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How to Make Water Kefir

Learn how to make probiotic-rich Water Kefir and discover this wonderful alternative to Kombucha.

August 18, 2018 By Mary's Nest 2 Comments

How to Make Water Kefir

Mary's Nest Making Water Kefir YouTube

Watch this video on YouTube

Hi Sweet Friends,

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

Water Kefir fermenting

Get ready to enjoy fermented water

After you pour the water, let the kefir grains in the sugar water sit for 24-48 hours in a warm place at about 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Then drain off the grains and enjoy a delightfully effervescent, slightly tangy fermented water!

Try a second ferment with fruit

If you like, you can perform a second ferment.  Take your strained water kefir (minus the grains), add some fruit, and ferment overnight.  Now you have fruit-flavored water kefir.  It couldn’t be easier!

And now try more fermented and cultured beverages

Now that you have mastered Water Kefir, be sure to check out my other videos for fermented and cultured beverages:

Mary's Nest Milk Kefir YouTube How to Make Milk Kefir
How to Make Beet Kvass YouTube Video How to Make Beet Kvass

Step-by-step instructions

So be sure to watch this YouTube video as I walk you through the step-by-step process of making Water Kefir.  Start making fermented beverages today!

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You can print the recipe below.

Water Kefir fermenting
Print Recipe

How to Make Water Kefir

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.
Prep Time5 mins
Total Time1 d 5 mins
Course: Beverages
Cuisine: Eastern European
Keyword: Fermented Beverages, Probiotic Rich Beverages, Water Kefir
Servings: 4

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

If you wish, 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.

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    Learn where I buy my Beef Bones, Wild-Caught Fish, Sprouted Grains, and more...and learn about Special Discounts for Mary's Nest visitors, including from US Wellness Meats, Vital Choice, Masontops, and Breadsmart.

Cultures for Health Water Kefir Grains
Pyrex 4-Cup Measuring Cup, Clear with Red Graphics
All-Clad 1-Quart Stainless Steel Sauce Pan with Lid
All-Clad Stainless Steel Measuring Cups
Stainless Steel Magic Whisk
Instant Read Pocket Thermometer
Ball Wide Mouth Half Gallon 64 Oz Jars with Lids and Bands
Wooden Chopsticks
Brew Rite 4 Cup Coffee Basket Disposable Filters
Colorful Rubber Bands

*Affiliates note: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. My videos and blog posts may contain affiliate links to products and services. If you click through and make a purchase, I’ll receive a small commission. It does not affect the price you pay.

**Disclaimer: I am not a medical doctor, a medical professional, a dietician, or a nutritionist. All content found on the MarysNest.com website, including text, images, videos, eBooks or eGuides, social media, or other formats, were created solely for informational purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or proper nutritional advice. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have watched in a video or read on this website. Use caution when following the recipe in this video. The creator and publisher of this video and website will not be held responsible for any adverse effects that may arise from the use of this recipe and method or any other recipe and method on this website or corresponding video channel.

Filed Under: Budget Friendly, Fermented Beverages Tagged With: Water Kefir

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Carla Chlebanowski says

    May 31, 2019 at 2:02 pm

    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
    • Mary's Nest says

      June 13, 2019 at 6:45 pm

      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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