Homemade Root Beer Water Kefir Preparation Guide

Homemade Root Beer Water Kefir Preparation Guide

Crack Open This Root Beer Water Kefir Recipe for an Authentic, Indigenous-Inspired Refreshment!

Ever wondered about the origins of your favorite root beer? Did you know it traces back to Indigenous traditional medicine? This recipe for root beer water kefir brings you closer to its roots by blending 8 plants and roots to reconnect with the true taste of the original root beer.

Root beers we know today pale in comparison to their ancestral counterparts. The First Commercial Root Beer, introduced in 1876 by an American pharmacist, was still a fermented beverage made from select plants, even though it was a step away from its roots. As time went by, the product became more industrialized, ditching fermentation for carbonated water and artificial flavors.

In this original recipe, you'll rediscover the authentic flavor of traditional root beer while enjoying the sweetness and natural fizz of water kefir.

Root Beer Water Kefir Recipe

Prep Time: 10 minutes Total Time: 1-3 days

Equipment

• Large glass jar (for fermenting)
• Cotton cloth and rubber band
• Strainer or sieve
• Small saucepan
• 2 pressure resistant glass bottles (750ml)
• Large jar (for mixing)

Ingredients

Fermentation

• 3 tbsp. water kefir grains
• 1⁄3 cup cane sugar
• 6 cups water
• 2 dried figs
• 2 tbsp. lemon juice

Flavoring

• 1 1/2 cups water
• 1 tbsp. molasses
• 1/2 tbsp. vanilla or sweet clover extract
• 3 tbsp. root beer plant blend

Instructions

1. Fermentation
2. Pour the water into the jar.
3. Add the sugar and mix well.
4. Incorporate the remaining ingredients.
5. Allow to ferment at room temperature for 24 to 48 hours, or until the figs have risen to the surface.
6. Strain the water kefir into the 2nd large jar.
7. Keep the grains for your next recipe and compost the figs.
8. Flavoring (Preparing the Decoction)
9. Put root beer mixture in 375ml (1 and 1/2 cups) of water in a saucepan.
10. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and let simmer, covered, for 30 minutes.
11. Strain the decoction and let it cool.
12. Add the molasses and vanilla to the jar containing the water kefir. Stir to dissolve.
13. Bottling
14. Mix the (lukewarm) decoction with the kefir.
15. Bottle into pressure resistant bottles.
16. Leave at room temperature for 24 to 48 hours, or until you like the fizz level.
17. Refrigerate and enjoy!

Notes

• For more information on water kefir, check out our Complete guide to making successful water kefir

Embrace the flavors of traditional root beer with this modern twist on water kefir, offering a delicious, gut-friendly alternative to mass-produced sodas.

Sources:

• [1] Water Kefir Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_kefir
• [2] Beverage Trade Network, https://beveragetradejournal.com/features/what-is-water-kefir
• [3] Modern Roots Magazine, https://modernrootsmagazine.com/root-beer-water-kefir-recipe/
• [4] Kombucha Kamp, https://kombuchakamp.com/root-beer-water-kefir/
• This modern twist on water kefir pays homage to the authentic flavors of traditional root beer, blending elements of food-and-drink, cooking, and health-conscious lifestyle to offer a gut-friendly alternative to mass-produced sodas.
• Incorporating the flavors of home-and-garden plants, such as those found in the root beer plant blend, this recipe provides a link to the lifestyle and medicine of Indigenous cultures, connecting cooking and health into one unique culinary and wellness experience.

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