Water Kefir
A lightly fizzy, tangy fermented drink made by fermenting sugar water with water kefir grains (a bacteria-yeast culture) for a few days. Unlike milk kefir, it contains no dairy.
What Is Water Kefir?
Water kefir is a fermented beverage obtained by fermenting sugary water with "water kefir grains" (gelatinous clusters formed by bacteria and yeast cultures) at room temperature for a few days. Since it contains no milk, it's also an option for those sensitive to lactose.
During fermentation, part of the sugar turns into organic acids and natural carbon dioxide; this gives the beverage a lightly fizzy, tangy character. It can be varied by adding fruit or spices.
Nutritional Values of Water Kefir
100 ml of water kefir contains about 20 kcal of energy; this value varies according to fermentation time and remaining sugar amount. The beverage's standout feature is not its calorie value but its live probiotic culture.
How Should Water Kefir Be Consumed?
As a low-calorie beverage containing live cultures, water kefir is consumed cold in small glasses as part of a balanced diet.
This information is general; water kefir is a beverage, not a substitute for medical treatment.
How to Choose Water Kefir?
When buying ready-bottled water kefir, the ingredient list should be plain (water, sugar, culture); for homemade, fresh, live, and good-smelling grains should be preferred.
- Bottled products should have a plain ingredient list
- For homemade, grains should be alive, translucent-whitish, and pleasant-smelling
- A slight pressure (gas) when the bottle is closed is normal
How to Store Water Kefir?
Prepared water kefir should be consumed within a few days in a sealed bottle in the fridge; its sourness increases with long waiting. The kefir grains, on the other hand, are kept in a separate container, fed regularly with fresh sugary water.
Using Water Kefir in the Kitchen
Water kefir is mostly consumed as a cold beverage, mixed with fruit juice, or carbonated and flavored through a second fermentation; in some recipes it's also tried as a dough-leavening liquid.
What Is the Difference Between Water Kefir and Milk Kefir?
Milk kefir ferments in cow's or goat's milk, while water kefir ferments in sugary water; water kefir contains no lactose and has a lighter, fruitier taste. Both work on a similar logic but use different grains (culture clusters).
Frequently Asked Questions
Does water kefir contain alcohol?
Trace amounts of natural alcohol may form during fermentation; in home-prepared water kefir this ratio is usually very low (under 1%), but it can increase with a long second fermentation.
What is second fermentation?
It's when, after the first fermentation, the grains are strained out and fruit or spices are added to the beverage, then it's left in a sealed bottle for a few more days; this step increases aroma and gas ratio.
How are water kefir grains multiplied?
The grains multiply over time when regularly fed with fresh sugary water; surplus grains can be set aside for another fermentation or shared.