Water Kefir Soda

Ingredients

• ●*First Ferment:**
• ●1 quart filtered water
• ●1/4 cup sugar (white, raw cane, or coconut sugar)
• ●2-3 tablespoons water kefir grains
• ●*Second Ferment (Flavoring):**
• ●1/4 cup fruit juice, fruit pieces, or flavored simple syrup (see variations below)

Method

1. **First ferment:** Dissolve the sugar in warm water, let cool to room temperature, and add the water kefir grains. Cover loosely with a cloth and ferment for 24-48 hours. The water should taste slightly tangy and less sweet than when you started.
2. Strain out the grains (start a new batch immediately or store grains in sugar water in the fridge).
3. **Second ferment:** Add your chosen flavoring to the strained water kefir. Pour into swing-top bottles, leaving 1-2 inches of headspace. Seal tightly.
4. Leave at room temperature for 24-48 hours to build carbonation.
5. Refrigerate and enjoy cold.
6. *Flavor variations:**
7. **Berry Blast:** 1/4 cup mashed mixed berries
8. **Tropical:** 1/4 cup pineapple-mango juice
9. **Grape:** 1/4 cup grape juice (makes a fizzy grape soda)
10. **Lemon-Ginger:** Juice of 1 lemon + 1 tablespoon grated ginger
11. **Vanilla Cream:** 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract + 1 tablespoon sugar
12. **Apple Cinnamon:** 1/4 cup apple juice + 1 cinnamon stick
13. **Root Beer:** 1 teaspoon sassafras extract + 1 teaspoon vanilla