lot of soda, but my son does. I would like to try this, and I’m sure your book would be helpful in getting started. How do you purchase your book?
Hi Paula! You can purchase my book here: https://www.weedemandreap.com/have-cake-lose-weight-e-book/
If I already added the kefir granules to the oj and left it out overnight, do you think the kefir grains can be reused or would it be best to start over?
Water kefir soda pop doesn’t work with citrus juice, but you can use the peel (the essential oils) for the flavor!
My current flavor of kefir is made with a ginger and lemon tea with orange juice added…it turns out great! two citrus juices! The tea is made by steeping a good half cup of fresh grated ginger with the juice of four lemons in a pot of water over night in a thermos. in a quart of kefir I add 1/3 cup of the tea and 1/3 cup of orange juice. It makes a very refreshing and bubbly drink with great digestive benefits.
Is it ok to leave store bought OJ on the counter that long? I bought some from Trader Joe’s and it says it is perishable and to keep refrigerated…
Because orange juice is a citrus fruit, it will not work well with water kefir soda pop. You can use the peel (the essential oils) though:)
it would be clever if you could use this to recreate the Coca Cola recipy, but there is apparently some citrus and orange in there.. But the kefir is quite sour in itself, so perhaps you could try a recipy of ingredients like ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, syrup, eventually caffeine, (and cassis, coriander, neroli, whatever their formula consists of. ) is it possible to use spices in a kefir soda?
Hi DaNelle! Great blog! Quick question, are the benefits of kefir drink the same as kombucha?
They are both good, but different in their strains of bacteria. That’s why it’s good to change it up over the years. Sometimes we do a lot of kefir, then when we get tired of it, we’ll move to kombucha.
I may be crazy but I like variety in my life so I have a continuous brew of kombucha going, some milk kefir, some probiotic lemonade, I eat yogurt but that’s the next on my list to make after I get my cultures later this week and, after I make sauerkraut tomorrow, and I’m rehydrating water kefir grains as we speak, I’m trying to build up good gut bacteria after years of pharmaceuticals, including steroids and antibiotics, so at least for now I figure my gut can use they biggest variety of good “bugs” that it can get. I’ve already gone through a healing crisis as I’ve been drinking kombucha for several months now, any thoughts on this idea.
Okay I have a few questions…
1) I bought a gallon of purified, mineral enhanced water specifically for this purpose and I wanted to know if this was acceptable to use.
2) I read on Delicious Obsessions that you needed to put the kefir in a 78 degree spot for 12-24 hours. It’s been pretty cold in my house lately, so will the kefir still work? Have you had problems with the temperature differences? Do I just let it ferment for longer?
Sorry for the bombardment of questions. I’m just curious. I love this blog. Great job!
Hi Margaret,
1) Yes, that would be great!
2) I would just let it ferment longer, but try to put it on top of the fridge, it’s usually warmer.
I’ve been making water kefir using the cultures for health kit for a little over a month. My problem is it is not fizzy at all. It still tastes like sugar water to me. Im just using 1/4 sugar, 1 quart water and kefir grains. Do you have any suggestions? Thanks
reduce water ratio to grains. how many TBL of grains do you have for that quart. and add a little bit of ginger or dried fruit. sometimes they get picky and want different kinds of sugars too. I trade between coconut palm and organic raw
I have been cultivating kefir granules for about 6 years. If I don’t follow the recipe exactly, the granules become stressed and die off. It’s good to find another recipe 🙂
After about 6 weeks of trying to get my kefir grains balanced, I think they’re FINALLY producing some good kefir. Before that, it would smell like vomit and was still sweet and not tangy at all. Today I literally was about to give up and dump the grains down the sink! Then I tasted the kefir and finally got the flavor I was waiting for. I poured it into a couple ez-top bottles with a little watermelon juice and am crossing my fingers that they turn out.
Question: You say that it creates more carbonation in the fridge, so does that mean I don’t have to leave it out on the counter at all? I’ve had a couple initial (vomit smelling) kefir bottles explode on me after 24 hours so I was just checking.
I also wanted to add, in reference to the minerals required, I was’t getting balanced grains because the filtered water was taking out too many minerals, so I switched to bottled spring water instead. I think that made all the difference.
Great!
Can you enlighten us on what the purpose is of adding the minerals to the kefir. Please???
Most water is devoid of minerals, and so to keep this traditional culture alive, you have to give it traditional water or close to it as possible.
Our well water is full of great minerals which the grains love. Also we use frozen (sugar free) grape juice and it really is great tasting. Stevia is also great to sweeten when making ginger ale instead of all the sugar. 🙂
That sounds delicious!
I can’t wait to try this method. I’ve tried making a ginger bug, twice, and both times turned to alcohol within days…yikes! Thanks for the recipes.
OH MAH GOSH!!!!!!!!!!!
You were so right about that ‘running around the house and screaming part’!!!!
I never want to get into the habit of buying things like that on a regular basis and want to be as independant as possible (well, dependant on God, but not society 🙂 )
That’s why i plan to make my own rennet and gelatine and things like that and, boy, am i glad i found this!!! I went onto your site, from a link from the prairie homestead, thinking that each time you made it you would need something storebought, but when you said IT REPRODUCES AND WIL LAST YOUR LIFE I think i screamed a bit on the inside.
And to top it off, it’s HEALTHY too!? why haven’t i heard of this sooner!!!
I love me a good Teddy’s root beer once a month or watever, but forget that now!
Thanks again!
-Faith
Oh yeah, if anyone reading this wants to know how to make their own rennet or gelatin or countless other things (even ink or paint) you might wanna check out The Ultimate Guide to Homesteading: an Encyclopeidia of Independant living, it teaches you how to make almost every material thing you could need, most, without electricity or faucet water.
Hope that helps someone 🙂
Oh wow! I can’t wait to try this out! What a great and healthy alternative to soda! Woot!
After you strain the liquid, how do you store the kefir grain?
Where can I get the bottles?
I’ve been making my kefir soda for almost two months now. Sometimes I drink it after the first fermentation, it tastes like “yeasty” lemonade, and sometimes I use Cranberry juice and do a second fermentation. Either way, it is fantastic! I have also found that raw organic sugar seems to taste the best. I have used coconut sugar and have not had a good batch yet, but it may also be because my grains have multiplied like crazy, thus eating the sugars quick, fast, and in a hurry!
One good thing to note, if using the bottles with the flip-top lids…burp them. I opened my first one after about 18 hours on the counter and it was worse then opening a bottle of champagne. I lost over half the liquid AND had to mop my floor!
What are the mineral drops for?
I have kefir grains I’ve been using with milk. Can I use some of those grains or are they different? I’ve taken a break from making kefir on my counter so I have the grains in some milk in the back of my fridge. How long do the grains last in the fridge?
“Are you as excited as me??” Sure am. Well, I’m not going to run around the house screaming. Too bad I don’t have enough money for kefir grains right now. Instead I carbonate my pop with either Body Ecology’s Kefir starter or bread machine yeast at the store. I always get the strangest flavour even if my syrup tastes decent.
I had already heard of this, but was hesitant to try, even with the urging of my nutrition chick – I had tried some ferments, and those were ok, but the way that you describe this really makes me want to take the risk. This and kombucha tea… if you do that, please post about it too!
Oh be still my heart! You just made a soda pop lover’s dream come true. I have been wanting to kick the pop habit to improve my health and my family’s. I definitely want to try this as a healthier alt. to the pop. Thank you! So happy I found your blog and FB page!
Um… my mind is blown right now… I’ve been trying to give up coke which i know is really insanely just plain bad for me… but haven’t really be able to find something to replace it… perhaps having something healthy but with the fizz of soda will help me kick the habit!
Ps. I just started reading your blog and I love it…<3
I actually my first batch of water kefir on the counter right now! I’m excited to read that I can just add it to juice, I didn’t know that! I made mine with sugar water and am going to add juice to it but just adding to straight juice would be even better!
Thanks for the tip : )
Is there a way to make something similar to Dr pepper? Trying to get Hubs to give it up!
Is there a way to make something similar to Dr pepper? Trying to get Hubs to give it up!
I have been procrastinating on buying my grains. This sure is incentive. It looks so yummy!
I thought store bought juice was bad for you, no?
It is true that you have to be careful when purchasing juice at the store. Some are not 100% juice and that is the first thing you must look for. Also make sure there is no added sugar. Second, even if it’s 100% juice, it can be full of pesticides from non-organic fruit. Your best option is 100% Organic juice. This is the best option for store bought juice. Although it is pasteurized (heated at a high temperature) if you need to purchase it, this is still the best. The best option of all is to buy a juicer and make water kefir with that(I do that too sometimes) or start with plain water kefir and add flavorings.
Congrats on the weight loss. Don’t you just feel so much better? I know I do 🙂 I gave up soda a little more than a year ago too. Along with a healthier diet and walking I lost 26 pounds. Not drinking soda was big for me too. Now I drink water or add seltzer to fruit juice but not every day and of course milk for dinner.
Thanks for the “soda” idea. I am not ready to do that yet but I appreciate the tips and the knowledge when I am ready to start.
Have a beautiful day!
So, I bought some water kefir grains. No one was impressed…but I wasn’t using juice. I put it in the frig in some sugar water……and forgot about them. It has been several months. Would like to give it another try. Think I killed them? How would I know? Thanks for your help!
I think you’d know if you killed them if they weren’t producing any more carbonation.
Well i had some water kefir grains that i got from a friend. Then i left them in the frig for moths .i was afraid they were dead but gave it another try. i rotated the feedings between molasses and sugar, they were coming back alive! now my grains are about as big as penny and very happy!
and make great soda (;
Hi!
I just found your blog and I love it! 🙂
I had a quick question… is this safe for kids to drink? We are fairly new to the NT and real food eating.
thank you 🙂
julie
Yes, totally safe for kids to drink! Mine drink it all the time!
Thank you for your reply! I had bought kefir grains 2 months ago and never worked up the courage to try! 🙂 Thanks for the encouragement! 🙂
julie
Ok. so I *think* I did it right, however, the bottom of my bottle that is fermenting on the counter has developed at white concentrated layer on the bottom. Is that bad? Should I throw it out?
Thanks for the help! 🙂
Julie
that’s just kahm yeast. It’s fine as long as you have bubbles you’re fine
I can’t wait to try this! Thank you for sharing!
I’ve been making water kefir for about 4 months now and can’t seem to find a “flavor” I really like. I have *not* tried putting the grains directly into juice, but I sure will! Which juice do you think is the easiest to get started with?
I’ve used store bought apple, apple/grape, strawberry/kiwi juices and they’ve all tasted great! Try to just buy a bottle (organic is best) and see if you like it! We think it’s delicious!
I have been making water kefir for over a year now!! I started with grape juice and tried orange juice…then I combined them. It makes a refreshing drink. Now I do a ginger and lemon mixture.
That sounds delicious!
I have to say…this brought back some bad memories of my mother homemade rootbeer…oh dear, that wasn’t pretty.
Yours, on the other hand, looks refreshing and delicious. Kefir! Who knew?
Yeah, I’ve heard REAL homemade Rootbeer can taste weird, haha! The water kefir rootbeer is sweetened with maple syrup & vanilla, then the rootbeer extract is added at the end for flavor. I’ll have to try it and let you know how it turns out!
How would I get started doing something like this? I would love to try! I’ve been replacing soda with sparkling water.
You can purchase the Water Kefir Grains from Cultures for Health. They come with an instruction sheet & recipes!
https://www.culturesforhealth.com/water-kefir-grains.html