If you love soda but want to make healthier choices, there’s a new drink you should check out: water kefir. Unlike carbonated waters, water kefir is a lightly fizzy drink packed with probiotics that promote gut health. It has just enough sugar to taste sweet and can be made at home, giving you an endless supply of this natural beverage.

Not sure where to begin? Let’s break it down.

What is Water Kefir?

Water kefir is a fermented probiotic drink made with 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 non-alcoholic beverage. They consist of a symbiotic blend of lactic acid bacteria and yeasts and can be used to culture juice, sugar water, and even coconut water.

Thanks to its fermentation process, water kefir contains more strains of beneficial bacteria than many other cultured products, including yogurt. The resulting drink is a light, refreshing soda similar to kombucha. The kefir grains consume most of the sugar in the juice, leaving it with a slight tang rather than a sweet taste. This makes water kefir low in sugar and caffeine-free.

Though you might not have heard of them, kefir grains have been used in European and Central Asian folk medicine for their taste and health benefits. They are believed to contain up to 40 strains of beneficial bacteria that can boost your immune system and help fight off health threats like carcinogens and tumors.

Water Kefir Vs. Milk Kefir: What’s the Difference?

Kefir grains can be used to make two types of drinks: milk kefir and water kefir. Milk kefir is more commonly available and can be found in health food stores. It can be made from various kinds of milk, including goat, cow, or sheep. This dairy-based kefir has a tart taste similar to Greek yogurt, which becomes stronger the longer it ferments. While not naturally sweet, flavors like vanilla or fruit are often added to make it more palatable.

Water kefir, on the other hand, is made without dairy and uses sugar and water to create a fizzy, soda-like beverage. It contains fewer bacterial strains than milk kefir but still has more than other cultured products like yogurt. These two drinks have different properties and uses: milk kefir is great for recipes requiring dairy, while water kefir is best enjoyed on its own due to its less tart and creamy nature.

8 Health Benefits of Water Kefir

1. Easy to Make: You can make homemade water kefir in just three days with only five minutes of prep time.
2. More Potent Probiotic than Yogurt: Kefir grains contain about 40 strains of beneficial bacteria and yeasts, aiding in digestion, weight management, and mental health.
3. Boosts Immunity: Packed with nutrients like biotin and folate, water kefir can strengthen your immune system and protect your cells.
4. Heals Skin: By balancing your gut bacteria, water kefir can help resolve skin issues like acne and eczema.
5. Protective Against Cancer Growth: The probiotics in water kefir may help prevent the proliferation of cancer cells.
6. Potent Antibacterial Properties: Certain probiotics in water kefir can inhibit harmful bacteria, including E. coli and salmonella.
7. Improves Allergy & Asthma Symptoms: Water kefir may reduce inflammatory responses that trigger allergy symptoms.
8. Helps with Digestive Problems: The probiotics in kefir can alleviate issues like diarrhea, irritable bowel syndrome, and ulcers.

How to Choose & Use Kefir

To start making your own water kefir, you need to decide whether to use kefir grains or a powdered starter culture.

Kefir Grains or Powdered Kefir Starter Culture?

Most kefir is made using one of these two methods. True kefir comes from kefir grains, which can be reused indefinitely and tend to increase in quantity with each batch. Kefir grains are ideal for those who plan to make back-to-back batches regularly.

Powdered kefir starter culture is a quicker option but can only be reused about five times before losing potency. It’s great for beginners who want to try water kefir without committing to continuous brewing.

How to Make Kefir from a Powdered Starter Culture

For beginners, using a powdered starter culture is a simple way to start. You’ll need a large glass container, a stainless steel stirring utensil, a coffee filter, and a rubber band. For brewing, you 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 and stir gently until dissolved.
3. Cover the container with a coffee filter and let it sit in a warm spot for about 16 hours.
4. Taste it periodically to check if it’s done.
5. Once you like the flavor, cover the container with a tight lid and refrigerate. Drink within two weeks.
6. For subsequent batches, use a scoop of kefir from the completed batch to inoculate the next one.

How to Make Kefir with Kefir Grains

If you’re committed to making kefir, using 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, mixed fruit, one lemon, two prunes, and water.

1. Fill two jars halfway with water and dissolve ¼ cup of cane sugar in each.
2. Add the kefir grains and optional fruit for flavor.
3. Cover with coffee filters and let sit for 2-3 days.
4. When ready, strain the kefir grains and set them aside.
5. Add fresh fruit to a third jar, pour in the kefir, and let sit for 24 hours until it starts to bubble.
6. Refrigerate and enjoy your kefir once the fruit floats to the top.

Storing & Reusing Kefir Grains

Store used kefir grains in a smaller jar with sugar water or extra kefir to keep them hydrated. Feed them every few days by replacing the water. If you need a break from brewing, store the grains in the fridge for several weeks, then re-awaken them with regular sugar feedings before use.

Once you start making your own water kefir, it’s hard to stop. This subtly sweet, probiotic-rich drink is a fantastic soda substitute and can be customized in countless ways. So why not give it a try? It’s never been easier to adopt healthier habits.