kefir - looking for a good water recipe - lactose issues - Page 9

[yitlan]

Reviving this 'ol thread! I am getting back into the sodas after a short time of experimentation. Right after I started making them, I got pregnant and could not stomach them for whatever reason. Part of it may have been the strong flavor of the rapadura. This past month I've been using organic white sugar and lemon or lime juice, ala the EFLF recipes. We LOVE them. My kids are drinking the stuff up like crazy. So I reread this thread and forgot I used to drop in dried pineapple and other fruits. I have some dried persimmons and will try that.

I wanted to revive this to ask a few questions:
1. Those of you using agave, are your grains growing? I think I'd like to try agave and am just curious. My grains multiplied some on their long break (all I did was put them in sugar water and replace the water very occasionally). Luckily they survived the pregnancy! Anyway, during the holidays I gave my mom half and now I have a tiny amount that's making a quart at a time, but not multiplying.
2. Anyone tried any type of tea combo? Mix the brewed soda with flavored tea?
3. What do you think about a Kefir Soda recipes thread? JUST recipes so folks don't have to sort through all the other info. They can reference this thread for all that info. Would you all share your favorites there?

[auntieM]

Your grains will probably start multiplying if you give them a little more nutrition. A little molasses might get them going.

I tried a tea long ago & I remember it being good. I have a batch that I haven't tried yet that has an herbal infusion in it. My friend uses fresh fruit--mangoes, bananas... & it is really yummy.

Glad to see this going again. I'll bet that we've all had lots of fun experiments that we can share.

[saratc]

Originally Posted by yitlan

3. What do you think about a Kefir Soda recipes thread? JUST recipes so folks don't have to sort through all the other info. They can reference this thread for all that info. Would you all share your favorites there?

Yes, I would be interested in a thread of just recipes.

I've been experimenting with canned fruit, which started out with me cleaning my pantry and me finding a can of lychees that I was gonna donate since it was canned in sugar water. I decided to ferment it with water kefir grains instead. I added some water to the liquid and it was delicious! After about a day and a half, I bottled the liquid in airtight bottles while it was still somewhat sweet, and a day or two in the fridge later, it was very fizzy with a hint of sweetness, and tasted like a tangy lychee soda! The lychees, which started out sweeter than the liquid, were slightly sweet with a lychee wine flavor. Yum!

[yitlan]

Originally Posted by auntieM

Your grains will probably start multiplying if you give them a little more nutrition. A little molasses might get them going.

Yes, I read that in another thread. I'm adding in some rapadura to the white sugar so we can adjust to the taste and see if the grains grow.

[yitlan]

Originally Posted by saratc

Yes, I would be interested in a thread of just recipes.

Here it is: http://www.mothering.com/discussions....php?p=7525425

Be sure to add your canned fruit recipe and tips!

[megincl]

Hi Kefir Goddesses!

Can you drink water kefir while pregnant? I know that the drink becomes slightly alcoholic....is it safe?

Thanks!
megin

[cobluegirl]

The alcohol content is minute..it should be fine while pregnant.

[auntieM]

As cobluegirl said, the alcohol content is small. It's my understanding that it can range from 0.5-3%. It's probably just fine, but I think I'd stick with the shorter, lower alcohol ferments while pregnant. By comparison, a lot of beers are around 5 or 6% with some of the light versions around 3.5%.

[newcastlemama]

Okay. Right now I have molasses, sugar, water and banana with my grains trying to help them. After 3 days in lime and sugar nothing seemed to happen. It has been 70ish degrees here too so I expected something.

I don't get it. Water kefir is making me :

[Gale Force]

Do not try to understand water kefir.

My grains grew like crazy over the summer, I sent them to about 50 people. They grew in some homes, not in others. They didn't grow here the last couple of months. They are picking up again. (This part makes sense -- it's getting warmer.)

[newcastlemama]

i don't care if mine grow so much...I just want them to ferment the water mixture. I make another batch tonight and see how it goes.

Jen

[Gale Force]

I'm reading too qquickly, Jennifer. Sorry

How do you know it's not fermenting? Still too sweet? No fizz?
Did they "work" before? Are these new?

[newcastlemama]

It is still sweet and no bubbles after 3 days. They were sent to me last week and the water/sugar was drained from the baggy they were in so they may have died. Whi knows how long they were without liquid for.

Thanks Amanda,
Jen

[Gale Force]

How many water changes have they been through with you? Did they seem dry when you got them (besides being out of water)?

[newcastlemama]

They are now on their 3rd or 4th. I just put then in some new water/suagr to see if anything will happen.

[velcromom]

Jen, I don't know if this would work for your grains since mine are converted from milk kefir, but when I used them with a ginger tea from fresh ginger, they seemed to really rev up and go. I did include sugar. I didn't care for the taste but since they seemed to like it I let them rest in it til the sugar had been consumed & the brew had no sweetness left. Since I've put them back in apple juice and they are very active. I also switched from a loosely lidded jar to an antique jar with a wire bail that tightens the lid down. I think that helps increase the fizziness.

[girlgeek]

Looking for water kefir grains

I am overwhelmed by the nr. of threads re. kefir and kombucha...so much to read so little time...
I am crazy about my success in making kombucha and now would like to try water kefir. Maybe later I will try milk kefir.
Does any one have any water kefir grains to share?
Thank you!