Have you ever tried to kick your soda habit? Water kefir is one of the ways you could possibly do it. Many people like soda simply because of the carbonation. That is the main reason I liked to drink soda in the past.

You can flavor water kefir to your liking in the second ferment. The second fermentation will provide extra fizziness to the drink, which tastes very similar and better in my opinion to soda!

How to Make Water Kefir

Ingredients

For the first ferment:
1/4 cup water kefir grains
1/4 cup organic sugar
Enough filtered water to fill a 1 quart mason jar
For additional minerals:
pinch of sea salt - optional
1/2 tsp molasses - optional
Sanitized pasture raised egg shells (optional, by boiling or baking them)
For the second ferment:
Juice, fruit or dried fruit of your choice (I really like organic grape juice or fresh organic strawberries)

Instructions

Heat a tiny bit of filtered water in a pot on the stove with the organic sugar. There should be enough water to dissolve the sugar. Heat the water only a little bit in order to dissolve the sugar.
Pour the water sugar mixture into a clean quart mason jar.
Add more filtered water on top to cool it down. Make sure the water is warm, not hot before the next step as hot water will kill the water kefir grains.
Add the water kefir grains* into the mason jar.
Add the optional ingredients at this point for additional minerals.
Fill the jar to the top with filtered water
Cover with a clean dish towel and secure with a rubber band.
Leave on the counter away from other ferments for 24-48 hours. Don't go any longer than 48 hours as the water kefir grains will need more sugar.
After 24-48 hours, strain the water kefir to separate the grains. Strain grains through a plastic strainer and store water kefir in glass jars. Pour the water kefir into grolsch bottles or skinny neck bottles. Leave additional space to add juice, fresh fruit or dried fruit for flavoring.
Make sure there is still space between the beginning of the neck of the bottle and the top so it doesn't explode after fermenting and then opening it.
Secure the cap and let ferment for 1-7 days, depending on the temperature in your house. Enjoy!

Notes

Only use plastic, glass or wooden utensils to handle milk kefir grains. Do NOT use metal as it may ruin the grains. If you want to store the water kefir grains, mix sugar with a plastic or wooden spoon with the grains in a glass jar and store them in the refrigerator. Mix a little sugar with them weekly at a minimum if you aren't using them on a regular basis.