How to Make Grape Kefir Soda
I’ve been having a lot of fun in the kitchen making our own soda lately and we’ve been loving the results. I’ll fill you in today on my less than scientific way to make really fizzy grape kefir soda.
What you need:
- 1 cup grape juice (preferably organic)(I used some apple/grape juice I made last fall)
- 2¾ cups water kefir
- mason jar and 2 part canning lid
- 1 Tbsp organic sugar
How to make it:
Once your water kefir has gone through at least a 24 hour ferment, pour 2¾ cups water kefir into a clean mason jar.
Add one cup grape juice, leaving about 1 inch headspace.
Place the 2 part lid on and close fairly tightly, but not crazy tight.
Now here’s where we get to the not so scientific part.
You know that extra Tablespoon of sugar in the ingredient list? You’re going to add some to the kefir everyday. If it’s warm out, add it 1 tsp at a time, if it’s cooler out, add it 1/2 teaspoon at a time.
You’ll know when it’s done when it bubbles up and almost over the top when you add the sugar!!
This post is linked to: Lacto Fermentation Blog Carnival
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I’ve mixed my water kefir with grape juice before but I normally just put it right in the fridge/drink it. That tastes okay but I’ve never gotten much carbonation like I’ve wanted, I’ll have to try this!
Alas, I killed my water kefir grains, well, morning sickness killed them but I’ve been meaning to buy more. We miss it around here. Now that we are used to water kefir, regular juice just seems boring and too sweet.
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I have been making this stuff for about a week now and have found that I do not need additional sugar. I just add juice to a kombucha (storebought) bottle with the water kefir and cap it tight. Put it in a warm place and after a couple of days you have bubbly goodness.
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donielle Reply:
March 22nd, 2010 at 10:35 am
@Shannon, Good to know!
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Sometimes I put a quart of grape juice in a mason jar, add some water kefir grains, and let it sit for 2 days. I like the taste. I throw out the purple grains, as I am always making plain kefir soda and usually have extras.
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donielle Reply:
April 5th, 2010 at 6:32 am
@Barbara Grant, I can’t wait till it gets warm enough here for my grains to start growing again! Since about October they haven’t grown one bit. In the summer they were doubling every week!
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K @ Prudent and Practical Reply:
April 9th, 2010 at 11:57 am
@donielle, Donielle, that has been the way with my kombucha. It took 2 months to get 1/4″ of scoby in a mason jar. I’m in Iowa and last week it got hot and humid (70s) – I can see where my kombucha doubled!
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I’ve got a scoby growing now but I’m anxious to try making some kefir. I’ve had some goat’s milk strawberry kefir – it tasted like thin yogurt – and I want to try the other types like water, soda, and milk! My husband is a root beer man, is there such a thing as root beer kefir?
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Hey Donielle,
I was wondering where you got your water kefir grains. I would like to start making water kefir since you make it sound so good and I don’t know of a reliable place to get grains. Do you have any recommendations?
Thanks!
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