We are not big soda drinkers in our house. We never have been. I am not sure why. I don't really care for it, and neither does my husband. But, the kids LOVE it. Of course they do! When I heard about water kefir, I knew that my kids would like it. What is water kefir?
Water kefir is a fermented beverage that is full of beneficial bacteria, easy to flavor, and so easy to prepare! It tastes similar to a fizzy lemonade and is chocked full of micronutrients and enzymes as well! For those people who are looking for a healthy alternative to soda, water kefir would be great! So, how do you make it?
Water kefir is first cultured by introducing the kefir grains into sugar water. The beneficial bacteria and yeasts present in the grains metabolize the sugars and turn it into lactic acid. I simply put my grains into a half gallon mason jar and filled it with six cups of water. To that I added 1/2 cup of organic sugar, half a lemon, a slice of ginger and some raisins. I placed a coffee filter over the top and secured it with a rubber band. Two days later I strained the water kefir into two flip top bottles. I capped them and left them on the counter to ferment for another day. The result was a ginger ale flavored fizzy drink! The second time I made it, I let the first ferment go for three days and the result was a less-sweet beverage which I thought was better.
Okay, this is all fine and dandy, but where do you get water kefir grains?! You can always get extra grains from a friend - they multiply! I found my grains at Cultures for Health. They arrived dehydrated, so I just followed the directions for hydrating them before I could make my water kefir.
This drink is fun and ridiculously easy to make. The kids love it and I do too! Please remember that drinks like water kefir and kombucha are rich sources of beneficial bacteria and can have a detoxing effect. They should be consumed in strict moderation (no more than 2 ounces per day to begin).
No comments:
Post a Comment