Apple & Strawberry Water Kefir... Bubbly fruit drink

Upon request by some Russian friends here is a fruit kefir recipe, very similar to kvas, except it is made from real fruit. It taste's like an effervesant fruity soda pop but without the high sugar hit. Kvas is a fermented drink made from dark or rye bread popular in Russia and Eastern Europe. Kvas has a very unique flavour, as does water kefir, both very similar and have a nice "feel good" effect after drinking it.

Basic Water Kefir Recipe- as long as you stick to this ratio, you will have nice kefir.
1 cup filtered, spring or rain water
1 tablespoon sugar (organic table or coconut sugar if you want a honey colour)
1 heaped tablespoon of water kefir grains
Dried and unsulphured fruit or fresh fruit (optional)
eg. Sliced apples, sultanas, figs, apricots, fresh lemon, orange, lime are nice to add

What are Water Kefir Grains?
Water kefir grains are a bacteria and yeast culture, thought to have originated in Turkey. They feed of sugar to produce a fermented stable culture, a mixture of lactic acid, alcohol and carbon dioxide.
The result is a tasty fermented low-sugar fizzy drink, ideally served over ice.

Note* this is a very low alcoholic beverage.



Water kefir grains

Apple Kefir (single fermentation)
2 cups fresh apple juice (I used green apples for this recipe)
2.5 cups water
3 tablespoons raw sugar
5 tablespoons water kefir grains

1. Juice the apples, add the water, dissolve in sugar and add the kefir grains.
2. Cover with muslin cloth and leave for 24- 48 hours. The longer you leave it the stronger the fermentation.
3. Strain the grains, Chill and serve...




Apple kefir

 Strawberry Kefir (double fermentation method)
1 punnet of strawberries blended
4 cups water kefir, already fermented (basic recipe)

1. Let ferment for another 12 to 24 hours, strain the grains, chill and serve.

Strawberries

Strawberries blended



Strawberry Kefir

 *Note*
-Do not use metal, only plastic utensils/ sivs and ferment in glass or it will harm the grain.
-Use filtered water and organic produce for best results.
-You can google a local kefir enthusiast to buy or adopt some grains in your area.
-Make it with love ; )

Love
Ulyana...