water kefir

[Guest guest]

>How do you make water kefir? I'd love to find a source of raw milk

>near columbus, ohio (pasteurized milk makes me sick). But barring

>that, water kefir??

>Thanks

>Alan

You can put the kefir grains in juice, molasses mixed with water,

or even just sugar water, and they will ferment the sugars. I make

juice or molasses based " kefir beer " as I call it, and it has the same

probiotic effect on me as kefir, though the molasses based one has

some alcohol in it.

However, the grains only GROW in milk, so you have to keep some

milk-based culture going to supply yourself with extra grains.

Alternatively there is a different strain of grain called " water kefir "

which is totally different, and it DOES grow in sugar water. However,

I've had no luck with it, it died for me. Also it wasn't as effective

probiotically.

Heidi Jean

[Guest guest]

>

> Thank you Marilyn,

> I want to know how to make my water kefir grains reproduce so that I

have more? Or are they slowly reproducing and I just don't really

notice? Is there a way to make it happen more rapidly?

>

> Flo

======================

Hi Flo,

I seem to recall reading somewhere that water kefir grains will not

reproduce. I could be wrong and would have to find that info again but

that is what I recall. Reason I say this is because I was given a jar

of water kefir grains and wished to know myself how to make them

reproduce. Unfortunately, that was quite some time ago and it may take

me some time to find the info.

Don Quai

[Guest guest]

I have the same problem....my friend who makes rice milk kefir said that the grains need proteins to grow....

I tried to convert some of them back to milk grains for that reason....with no luck. So my advice....which I am trying to now ....get some more grains (milk) from someone and grow more....but don't convert them all!!!

I hope this helps

MarilynFlo <fgarig@...> wrote:

Thank you Marilyn,

I want to know how to make my water kefir grains reproduce so that I have more? Or are they slowly reproducing and I just don't really notice? Is there a way to make it happen more rapidly?

Flo

----- Original Message -----

From: kay edge

health

Sent: Thursday, October 13, 2005 12:37 PM

Subject: Re: water kefir

I make & drink water kefir. What is your question

MarilynFlo <fgarig@...> wrote:

Do we hacve anyone here who makes and drinks water kefir. I have been enjoying it for a month or so and I have some questions. I have researched it online and am not finding the answers to my questions.

Flo

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[Guest guest]

I am not exactly sure what you are asking. I started off with milk kefir grains and then just put them in juice or water (sugar water) to make kefir. If I put my grains in milk now...nothing happens (they don't change the milk to kefir like before).

Below are two good websites that may help.

Marilyn

Alternatively, if you happen to have Milk Kefir grains, you may try “converting” them into Water Kefir grains. I have read some folks have achieved this successfully, but it takes time since the microflora needs to adapt to the new culture medium, and for a time it will still have the Kefiran of Milk Kefir. I personally don’t recommend this option, as it is not that you can switch your grains back and forth from milk to water and the other way around.

Sugary water kefir grains:

http://www.weim.net/homeovet/Docs/water%20kefir.pdf#search='water%20kefir'

Propagable sugary water kefir grains increase by approx. 10% by weight daily [on average], which is dependent on sugar concentration and temperature [optimal temp of approximately 22º C or 77º F]. Although, growth rate of sugary grains may greatly fluctuate from batch to batch of from week to week. Increases between 5% to 160% by weight at 48 hours is not uncommon.

Sugary kefir grains may propagate more efficiently when cultured with the addition of ginger root powder or fresh ginger root juice added to the sugar solution

http://users.chariot.net.au/~dna/kefir-faq.html#growthrate

Flo <fgarig@...> wrote:

How did they get converted to begin with?

Flo

----- Original Message -----

From: kay edge

health

Sent: Thursday, October 13, 2005 4:47 PM

Subject: Re: water kefir

I have the same problem....my friend who makes rice milk kefir said that the grains need proteins to grow....

I tried to convert some of them back to milk grains for that reason....with no luck. So my advice....which I am trying to now ....get some more grains (milk) from someone and grow more....but don't convert them all!!!

I hope this helps

MarilynFlo <fgarig@...> wrote:

Thank you Marilyn,

I want to know how to make my water kefir grains reproduce so that I have more? Or are they slowly reproducing and I just don't really notice? Is there a way to make it happen more rapidly?

Flo

----- Original Message -----

From: kay edge

health

Sent: Thursday, October 13, 2005 12:37 PM

Subject: Re: water kefir

I make & drink water kefir. What is your question

MarilynFlo <fgarig@...> wrote:

Do we hacve anyone here who makes and drinks water kefir. I have been enjoying it for a month or so and I have some questions. I have researched it online and am not finding the answers to my questions.

Flo

Music Unlimited - Access over 1 million songs. Try it free.

Music Unlimited - Access over 1 million songs. Try it free.

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[Guest guest]

I had some water kefir grains and i neglected them, and eventually lost them. sure one can reproduce the grains, however, they are difficult to get. i have tons of info on water kefir and here is some info.

What is kefir d'acqua?A. It's Italian for water kefir [in Italy this form of kefir is more popular than milk kefir]. It is thought it was originally obtained by adapting some milk kefir grains to a new, water-based medium. It can be made to be fizzy and mildly alcoholic.

For more information on water kefir and the unique kefir grains to produce the beverage, check out:

http://users.chariot.net.au/~dna/kefirpage.html#alternativekefir

Q. How do you make kefir d'acqua?A. Water kefir is made by adding sugar, lemon juice and a dried fig/plum/date/apricot etc. to water and special crystal-like water kefir grains, which are quite different than milk kefir grains.

For more information on how to prepare water kefir:

http://users.chariot.net.au/~dna/Makekefir.html#Kefir-d-acqua

For more information regarding sugary water kefir grains:

http://users.chariot.net.au/~dna/kefirpage.html#alternativekefir

Q. Can I make water kefir using ordinary milk-based grains?A. Water kefir can be prepared with milk kefir-grains. Use only a portion or extra milk-grains for this. First rinse the grains with filtered cold water and place them in a 5 to 10 % sugar solution. Add some lemon slices and brew for 48 hours at room temperature. Initially, the grains will take up to 4 days to begin brewing the new form of kefir. This is normal since they have to get used to the new medium. Please note that once converted to water, milk grains will stop growing and will no longer be able to produce milk kefir any more. So make sure to only use extra grains to make the water version, and always brew the two types separate from each other.

Q. Is it necessary to add all that sugar to kefir d’acqua? And what is the dried fruit for?A. If using milk kefir grains transferred to a water media, then it is suggested to feed the grains with a variety of different sugars. This helps maintain a diversified microflora in the kefir. Instead of dried fruit, you can add fresh fruit. The lemon keeps the solution slightly acidic and produces a lemonade-like flavour. Different fresh fruits will produce water kefir, which retains the flavour of that fruit.