Do you delight in cold bubbly drinks? Water kefir second fermentation creates a delicious, nutritious bubbly drink loaded with B vitamins for energy and probiotics for health. Your body will leap with joy at the first draught.

How To Make Water Kefir

Before you can ferment the water kefir a second time, you must begin with the first fermentation. Every thing you need to know is below.

[FTC Disclosure: The following story is my experience with water kefir second fermentation. Plus, I do have an affiliate relationship with Amazon. If you click on a link below, I may earn a small commission to help keep ReformedHealth afloat. Thank you. And, you pay the same low prices Amazon offers all its customers.]

 

Step One: Find Water Kefir Grains

Water kefir grains are often dehydrated for easy shipping. And they reproduce prolifically as you make kefir. To get your first set of grains, you can ask a friend — who will be delighted to share. Just make sure that your grains are devoted to “water” kefir. I’ve tried converting milk kefir grains to water kefir grains without success. I was able to make three or four batches successfully, but then the grains started to die off and no longer make yummy drinks.

You can find water kefir grains at Amazon. Or you can buy a complete kit like the Happy Gut Water Kefir Home Brew Kit in the picture. This kit has everything you need to make water kefir and do a second fermentation.

But the truth is, you probably don’t need a kit to start. You can save money by just purchasing the kefir grains. You likely have everything else you need at home. The brand I’ve had most success with is Cultures for Health. Below are some additional options. 

Step Two: Activate Your Grains

Chances are that if you purchase water kefir grains, the package will have instructions. However, if you received your grains from a friend or lost your instructions, the following directions will get your water kefir brewing. And in no time you’ll be ready for a second fermentation (which is where the goodness happens).

1. Activate your grains by placing about a teaspoon (5 grams) of dried kefir grains into a quart of purified mineral rich water (room temperature) mixed with 1/4 cup organic mineral rich sugar (dissolved). A quart-sized glass Mason jar is the ideal location to reactivate, brew, and do a second fermentation of your water kefir.
2. Cover jar with a coffee filter closed with the ring part of a Mason lid, and keep mixture between 68 and 85 degrees F for about three days.
3. When grains are plump and translucent, strain them out with a stainless steel strainer, discarding the water.

Your grains are now ready for the next step.

Step Three: Make Water Kefir

Your grains are alive, so you should get started with the next step immediately after your grains have been activated. Though water kefir and the second fermentation uses sugar, the final outcome is not high in sugar. The fermentation reduces the sugar levels and the sweetness, while creating a probiotic-rich drink high in vitamins and minerals that’s bubbly like soda water. And extremely refreshing. 

1. Prepare your sugar water by dissolving 1/4 cup of organic, mineral-rich sugar in a 1/2 cup of boiling water in a quart Mason jar. Then add cool water to fill up the jar, leaving about an inch of head room.
2. Place your activated grains in the water at room temperature. Be careful not to put them in hot water — it will kill the grains. I’ve made this mistake in the past accidentally.
3. Cover the jar with a coffee filter, then screw on the outside ring to keep it in place. In 24-48 hours, the water will become cloudy and fermented. Pour the liquid into a second jar that you can seal with an air tight lid, straining out the grains to start a new batch following these same directions.

Your first batch of water kefir is ready for a second fermentation.

How To Make Water Kefir Second Fermentation

There are so many fun recipes you can use in the second fermentation of water kefir. I will share some of my favorites below.

First, I will share the essential steps to employ with all the following recipes.

1. Use jars or containers that can be sealed airtight. I prefer to use recycled kombucha bottles with airtight screw on lids. These are perfect for preparing a single serving. Fill the jars with water kefir, leaving room for your second fermentation flavoring.
2. Add the flavoring, juice, fruit, or sweetening to the jar and close the lid tightly. As a general rule, add 2-4 ounces of juice or other sweetener in 12-14 ounces of water kefir that has gone through first fermentation.
3. I like to date the top of the lid so I know how long it has been fermenting. Plus, I add the name of the flavors so I know what to expect when I open the jar.
4. Let the water kefir stay at room temperature until it achieves the amount of bubbles and flavor you are seeking. 24-48 hours depending on your taste preferences and the temperature in your house. Warmer temperatures will ferment faster.
5. Refrigerate for 24 hours or until nice and cold. Be careful when opening as it could bubble over. I always open slowly over the sink. 

Below are my favorite water kefir recipes.

Margarita Water Kefir

Mix 1 TBSP Organic Agave Syrup with the juice from one lime, add with 2 drops of YL Lemon Vitality Essential Oil to 12-14 ounces of kefir. Seal tightly and let ferment at room temperature 24-48 hours until bubbly. 

Mulled Wine Water Kefir

Add raisins and mulling spices to water kefir for second fermentation. Follow basic directions. 

Mimosa Water Kefir

Add orange juice to water kefir. Follow basic directions. 

Antioxidant Water Kefir

Add 2-4 ounces of Antioxidant Power juice by Simply Nature (available at Aldi) to 12-14 ounces of water kefir. Follow basic directions. 

Mojito Water Kefir

Mix juice from one lime with simple syrup to make 2-4 ounces. Add drop of YL Spearmint Vitality Essential Oil. Follow directions above. 

More Recipes and Fun

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Reformed Health exists so you can take control of your own health and be all that God has designed you to be. The information shared on Reformed Health is the sole opinion of the author and is not meant to diagnose or treat any illness. None or our claims have been evaluated by the FDA or any other government organization. We are not medical doctors, nor do we have any medical doctors on staff. If you are having a health emergency, please call 911, contact your doctor, or visit a local emergency room. Always consult your doctor before engaging in any new exercise regime.

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