Water kefir beginner guide

Beginner guide on how to make your own water kefir at home.

Preparation

• Glass jar x2 (about 1L)
• Clean cloth / kitchen towel for covering the jar, to prevent small insects
• Non-metallic spoon and strainer
• Airtight glass jar or clip top glass bottle (like the IKEA glass bottle)
• Active water kefir grains 1 unit (about 25g+)
• Organic raw sugar 30-45g (can use cane/brown/black/coconut/palm sugar/gula melaka, or combination)
• Mineral water 500-650ml

Step by step instructions:

• Tutorial video: https://youtu.be/skiS2RO5hTc

1. Wash and sterilize the glass jar and tools with hot water, and let it cool down before use
2. Add mineral water and sugar into the glass jar, mix well until completely dissolved
3. Add kefir grains (the whole content in the box) into the glass jar / sugar water
4. Cover the jar with clean cloth / kitchen towel, secured with an elastic band, and label date / time
5. Place the jar on the table / countertop, at a bright and warm place, avoid direct sunlight. Let it ferment in room temperature for 24 hours. After 24 hours, you should see tiny bubbles rise from teh base or grains floating when you move the jar. This is a sure sign of fermentation.
6. Use non-metallic spoon and strainer, gently strain out the kefir grains, which can be re-used in next fermentation. The liquid strained out is your kefir water, bottle up with and airtight glass jar, or do a 2nd fermentation* to flavor it.
7. Repeat the above steps if you wish to make more.

Important

• [Fermentation time] and [ratio of grains / sugar water]
• Fermentation time is depending on the weather / temperature (hot day shorter, cool day longer), the ratio of grains / sugar water, and your preference
• Do not ferment too long (over 36 hours), especially in hot climates, grains may starve and disintegrate
• Please adjust the sugar / water ratio when grains grow and multiply (more grains, more sugar water)
• *2nd fermentation (strain the grains out first, use kefir water only)
• Pour your kefir water into an airtight glass jar and add flavor (infused with fruits / dry flower, herbs or tea / fruit juice), keep at rom temperature for 12-24 hours or refrigerate it for another 48 hours before drinking.
• Be safe, be moderate, be healthy
• For diabetics patient and keto diet: keep the kefir water at room temperature for another 12-24 hours, to lower the sweetness level further.
• Fermented water kefir drink has some alcohol content, please drink moderately (especially kids)
• Everyone’s body works differently, please start with small amount (children 50-100ml / adult 200ml), if there is no discomfort, then slowly increase the amount of taking, suggest 1 cup (350ml) daily and drink plenty of water.
• Best timing to drink: after food, and/or before beed
• How to keep the grains when not making kefir drinks?
• Cover grains in sugar water, keep it in the fridge, change sugar water every 3-5 days

Note

• Please allow a few fermentations/brews before the grains stabilize, as they need time to adjust to their new home, after travel/changing environment
• Use mineral water and a combination of mineral-rich sugar for better result (grains will be more active)
• Grains are living things, they need regular feeding, sufficient food and constant care.
• Grains may change color according to the sugar used (ie, black sugar, darker color grains), it’s normal
• Do not use undiluted honey or sugar syrups for fermentation, can add in during 2nd fermentation
• If you have different types of fermentation starter, please locate them separately to avoid interference
• Practice good hygiene, sterilize your hands and tools before making, prepare a new cleaning sponge just for kefir related use and keep it separated, to avoid contamination.

Etc

• If you have any questions, please Shopee chat or WhatsApp 0167738261 (Jenny), I will reply as soon as can. Thank you!

Discussion

Feel free to leave a comment below, share with us your opinion and experience, or ask a question if you have any doubt regarding this topic. Thanks for reading.