Water kefir

[Annoynomice]

I went to my local thyroid group before Xmas and there was lots of talk about kelfir and good it was for the gut.

Because I wasnt sure about the milk version, I bought water kelfir and am finding it easy to do.

My questions are

- I'm currently sterilising water bottles for the second ferment, has anyone found a container that works better. I've seen Lakeland do some fermenting jars (I'm frightened that glass might shatter)

- Does anyone have any favourite recipes, beyond, ginger, lemon and currants in the first ferment?

[asiatic]

No need to sterilize anything . Kefir has millions of bacteria a few more won't do any harm !

I use kilner jars and full fat milk. Before drinking I stir in some yeast flakes full of all the B vitamins. It is a bit cheesy so perhaps not to everyone's taste !

[Annoynomice in reply to asiatic]

Thank you very much. I'll try a kilner jar as I've got one already.

[SmallBlueThing]

For the second ferment of water kefir, I buy orange juice in a plastic bottle with a screw top. Checked once or twice per day, the bottle easily withstands the pressure. The juice that's not required for the water kefir is made into jelly or consumed as intended. Lager bottles with swing tops are popular.

[Annoynomice in reply to SmallBlueThing]

Thank you much. Will try that today as I have a batch ready.

[Cooper27]

I use a kilner bottle ( kilnerjar.co.uk/kilner-rang... ), pop the lid over but don't clip it down. I've left it with the lid clipped in the past though, and it was fine.

I don't tend to sterilise, and went to a talk by an expert the other day who said it's not necessary.

I stick to the same stuff for the first ferment, but add flavour in the second ferment. I use cordials to flavour (you have to get full sugar cordials, no sweeteners, which is harder since the sugar tax), but just learned you can use fruit juices.

[Cooper27 in reply to Cooper27]

Top tip: marks and Spencers have some really nice lemonades that come in the clip top bottles for £2.50. drink the lemonade, use the bottle for kefir.

You can buy clip top bottles in Asda or IKEA for £2, but for an extra 50p, you get all that yummy lemonade too

[Annoynomice]

Thank you. I'll get over to M&S this week as my plastic bottles are looking a little battered. I feel like I've got a new pet!! Plus it has the added advantage as I'm getting more liquid in as I'm not keen in drinking water and ever little helps.