If you’re a soda lover looking to make healthier choices, there’s a new drink you should check out. Forget carbonated waters; water kefir is gaining popularity now. This lightly fizzy drink is filled with probiotics that help with gut health, and it has just enough sugar to give it a sweet taste. The best part? You can make water kefir at home, giving you an almost unlimited supply of this natural drink.

Wondering how to get started? Let’s dive into the details.

What is Water Kefir?
Water kefir is a fermented probiotic drink made using kefir grains, also known as ‘Japanese Water Crystals’ or ‘California Bees.’ These grains come from the prickly pear cactus and are used to brew a fermented, non-alcoholic beverage. The grains are a symbiotic mix of lactic acid bacteria and yeasts, and they can be used to ferment juice, sugar water, and even coconut water.

Because of its probiotic brewing process, water kefir contains more strains of beneficial bacteria than many other cultured products, including yogurt. The drink is a light, refreshing soda similar to kombucha. The kefir grains metabolize most of the sugar in the juice, leaving it with a slight tang rather than a sweet taste. As a result, kefir water has a low glycemic load and is caffeine-free.

While you might not have heard of kefir grains, they have been used in European and Central Asian folk medicine for a long time due to their fresh taste and health benefits. By some accounts, water kefir contains up to 40 strains of beneficial bacteria that can boost your system and help fight off carcinogens, tumors, and other health threats.

Water Kefir Vs. Milk Kefir: What’s the Difference?
Kefir grains are traditionally used to make two kinds of drinks: milk kefir and water kefir. Milk kefir is more commonly available and can usually be found in health food stores. It can be made from various kinds of milk, including goat, cow, or sheep milk. This dairy-based kefir tends to taste tart, similar to Greek yogurt, and the flavor becomes stronger the longer it’s fermented. While it’s not naturally sweet, many manufacturers add vanilla or fruit to enhance the flavor.

In contrast, water kefir is made without dairy products and relies on sugar and water to produce a fizzy beverage similar to soda. Although it contains fewer bacterial strains than milk kefir, it has significantly more than other cultured products like yogurt. These two kefir drinks have different properties and should be used differently. While milk kefir works well in recipes that call for dairy, water kefir is less tart and creamy, making it better to drink on its own.

8 Health Benefits of Water Kefir
Beyond its low sugar content, here are some other reasons to consider making and drinking homemade water kefir:

1. Easy to Make: You can have homemade water kefir ready in just three days with only five minutes of prep time. This makes it one of the easiest probiotic drinks you can brew.

2. More Potent Probiotic than Yogurt: Kefir grains contain about 40 strains of yeast and bacteria that can aid digestion, improve weight management, and boost mental health, making it a more potent probiotic than yogurt.

3. Boosts Immunity: Water kefir contains nutrients like biotin and folate, which enhance the immune system and protect your cells. Probiotics in the drink help inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria that cause infections.

4. Heals Skin: Since the digestive system is central to overall health, disruptions in gut bacteria can lead to skin problems like acne and eczema. Drinking kefir can restore balance to your system, potentially improving skin issues over time. Kefir also contains a compound called kefiran, which may boost the skin’s ability to heal wounds.

5. Protective Against Cancer Growth: The probiotics in fermented foods like water kefir are thought to prevent damaged cells from proliferating, which can help with cancer prevention.

6. Potent Antibacterial Properties: Certain probiotics in water kefir have strong antibacterial properties, including lactobacillus kefiri, which can inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria like E. coli and salmonella.

7. Improves Allergy & Asthma Symptoms: Water kefir may help reduce allergy symptoms by calming down the immune system’s inflammatory responses.

8. Helps with Digestive Problems: The probiotics in kefir balance your digestive system, making it effective for treating issues like diarrhea, irritable bowel syndrome, and even ulcers.

How to Choose & Use Kefir
If you’re impressed by the benefits and want to start making your own kefir, the first step is to decide whether to use kefir grains or a powdered starter culture.

Kefir Grains vs. Powdered Kefir Starter Culture:
True kefir can only come from kefir grains, which can be reused almost indefinitely to make fresh kefir. These grains grow by about ten percent with each batch and are ideal for those looking to make continuous batches.

On the other hand, powdered kefir starter culture can be dissolved in water for a quick kefir batch. While the starter mix costs less, it can only be reused about five times before losing its potency. Kefir grains usually provide a broader range of probiotics and are best for those committed to regular brewing.

How to Make Kefir from a Powdered Starter Culture
For first-time brewers, starting with a powdered starter culture is often easiest. You’ll need a large glass container, a stainless steel stirring utensil, a coffee filter, and a rubber band. For brewing, you’ll need a packet of starter culture and a quart of sweetened liquid.

1. Heat your liquid to room temperature and pour it into the container.
2. Add the starter culture, stirring gently until it dissolves.
3. Cover the bottle with a coffee filter and let it sit in a warm spot for about 16 hours.
4. Taste it to see if it’s done. Once you like the flavor, cover the container with a lid and refrigerate it. Drink it within two weeks.
5. To make another batch, use a scoop of kefir from the completed batch to inoculate the next one. This can work between two and seven times before losing potency.

How to Make Kefir with Kefir Grains
If you’re committed to kefir, making it with water kefir grains is straightforward. You’ll need half a cup of kefir grains, organic cane sugar, three half-gallon glass jars, a strainer, coffee filters, a cup and a half of mixed fruit, one lemon, two prunes, and water (well water is best due to its high mineral content).

1. Fill two jars halfway with water and dissolve ¼ cup of cane sugar in each.
2. Add the water kefir grains. You can add a prune and a slice of lemon for flavor.
3. Cover the jars with coffee filters and let them sit for 2-3 days.
4. Once the kefir tastes slightly fermented, you can move to the next stage.
5. Pour the two jars into a third jar with 1 ½ cups of fresh fruit, straining out the kefir grains in the process.
6. Fill the jar up to half an inch from the top, cover it with a lid, and let it sit for 24 hours until it starts to bubble.
7. Once the fruit floats to the top, you can refrigerate and drink your kefir.

Storing & Reusing Kefir Grains
Store used kefir grains in a smaller jar filled with sugar water or extra kefir to keep them hydrated. Feed them every few days by replacing the water. For a temporary break, store the grains in the fridge in sugar water for several weeks, and re-awaken the bacteria with regular sugar feedings before using them again.

Once you start making your own water kefir, you’ll find it hard to stop. This subtly sweet, probiotic-rich beverage is a great soda substitute and can be personalized in almost unlimited ways. Start experimenting and enjoy the benefits of this healthy drink!