Using sugar in water kefir?

[PunkRotten]

Hi,


Do you gotta add sugar with the water kefir? What can I use instead of sugar? Would the sugars from the fruit be enough? How do you make your flavored water kefir?

[devil's angel]

ive seen quite a few utube videos on this subject ... there is coconut kifer that doesnt use a proboitic or sugar . just type in coconut kifer recipes and im sure that this will bring up not only that one video but also quite a few others . good luck . wish i could be a little more helpful to ya .

[sport]

I know what you mean. I got a bottle from a friend and liked it so asked for the recipe and was so disappointed.

[Dent de Lion]

Yes, you have to use sugar-- that's what the culture eats. I make water kefir frequently, and I don't worry about the sugar at all. The culture eats almost all of it, and the final product doesn't taste sweet at all.

[sport]

I still could not do it. For many years I have considered that sort of sugar to be poison so I could not add it to something that I was going to consume.

[PunkRotten]

Makes sense Dent de Lion. I have a contraption I made where I added yeast, water, and sugar. The by product of the yeast is C02 as they consume the sugar. And then I have this going through a tube to my fish tank and have a diffuser on the other end. This is a great way to get C02 to aquatic plants. About every 2 weeks though they yeast die from alcohol poisoning.

I am gonna look into sugars and see what my best option is. I think molasses can be used as a substitute. But they say not so use Honey because it has anti bacterial properties. I suually use honey and agave nectar as my sweeteners. I ahve not made a batch of Kefir yet and getting really anxious.

[PunkRotten]

Hi,

Is it necessary to do a 2nd fermentation? And if I decide to put a lid on my jar instead of a cloth, how often do I have to "burp" it? And lets say after you finish brewing the Kefir and put it into the fridge, do you still gotta keep burping it? If so, how often? How long will Kefir store up till? Thx

[Dent de Lion]

Hi,

Is it necessary to do a 2nd fermentation? And if I decide to put a lid on my jar instead of a cloth, how often do I have to "burp" it? And lets say after you finish brewing the Kefir and put it into the fridge, do you still gotta keep burping it? If so, how often? How long will Kefir store up till? Thx

It's not necessary to do a second fermentation, and I never burp mine. I don't know how long you can store them though, as mine is always gone within a couple days. I'd guess a couple months would be fine, or even longer. It would probably turn to alcohol eventually in the refrigerator, and then maybe get vinegar-y. Note that second fermentations increase the alcohol content, as does using too much sugar at the outset. Just experiment with different fermenting times and ingredients-- the culture is pretty darn tolerant.

[PunkRotten]

Cool thanks. I did a batch for 48 hours and tried some. It was pretty good by itself. I put some in a bottle and added pieces of coconut and pineapple dried. Gonna let this go 1 day and try it out.

[Nippers]

Yes, you have to use sugar-- that's what the culture eats. I make water kefir frequently, and I don't worry about the sugar at all. The culture eats almost all of it, and the final product doesn't taste sweet at all.

Yes, this is true.

The kefir grains will eat most of the sugar if you give them a long enough time at the right temperature-- love to be at 80 degrees F. But that is the consequence-- it won't taste sweet at all.

[Nippers]

Hi,

Is it necessary to do a 2nd fermentation? And if I decide to put a lid on my jar instead of a cloth, how often do I have to "burp" it? And lets say after you finish brewing the Kefir and put it into the fridge, do you still gotta keep burping it? If so, how often? How long will Kefir store up till? Thx

With the living kefir grains you must only use a CLOTH lid on your glass jar. They need air to breath and stay healthy.

During the second fermentation at room temperature-- after you have removed the living kefir grains-- you can put a lid on your plastic bottle so it will build up pressure and become more fizzy. At this time you can also add fruit or flavorings to make a flavored soda.

Some people will burp after drinking anything fizzy. I don't have that problem. I like the fizz.

[teachingking]

Here's a link (http://www.healingwithprobiotics.com/how-to-make-coconut-kefir/) to a Coconut Kefir Video. It's good stuff....

[lynch]

just a little bit of sugar is enough but if you really dont like sugar you can use honey.....

[SunshineMN]

Real true honey is antibiotic and will kill the kefir grains. You can add honey on the second fermentation to make it sweet, after the grains have been removed. From everything I have read you should use an organic cane sugar and maybe some kind that has more minerals like maple syrup.

[DebB]

Real true honey is antibiotic and will kill the kefir grains. You can add honey on the second fermentation to make it sweet, after the grains have been removed. From everything I have read you should use an organic cane sugar and maybe some kind that has more minerals like maple syrup.

For what it's worth.... I was making water kefir several times a week - I *loved* it! Then my friend came for a visit and she's type 2 diabetic. She tested her blood after drinking water kefir and her blood sugar had risen from it into an unacceptable range. I went ahead and stopped consuming it becuase mine was not eating all the sugar as I thought. Again - not trying to cause problems, just posting my experience with it.

[sport]

becuase mine was not eating all the sugar as I thought. I wonder if it is the same for kombucha.

[MysticTree]

I wonder if you could measure for that with one of those devices used for testing specific gravity ... forgotten what they are called!

[PunkRotten]

Hydrometer?