31 May Strawberry water kefir for hot days

Fermented drink of choice

Fermented drinks are by far the most refreshing on hot days. Being Polish, I have always loved rye bread kwas, kefir and buttermilk, but I have a new summer favourite, and that’s water kefir. When my Babcia was still alive, she would send me to a local farm to buy fresh cow’s milk. Most of that milk would be left to go sour on a hot windowsill. “Kwaśne mleko” was our summer drink of choice then. That ritual has died with my grandma sadly. We haven’t been to that farm down the road for a long time. I wonder if they still sell the fresh, warm milk from a bucket… but I have digressed. My new favourite, fermented drink is alive and well.

An ode to water kefir

Have you made kefir before? It’s a big, expensive commitment, with all that milk. Water kefir works in the same way, as you have water kefir grains that ferment the water and sugar, and they multiply. You need to make a new batch every 2-3 days. What makes it easier is that you don’t need to buy milk, because we use filtered water instead. What makes it especially enjoyable is that every time you make a new one, you choose a new flavour. You can also keep it plain, but for me that’s takes away the fun, so I never do that. Water kefir without the flavour still tastes nice, but a bit of seasonal flavour transforms it into something rather magical. It doesn’t taste like a sour drink. As you don’t need to be used to that fermented flavour to enjoy it, it’s perfect for kids. It’s basically a light, fruity, fizzy soda with gut benefits.

A recipe for strawberry water kefir

Now that I’m confident that I’ve convinced you of the merits of water kefir, here is a super easy recipe that’s perfect for this time of year. The only thing that you need to invest in at the start are some water kefir grains. These cost about £8 for 20g – I bought these, but you can find them cheaper. That makes 500ml of soda, but that’s all you need. Within a month, you will have double. If you know anyone that makes water kefir, I’m sure they will be only too happy to give you some for free (I know I am). If you are a beginner, please use plastic bottles, as glass ones can explode.