Probiotic Sparkling Lemonade {Water Kefir Lemonade}

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This Water Kefir Recipe makes the Perfect Probiotic Sparkling Lemonade!

Since buying my water kefir grains I have been using them non-stop. Right now we have lots of lemons growing on our tree, so I have been making lemon everything! I’m a lemon-loving girl so, needless to say, I am a big fan of this recipe. I have been experimenting and tinkering with different ratios and measurements, and I landed on this final recipe. In truth, I have been experimenting with all kinds of flavors and ingredients, so keep an eye out for more water kefir recipes ahead!

Understanding Water Kefir: the First Ferment

In order to make this yummy sparkling lemonade, (or any carbonated beverage for that matter) you will need to utilize two separate ferments. This is amazing for giving the probiotics (gut-healthy bacteria) time to multiply and grow! The only downside is that you will have to prepare ahead of time to allow a few days for fermentation. So what is the first ferment?

The first ferment is also just known as feeding the grains. The grains are a living culture of different beneficial bacteria and yeasts, and they have specific needs. So, when you buy your water kefir grains, you will need to make sure to feed them specific things! This is a really simple process, you just need to add water, sugar, and minerals. I’ll talk more about each element now.

Ingredients to Feed Water Kefir Grains

When it comes to water, make sure you are using filtered water. Tap water contains chemicals that would kill the microorganisms in your water kefir grains. The only problem with using filtered water is that many of the minerals have been removed. Water kefir grains NEED minerals to metabolize (break down) the sugar. This leaves you with two options: add minerals, molasses, or use coconut water. Coconut water naturally contains electrolytes and minerals perfect for keeping your grains happy.

Finally, the last element is sugar. Do not use stevia, agave, monkfruit, or honey in the first ferment. Let me explain why. 1) Honey has antimicrobial properties that can inhibit the growth of your living culture. 2) Agave syrup is higher in fructose, and the grains prefer sucrose. 3) Stevia and monkfruit are non-caloric sweeteners that don’t have any fermentable sugars at all. Ultimately, any of the previously mentioned sweeteners will not work and could actually kill your starter grains! For safe options, stick with plain old sugar or brown sugar. If you want less sugar in your final product, no problem! Just let it ferment for longer.

Fermentation Timeline for the First Ferment

Let’s talk a little more about fermenting times. A longer fermentation time leads to more probiotics and less sugar. It will also have a tangier taste, so adjust the time to your liking! A good rule of thumb is to let the grains ferment for a day or two, and then check the sweetness and flavor of the water. You’ll want to let them ferment for a minimum of 24 hours, but keep in mind that the first ferment can go up to 5 days if you want all of the sugar to be fully used up. You’ll want to keep your grains out of direct sunlight at a range of 65°-82° F (or 18°-28°C). Honestly, once you feed the grains and get them in a good environment to grow, they will do the rest of the work for you.

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If you want to see just how simple it is to feed your kefir grains, check out this video!

Adding Flavor and Carbonation: the Second Ferment

Now it’s time for the second ferment, which is the fun part in my book! You can experiment with all kinds of juices and add-ins. Keep in mind that whatever you add will affect the quality of your finished product. You’ll want to add organic ingredients wherever possible, because residue on non-organic fruits could harm the grains. Experiment with your favorite juices, and to be afraid to get creative with the combinations!

For the second ferment, you will place your active water kefir and juice of choice into a glass swing top bottle out of direct sunlight. Then simply allow it to ferment for your chosen amount of time, keeping in mind that the flavor will continue to change as you allow it to continue fermenting. In order to have a carbonated drink, you need to make sure that your swing-top bottle has a tight seal, or else all the carbonation will escape through the top of the bottle. You will start to see small bubbles forming near the top of the bottle.

Burping the Water Kefir

To make sure you don’t end up with water kefir on your ceiling, you will need to periodically “burp” the bottle by releasing built up pressure. Simply open the swing top bottle, then seal it back up again. I have found that doing the first burp about a day after fermentation works for me, but as time goes on you will need to burp the bottle more frequently. If you don’t see bubbles forming at the top, I would play it safe and still burp the bottle. I had a batch that I had accidentally left in front of a window, and I thought that the sunlight had ruined the culture in the bottle. Later, I moved it into shade and just as an experiment let it continue to ferment. I didn’t see any bubbles, but after a while I decided to burp the bottle just in case and it nearly exploded! So I do the first burp about a day after I first sealed the bottle, and then I start burping the bottle two or three times a day after that, because carbonation will start building faster.

When you are happy with the fermentation time, serve your sparkling probiotic drink over ice and enjoy! If you leave your bottle on the counter, it will continue to ferment, so at this point you can store it in the fridge to stop the carbonation from building any more. Without further ado, here is the recipe for this delicious drink!

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Probiotic Sparkling Lemonade

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This Probiotic Sparkling Lemonade is refreshing, tangy, delicious, and packed with beneficial probiotics to support gut health. It will take some planning ahead to allow for fermenting times, but it is well worth the wait!

Prep Time 5 minutes

Additional Time 3 days

Total Time 3 days 5 minutes

Ingredients

• Water Kefir Grains
• Filtered Water
• Sugar
• Mineral drops
• Lemons

Instructions

1. Begin with the first ferment. Place you water kefir grains in 2 cups of water and add 1 Tablespoon of sugar and a few drops of fulvic or humic minerals.
2. Secure with a loose, breathable lid and allow to ferment for 48 hours. (You can optionally ferment for up to 5 days)
3. Using a non-metal fine mesh strainer, separate the grains from the liquid.
4. Now you have active water kefir! You could drink it as is, but for a satisfying sparkle, it's time for a second ferment.
5. Pour 2 cups of active water kefir into a swing-top bottle.
6. Add 1/2 C lemon juice, and 1/2 C of water
7. Add 2 Tbsp of sugar and secure the top of the lid.
8. Allow your lemonade to ferment for an additional 24 hours
9. If you decide to ferment your lemonade for longer than 24 hours, make sure to periodically open the lid to "burp" the drink. See more information in the Notes.
10. Pour over ice and enjoy!

Notes

Fermentation environment: You will want to place your jar/bottle out of direct sunlight. Ideal temperatures range from 70-85°F (21-29°C). You will want to avoid large fluctuations in temperature to create the perfect environment for those good bacteria to multiply!

Fermentation time: There is a lot of customization here. For the first ferment, you can ferment the grains for anywhere from 1-5 days. I have found the sweet spot for me to be 2-3 days. For the second ferment, you can ferment anywhere from 1-3 days. I personally haven't fermented longer than 2 days. For the first day you won't need to burp the bottle much, but you'll want to be vigilant after that. I burp the bottle at 24 hours, then 12, then 8, and so on. The longer the lemonade ferments, the more frequently you will need to burp the bottle.

Getting into a flow: Water kefir has become a regular drink in our house, and we always have jars and bottles on the counter in different stages of fermentation. I recommend to refeed the grains immediately after straining them to keep a constant flow of available kefir water. Since there's so much flexibility on how long they can ferment, it's easiest to just start a new batch right away.

The time: Don't be deterred by the long fermenting times! You only need a few minutes of prep and the rest of the time is just passive waiting. For the probiotic benefits of this drink, you will want to get started as soon as possible!

Nutrition Information

Yield

3

Serving Size

1
Amount Per Serving Calories 19Total Fat 0gSaturated Fat 0gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 0gCholesterol 0mgSodium 8mgCarbohydrates 5gFiber 1gSugar 2gProtein 1g

Nutritional information may not be accurate.

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