Every summer, I find myself looking for simple ways to stay hydrated that don’t involve sugary soft drinks or endless cups of tea. That’s one of the reasons I’ve become such a fan of homemade water kefir.
You’ve probably noticed them popping up everywhere – rows of colourful fermented drinks lining supermarket fridges and health food shelves. From kombucha to kefir, fizzy fermented drinks are having a real moment – and if it feels like everyone on social media is suddenly sipping on one, you might be wondering what all the fuss is about.
What exactly is kefir?
Kefir is traditionally a fermented drink made with milk and live cultures, known for its tangy flavour and long history of use in different cultures.
Alongside this, there’s also water kefir – a lightly sparkling fermented drink made using water kefir grains, sugar, and water. During fermentation, the grains feed on the sugar, creating a gently tangy, refreshing drink that’s naturally fizzy and full of character.
You can now find a growing range of kefir drinks in supermarkets, but many shop-bought versions contain added flavourings, sweeteners, or other extras. Making your own is surprisingly simple, cost-effective, and gives you full control over what goes into it.
Here’s our simple thirst-quenching version for summer – Ginger and Lemon Sparkling Water Kefir.
If the long-range weather forecast is anything to go by, we are going to be needing lots of thirst-quenching drinks this summer. My husband, Kevin and I are thinking about getting rid of all of our carpets and having wooden floors instead; in winter, we will just throw some rugs down. I’m sure we’re not the only ones looking for ways to both in and out of the house due to the hotter summers we’ve been getting.
We hope this refreshing, healthy sparkling kefir will help keep you cool. Fresh, and naturally zingy, our recipe combines warming ginger with bright lemon for a crisp, lightly sparkling drink that feels particularly good served ice cold on warmer days.
Ginger is traditionally used to support digestion and may help ease feelings of bloating, while naturally fermented water kefir contains live cultures that can contribute to a diverse gut microbiome.
Alongside the recipe, we’re also sharing how to activate your kefir grains if you’re completely new to making water kefir at home.
Happy fermenting!
