Water Kefir Questions

[Pat Robinson]

Have questions about making water kefir? Feel free to post here for assistance.

Water Kefir
Ingredients / Utensils
8-cup glass jar. I use a Mason jar.
Plastic sieve or colander.

¼ cup+ water kefir grains
2-3 unsulphured dates (or other dried fruit: prunes, apricots, raisins)
1/2 organic lemon (or peeled if not organic)
1/3-1/2 cup sugar- brown, raw, white or Rapadura etc.
1 tsp of unsulfured black strap molasses (for minerals).
fill jar 2/3 with fresh water, preferably spring water or well water. ***MUST be non-chlorinated water!! No tap water.

Store covered in the cupboard at room temperature for 24-72 hours.
Strain the grains from the liquid kefir, and repeat above.
Store the liquid kefir in the refrigerator until use. Use within a week or so. Start with small quantities of 1 tablespoon, gradually increasing (or decreasing) depending upon tolerance

The water kefir grains will reproduce rapidly! Share the extra with friends and neighbors for improved health.

Water Kefir photos and instructions: http://www.weim.net/homeovet/Docs/water%20kefir.pdf

Instructions: http://nourishedkitchen.com/water-kefir/

Making Water Kefir (on YouTube): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ntei6_CEZNo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-t9C7PoBRc (not necessary to rinse grains)

Ordering more culture starters: http://www.culturesforhealth.com/splash.php

The King of Kefir: http://users.chariot.net.au/~dna/Makekefir.html#Kefir-d-acqua


Please share extra cultures here: http://heal-thyself.ning.com/group/sharingstartercultures


Thanks!


Pat

[lisa]

i let my first batch sit 48 hours, and it caused me constipation! i looked it up and sure enough it said that kefir fermented too long can cause constipation!
So i guess i'll dump that bunch, since i'm not sure what else to do with it!

I let me second batch sit for 24 hours and it was perfect.

I appreciate the experiment of how kefir grains grow, bc mine seems to not be growing at all so far! I'm going to try some molasses next time! :)

[Pat Robinson]

Curious, how much did you drink?

Just use a couple of teaspoons (to max 1 tablespoon) of the molasses, more than a tablespoon and the grains slow too. (too much or too little, either way will slow the reproduction, interestingly)


I could cook with the extra kefir liquid. It kills the microbial benefit. But still has minerals.


Pat

[lisa]

i'm sure i had "too much" (i'm so used to kombucha!). I'm estimating at 1/4c.

so when you use molasses, you use it in addition to sugar?

hmmm, cooking w/ the kefir is a good idea.... although i worry about the flavor making whatever i'm making kinda gross. lol! :)

Pat Robinson said:

Curious, how much did you drink?

Just use a couple of teaspoons (to max 1 tablespoon) of the molasses, more than a tablespoon and the grains slow too. (too much or too little, either way will slow the reproduction, interestingly)


I could cook with the extra kefir liquid. It kills the microbial benefit. But still has minerals.


Pat

[Pat Robinson]

I'm surprised at the constipation, since you drink kombucha. I'm wondering if there is another variable? Drinking less fluids? Dairy? Less fiber? More exercise/sweat/exertion? It is fairly rare for anyone to note constipation. Diarrhea is more common in folks with very messed up guts, however.

Use the molasses plus the sugar.

The kefir doesn't impart any flavor to cooking, imo.


Pat

[lisa]

i really can not think of another variable..... never know though! :)

[lisa]

I found a way to use extra kefir water~

http://www.naturallyknockedup.com/2010/04/12/recipe-kefir-bread/#co...


also, I have been using it to soak rice in. :)

[Pat Robinson]

Terrific! I use water or milk kefir when I soak grains for the Sue Gregg blender batter too. http://www.suegregg.com/recipes/breakfasts/blenderbatterwaffles/ble...

That is a great site! Thanks for sharing the link.


Pat

[Laurie Neverman]

How much kefir is safe to drink? What about flavoring the kefir in a secondary brew, or adding fruit juice to make "kefir soda"?

[Pat Robinson]

Depending upon how messed up your gut is, a little bit of kefir could really cause some rebalancing (ie diarrhea). If your gut has healthy probiotics already, many people tolerate pints of kefir a day. We only drink 1/4 cup of water kefir several times a week and a tablespoon of milk kefir most days.

Many people enjoy making flavored kefir and second ferments. I haven't done it myself. I have made juice kefir with 1:1 non-chlorinated water to 100% grape juice (no additives or preservatives). Keep some kefir grains as back up as the grape juice grains seem to stop producing.

HTH, Pat

[Lena Janny]

Pat, great description of benefits. I have one question for you though. Is it safe during nursing?

[Pat Robinson]

Absolutely!!

Use small quantities to start as too much can cause loose stools, in anyone.

Pat

[Jamie]

How long will a finished batch last for? Also, I have been taking a capsule Probiotic. I am assuming that if I take my water Kefir daily, I will have no need for this?
Thanks!
Jamie