Water Kefir is easy to make once you have some water kefir grains. It makes a wonderful effervescent and probiotic-rich drink. It’s also an economical beverage to make because other than the grains, all you need is water and sugar.

YouTube thumbnail with image of Mary pouring water kefir into a jar and text on the left "Mary's Nest Making Water Kefir"

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Table of Contents

What is Water Kefir?

Water kefir, or tibicos as it is also known, is a fermented carbonated beverage using a culture of yeasts and good bacteria referred to as “grains.”

As the kefir grains sit in the sugar water sit they begin to ferment, making a delightfully effervescent, slightly tangy fermented water!

Kefir water, a probiotic-rich fermented beverage, tastes delicious and offers you a perfect alternative drink to Kombucha.  It’s easy to make and involves preparing a solution of sugar and water and pouring it into a jar over your grains.

Unlike a milk kefir, water kefir is dairy-free and gluten-free!

A jar of water kefir fermenting covered with a coffee filter and a rubberband.

Ingredients

Find the full printable kefir water recipe with measurements below.

For this specific recipe, I recommend the following ingredients:

  • Water kefir grains: Get some from a friend who has some extra and will share a few with you. (They multiply quite quickly!) You can also buy them online. Cultures for Health sells them in a dehydrated form. When they arrive, you just need to rehydrate them, which takes a day or two and then you can start making kefir. (Get my discount code for 15% off orders from Cultures for Health.)
  • Cane sugar: Sugar is needed to make kefir. It feeds the yeast and helps it grow. Most of it will be consumed in the process of fermenting so don’t worry that it will be overly sweet.

How to Make Water Kefir

Step 1 – Place the water kefir grains in a 1-quart jar.

Step 2 – Mix together the water and sugar in a large measuring cup until the sugar dissolves.

Step 3 – Pour the sugar water into the jar over the water kefir grains.

Step 4 – Cover the jar with a coffee filter or clean cloth and secure it with a rubber band.

Step 5 – Let it sit for 24 hours. Then taste the water kefir using a clean spoon. If it is to your liking, drain off the liquid from the grains. Store the liquid in a jar and refrigerate. Save the used grains to make a second batch of water kefir. 

PRO TIP: If you would like the water kefir to be less sweet, let it ferment for another 24 hours for a total of 48 hours.

Can I Add Fruit to My Water Kefir?

Yes, you can make a fruit-flavored water kefir.  Once you’ve made your water kefir, here are the steps to follow:

  1. Put your strained water kefir into a clean jar without any kefir grains and add a small amount of fruit.
  2. Cover the jar with a coffee filter or clean cloth and secure with a rubber band.  Allow the water kefir and fruit to ferment for 12-24 hours.
  3. Once the taste is to your liking, strain the fruit (or you can leave it in the water kefir), decant the fruit-flavored water kefir, and refrigerate.

How to Store Water Kefir Grains

If you want to store your grains longer than a few days, you can store them covered with sugar water or a bit of your finished kefir water in a jar in your refrigerator. If using sugar water, add about one tablespoon of sugar per one cup of water. Store your grains in the fridge for up to six months.

Recipe Tips

  • Water kefir is best enjoyed when first made. It’s a treat, as opposed to something that should be consumed on a daily basis. Think of it as a soda—just a soda that has been made for centuries by traditional cultures.
  • Store your water kefir in the fridge after it’s ready. It will become less fizzy after a day or two, but it’s safe in the fridge for up to three months.
  • For a less sweet kefir, allow your water kefir to ferment longer.
  • Don’t throw out your kefir grains! You can use them indefinitely, and they will multiply and grow. You can also share them with others who are interested in making kefir. You can also eat them. (They have a mild taste with the texture of gummies.)

More Fermented Beverages

See all →

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How to Make Water Kefir

5 from 1 vote
Prep: 5 minutes
Total: 1 day 5 minutes
Yield: 4
Author: Mary Bryant Shrader
Water Kefir fermenting
Print Recipe Save Recipe Rate Recipe
Water Kefir is easy to make once you have some water kefir grains. It makes a wonderful effervescent and probiotic-rich drink.  It’s also an economical beverage to make because other than the grains, all you need is water and sugar.

Ingredients

  • 1 pkg Water kefir grains
  • 4 tbsp Cane sugar
  • 4 cups Filtered water

Instructions 

  • Place water kefir grains in a 1-quart jar.
  • Mix water and sugar in a 4-cup measuring cup until the sugar has dissolved.
  • Pour the sugar water into the 1-quart jar over the water kefir grains.
  • Cover the filled 1-quart jar with a coffee filter or clean cloth and secure with a rubber band.
  • After 24 hours, taste the water kefir using a clean spoon. If it is to your liking, drain off the grains and use them to make a second batch of water kefir. If you would like the water kefir to be less sweet, let it ferment for another 24 hours for a total of 48 hours.
  • Once the water kefir is to your liking, drain off the grains as mentioned above. You can now decant your water kefir and refrigerate it.

Notes

You can make a fruit-flavored water kefir.  Put your strained water kefir into a clean jar without any kefir grains and add a small amount of fruit. Cover the jar with a coffee filter or clean cloth and secure with a rubber band.  Allow the water kefir and fruit to ferment for 12-24 hours. Once the taste is to your liking, strain the fruit (or you can leave it in the water kefir), decant the fruit-flavored water kefir, and refrigerate.
Water kefir is best enjoyed when first made. It’s a treat, as opposed to something that should be consumed on a daily basis. Think of it as a soda—just a soda that has been made for centuries by traditional cultures.
Store your water kefir in the fridge after it’s ready. It will become less fizzy after a day or two but is safe in the fridge for up to three months.
For a less sweet kefir, allow your water kefir to ferment longer.
Don’t throw out your kefir grains! You can use them indefinitely. And they will multiply and grow. You can also share them with others who are interested in making kefir. You can also eat them. (They have a mild taste with the texture of gummies.)

Nutrition

Calories: 46kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Fat: 0.04g | Sodium: 12mg | Potassium: 0.2mg | Sugar: 12g | Calcium: 7mg | Iron: 0.01mg
Course: Beverages
Cuisine: Eastern European
Calories: 46
Keyword: Fermented Beverages, Probiotic Rich Beverages, Water Kefir
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Comments

  1. Carla Chlebanowski says:

    How many times can the same re-hydrated water Kefir grains be used. Do they EVER have to be discarded? They are quite expensive if they can be used only a couple of times.

    Reply
    1. Mary's Nest says:

      Hi Carla, Please forgive the delay. I just saw this comment. The re-hydrated water kefir grains should last indefinitely if you make water kefir every day OR if you do not making water kefir everyday and you store the grains in your fridge, then just feed them once per week. Hope this helps. Thanks so much for visiting!! Glad you’re here!! Love, Mary

      Reply
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