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    » Home » Recipes » Fermented Drinks » Cherry Water Kefir

    Cherry Water Kefir

    Posted: Jul 24, 2017 · Updated: May 19, 2020 by Jenny McGruther · This site earns income from ads, affiliate links, and sponsorships.

    Cherry season always has a way of making summer seem just a little more special. Making cherry water kefir, slightly sweet, slightly bubbly, and full of probiotics is a great way to use summer's bounty.

    Jump to Recipe | Brewing Tips

    Cherry water kefir in a glass bottle, surrounded by sweet cherries.

    If you have kids in the house it is always a fun event to watch those irresistible juicy cherries disappear when they haven’t seen a cherry since last summer. I like to snag a bowl or two to create a few seasonal recipes and cherry water kefir is usually on the list.

    It's simple to make. Plus, it makes a great replacement for sodas and sweet fruit juices. It also contains a burst of minerals and a fair amount of probiotics.

    Making Cherry Water Kefir

    After you've made basic water kefir a few times, it's fun to experiment with new flavors. You can flavor your basic brew with sweetened herbal teas, fruit juices or fruits like cherries.

    Cherry water kefir relies on a process called secondary fermentation. That is, after you brew your initial batch, you can strain and store the tibicos grains, and ferment the water kefir a second time.

    For secondary fermentation, you'll want to use flip-top bottles. That's because these bottles will capture the carbon dioxide that builds up during fermentation. As a result, your cherry water kefir will be naturally fizzy and bubbly.

    Brewing Tips

    • When the cherries float it's a good sign that your homemade soda is ready.
    • Cream of Tartar and Sea Salt add minerals and flavor. They also help support the bacteria in the water kefir. You can omit them if you like.
    • To get the cherries out of the bottle, shake the bottles vigorously, or consider brewing in mason jars with tight-fitting lids.
    • Open the bottles over the sink. Water kefir sodas can behave unpredictably and may foam when you open them.
    Rate this Recipe
    5 from 1 vote
    5 servings (1 quart)

    Cherry Water Kefir

    Mildly sweet, slightly tart and wonderfully bubbly, this homemade soda gets its probiotic fizz from water kefir and its vivid red color from sweet cherries. It's like a homemade cherry soda, but without all the sugar or food dyes.
    Prep Time5 mins
    Fermentation2 d
    Total Time2 d 5 mins
    Print Save RecipeSaved! Click to Remove Ads

    Ingredients

    For the Cherry Water Kefir

    • 1 cup sweet cherries pitted and halved
    • 4 cups water kefir
    • ⅛ teaspoon finely ground real salt
    • ¼ teaspoon cream of tartar

    Equipment

    • flip-top bottles

    Instructions

    • Drop the cherries evenly into two (16-oz) flip top bottles.
    • Whisk the brewed water kefir with sea salt and cream of tartar in large pitcher, and then pour it into the bottles over the cherries. Allow it to culture at room temperature 1 to 3 days.
    • Transfer to the fridge where it will keep for 2 weeks. Strain and serve chilled over ice.
    Rate this recipe!If you loved this recipe, give it a rating. Let us know what works, what didn't and whether you made any adjustments that can help other cooks.

    Probiotic Lemonade

    Like cherry water kefir, this naturally fermented lemonade is an easy, probiotic drink that you can make at home. And kids positively love its fizz and bubbles.

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