Water Kefir: Do you use Molasses?

[jrose_lee]

I've just started doing water kefir. I used raw sugar and 1 tsp molasses, as the recipe stated.

However, we've discovered we don't really like the molasses taste.

Does everyone use it? Do I have to? The grains did really well and all (doubled in size after just one time), but it's a waste if we don't like the flavour.

Thoughts?

[stephienoodle]

I make my water kefir with sucanat. I've also tried a single batch made with sorghum syrup and I liked it... it seems like the grains did well, but I didn't do it repeatedly to see how they fare over time.

[my_baby_love]

HI! You already know my answer (I don't use it), but if your grains doubled in size after one batch, I might add it a few times to get more grains. I want to be able to divide mine to make a batch of water kefir and a batch of juice kefir at the same time.

[WuWei]

Molasses provides minerals and the grains reproduce faster if you give 1 tablespoon (or less).


Pat

[dogmom327]

I voted no because when I make water kefir to drink myself, I use organic evaporated cane crystals. I really hate the way molasses water kefir tastes and if I don't like it, I'm not very motivated to drink it

However, minerals are really good for the grains and so when we produce/grow water kefir grains for our site, we grow them using rapadura--I've tried everything and that by far produces the healthiest, happiest and fastest growing kefir grains.

[jrose_lee]

So, basically..they WILL produce water kefir and reproduce (but just more slowly) without molasses. Since we don't care for the taste maybe I will just use molasses every once in a while or just a very small amount.

Thanks!

[Koalamom]

I use maple syrup, grade C so there is a bunch of minerals in there. My water kefir does fine without molasses. But if I were using plain ol sugar, I would use just a tiny bit of molasses.

[WuWei]

Originally Posted by dogmom327

, we grow them using rapadura--I've tried everything and that by far produces the healthiest, happiest and fastest growing kefir grains.

You know, maybe that is why they used to grow like crazy! I haven't been using rapadura this year and they've slowed down. I was losing my mind trying to figure it out.


Pat