How to make Water Kefir - Part I

[bzzazab]

how can we store grains other than the freezer? how do we dry them out? after we dry them out how do we store them? Thank you

[giddymoon]

There really is no bad bacteria..all bacteria has its purpose..some just do not belong in the gut of a human..we need to stop referring to bacteria as bad if we ever want society to get back where we came from.

[mekafthos]

Thank you very much!!!! Great work, very informative and clear!!! I have a question though! Is it possible to turn grains from water kefir to milk kefir??? I would be interested to be able to produce both!!! What is your opinion? Thank you in advance!!!

[GreenMomZoe]

@mekafthos No, it's not. They are entirely different species. People have tried but it was not successful over the long run.

[aquapurity]

Thank you for the help!

[Posseskairis]

how long will the last if i freeze them?

[galibar7]

i made some but it didn't come up bubly.. is it still good? maybe because i opened after 30 hours and not 24?

[burangful]

How many tablespoons of raisins should I put per 1 cup of water kefir? Thank you! :)

[Sayworth]

If kefir has been around for 100s or even 1000s of years, then why does it only work with plastic?

[GreenMomZoe]

@Sayworth That is not an accurate statement because cloth and glass have been around way before plastic came into the picture. People were probably using them. Any fermented culture would get killed by direct contact with metal. It's science not an opinion.

[F3FisGoodforYou]

@GreenMomZoe ...In what do you thing cheese factories prepare cheese (also live cultures) ? It's either stainless steel or Copper (for some special french cheeses like Beaufort)...

[GreenMomZoe]

@F3FisGoodforYou It's one thing to produce commercial cheese with laboratory-generated bacteria and a WHOLE another thing to be handling living culture that you keep reusing over long period of time. The grains are not supposed to be exposed to metal because they will weaken and eventually die. You don't have to follow my advice if you don't want to.

[snowsamurai00]

@Sayworth I"m sure centuries ago it was strained with cloth.  Not many people can do that this day and age.

[GreenMomZoe]

@snowsamurai00 That's why there are plastic strainers.

[pyrouzi]

Great video. Thanks. Quick question..would it be ok to use solely Muskavado sugar instead of the white sugar and palm sugar?

[GreenMomZoe]

@pyrouzi No, it would not. Kefir grains like the white cane sugar with a small addition of mineral-rich sugar such as palm, Sucanat, Turbonado or Muscavado sugar. If you only do the high-mineral sugars the kefir will turn out bitter and unpleasant. And the grains will start dying over time.

[LeventNimet]

Hi, thanks for the video. I have kefir grains for making milk

kefir, can I use these for water kefir also, or must they be

grains specific for water kefir? Thanks.

[GreenMomZoe]

@LeventNimet Milk grains cannot be converted into water grains. You'll need to get the water ones. If interested, just message me at greenmomzoe[@]gmail. I sell them and supplies.

[OldRelayer]

After watching your videos and learning more about the health benefits of Kefir, I decided to start making my own. I can't believe how refreshing this drink is, the most refreshing drink I have ever had. I have experimented with all kinds of flavors, may favorite is Strawberry puree and lemon juice, it is better than strawberry lemonade. I am able to make 64 oz in 48 hours, this gives me 32 ozs a day of this wonderful drink. I haven't felt any health benefits yet or even know what to expect.

[Majorjoy6565]

Can you use agave instead of sugar?

Can you get the Kefir (water crystals) from whole foods or other health food stores?

[Majorjoy6565]

Can you use agave instead of sugar?

[Ilikeparathas]

thanks for the video.

what do you do with the dried fruit afterwards ? eat or reuse ? toss ?

Vegan Love <3

[OREILLY1211]

9snaker you seem like a big creeper

[RadeMacedon]

one very important question: can i eat the water kefir grains? i dont know what to do with the extra grains ! ( i am giving away but still the multiply very fast) SO is it good and health to somehow eath them and if yes, HOW? pls reply , thanks! :)

[RadeMacedon]

one very important question: can i eat the water kefir grains? i dont know what to do with the extra grains ! ( i am giving away but still the multiply very fast) SO is it good and health to somehow eath them and if yes, HOW? pls reply , thanks! :)

[jritson58]

Hi how do you freeze Kefir grains to keep them.

[9snaker]

why the Zoe at the end? because it meanse like in some case?

[GreenMomZoe]

@9snaker Because that's my name.

[9snaker]

@GreenMomZoe

cool, a very cool name

i dreamed about it, and found out that it means life in greek

how do you pronounce it? z-o (like the o in no) -e (like e in .e.vening or e like .e.very) or more like zoey -

do you simple have a video (and maybe the minute) where you say it?

thanks

[jenn198310]

How to you store the kefir grains if you want to take a break from having kefir water or if you are going out of town for a week or two?

[arshei1105]

I drink water kefir with pomegranate but they tend not to grow faster and bigger compared with dates. I stop using dates because it makes my face breakout bad. what fruit will you recommend? So it's kinda in between.

[aterlvx]

I use dried sugar cane juice and they grow a dark brown color, is it normal? yours are white.

[GreenMomZoe]

@aterlvx If you are using darker sugar they can get stained. However, they should not be "dark."

[brokok17]

how can i make them reactivate? i bought 1 spoon of water kefir? whats its the 1st step? and the 2nd?

[vivyzzz]

I bought some dried water kefir, how long do they take to reactivate? it has been 4 days already. they are not reproducing, they are not moving as well. Is that ok? I have been changing the water daily and have been feeding them brown sugar water. Is 4 days too quick?

[tattooyu]

I just ordered a water kefir kit online (live, fresh grains) and can't wait to try it! Going to the store to get some demerara or sucanat sugar, some dried unsulfured fruit and maybe some black strap molasses. Thank you so much for your videos!

[WahsUp]

I live in chicago, I can't find any water kefir anywhere. Do you know where I can get them at? Anybody?

[GreenMomZoe]

@WahsUp Yes, I sell the grains. Message me to give you the details.

[kraken138]

Is water kefir just as healthy as milk Kefir?

[GreenMomZoe]

@kraken138 Yes, it is!

[gabthelem98]

Hello,

Thank you for the video. I am concerned that my water crystals may not be any good anymore. I have some that float half way to the top of a 8 cup mason jar and there is little to no fizz. They continue to grow but no fizz....do I need to purchase more crystals? Please help...LoL

[gabthelem98]

@gabthelem98 ...Whew!  Cool Zoe! Thank you so much! I am having so much fun teaching others how to start their own kefir farm. LoL!

[gabthelem98]

I received some water Kefir grains from a co-worker. The grains are multiplying fast but the fizz is gone? Not all of the grains float to the top of the glass jar...am I killing them? I use all plastic utensils, but they are kept in the same drawer with the metal utensils....Please help me...LoL!

Gabby

[GreenMomZoe]

@gabthelem98 Kefir grains are living culture and decided on their own if they want to float or stay at the bottom. You are definitely not killing them. It's their choice when to float. To create fizz, after the initial fermentation pour ready kefir into airtight bottle and let it stay on your counter for a few hours after that put in fridge.

[merlin23]

How much of that would you drink a day? All of it, or just some? How long would that last in the fridge before it lost its potency?

[GreenMomZoe]

@merlin23 Start with a glass a day and build up to 4. You don't want to leave it int he fridge more than 3-4 days or it will get very sour. It doesn't lose its potency...it because too strong to drink.

[GreenMomZoe]

@merlin23 You start with a cup (8 oz.) a day and build from there. You can drink up to 4 cups a day. 2-3 days in the fridge is optimal. After that the kefir does not lose but INCREASES its potency. In other words, it becomes too sour to consume.

[poohgirl2u]

Wow, what a great video. I've been researching water kefir and want to get started, but most of the websites I came across weren't detailed enough for me to feel comfortable doing this on my own. Your step-by-step video is incredibly helpful. I was wondering where you got the glass jars to the left of the counter on this video, the ones with the handles and plastic lids. Thanks!

[GreenMomZoe]

@poohgirl2u Thank you so much! I got the pitchers from Amazon. Search for Bormioli glass pitchers.

[art79red]

Hey I just wanted to drop by and say thank you for the grains. They came in just fine and bubble in the sugar water. I sent a Paypal.

XO

[dread313]

GreenMomZoe! Awesome video!! Thank you.

[GreenMomZoe]

@TheLivingfood Potassium Sorbate is a preservative just like Sulfur Dioxide. I would not continue using it if I were you. You may cause damage to your grains if you haven't already done so.

[bkershaccount]

great vid, i've been looking for closeups, details and how to do this when you first get your grains...thanks so much for the vids.

[ZawadiSimone]

Does the kefir really breathe and ferment WITHOUT oxygen? Should there be some space to allow oxygen through?

[GreenMomZoe]

@ZawadiSimone During the initial fermentation, there must be oxygen flowing to help with the fermentation. That's why you put cloth over the jar. Storing the ready kefir in airtight container in the fridge helps create bubbles and protects it from over fermenting.

[porkfat]

It's too hot here to order kefir grains until this fall or winter but I was wondering: Can you eat the grains? What do they taste like by themselves?

[GreenMomZoe]

@porkfat Yes, you can. They don't have much of a taste...maybe like cauliflower. You can throw them into your smoothies for extra probiotics.

[spraywithpleasure]

Hi can you use any other tips of sagur all I have is plan white sagur, brown sagur and hunny.

Thanks so much for your vidos

[kalicia84]

Can I use a loose woven cloth like cheesecloth to cover the jar of kefir instead of paper towel? I'd prefer to use something reusable instead of paper towel.

[500week4life]

@kalicia84 I would not use cheese cloth; just as when making kombucha use a smaller weave cloth to prevent insects like fruit flys/knats from turning your product into a nursery!

[500week4life]

@kalicia84

Forgot to add...a loose cap.

[siriradha]

Does anyone know where I can find a nonmetalic strainer? I have called so many stores (including a local kitchenware specialty shop) and nobody seems to have them.

[GreenMomZoe]

@siriradha You should be able to buy one from Target. It looks like mini plastic colander and it'll do the job.

[porkyo123]

@GreenMomZoe Does any one know how much water kerir you drink.1oz,8oz?

[GreenMomZoe]

@porkyo123 Yes, you start with a cup (8 oz.) a day and build from there. You can drink up to 4 cups a day.

[4977abc]

@siriradha I use a nut milk bag for straining the grains.

[17babaha]

@siriradha If you haven't found these by now, amazon sells them

[irishschue]

Hi Zoe...very informative video! I would be so interested in the grains/crystals. Are these something u sell? I live in Arizona and how would they survive shipping?

[niamh2739]

Great video. The best on water kefir.

[FoodHoney]

Lemon is ACIDIC! It's doesn't make the kefir more ALKALINE!

[1easyflow]

Great video Zoe!

Chock-full of information.

Thank You so much for sharing.

[GreenMomZoe]

@wwhite1432 You can only buy kefir grains through online sources or people who are willing to share theirs. 

[cmr2020]

can u drink this if pergnat

[GreenMomZoe]

@cmr2020 Of course! I don't see why not. Probiotics are beneficial for any stage of life.

[johnlvs2run]

Thank you for posting your excellent video about making water kefir.

You have convinced me to get a culture and prepare it.

[Reaper139139]

thx u very informative im going to buy some from ebay now and follow what you've said :)

[cocinademaria]

Thank u zoe 4 sending me ur wonderful water kefir i received it within 4 days just like u said ur a woman of her word..that was so fast.. Peace and love

[mitadis]

It was really interesting to see how you make water kefir. I may try...

[cocinademaria]

Thank u for sharing ur knowledge about kefir, here in Toronto it's hard to find water kefir i would also really love to have water kefir...