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Move over, kombucha. There’s a new probiotic health drink in town: water kefir.

Water kefir is a spin on the “regular” kefir. Traditionally, kefir is made from milk that’s fermented. Water kefir, on the other hand, is a dairy-free, vegan alternative. Instead of milk, water kefir is made by fermenting water with kefir grains. These aren’t actually grains but are bacteria and yeast clusters with a grain-like appearance.

The result of fermenting water with kefir grains is a kombucha-like drink rich in good gut bacteria but without either alcohol or caffeine, making it a great health drink for kids and adults alike.

Water kefir: a better alternative to kombucha

Kombucha is a fizzy sweet-and-sour drink made by fermenting tea. Many people say it helps relieve or prevent a wide range of health problems, from hair loss to cancer. While there are few studies on kombucha, it has been around for about 2,000 years in East Asia and Europe, where it is widely consumed as a health drink.

But although kombucha has its benefits, its caffeine and alcohol content may get in the way of people adding it to their diet. Making it may also be tricky for beginners.

Here’s how kefir is different from – or better than – kombucha:

1. It’s easier to make

You can make your own water kefir with just three simple ingredients: kefir grains, water and sugar. Don’t fret about that sugar bit. The sugar is there to be consumed by the bacteria for fermentation, so you’ll have very little sugar in the finished drink. As a rule of thumb, the longer you ferment, the less sugar you’ll have.

2. It has zero caffeine

Kombucha is made with tea, which contains caffeine. Therefore, kombucha will always contain caffeine. While it’s not much, the caffeine can still add up if you frequently drink kombucha. So if you’re trying to avoid caffeine or reduce your intake of it, water kefir is the health drink for you.

3. It’s alcohol-free

Kombucha also contains small amounts of alcohol, about 0.5 percent at most for bottles distributed nationally. It’s not much, but it can still deter people who’d rather have alcohol-free drinks. In contrast, water-kefir is completely alcohol-free.

How to make water kefir

Water kefir is one of the easiest probiotic drinks to make. You’ll need kefir grains, which you can find online or in health food stores, a fine-mesh strainer for removing the grains and a jar for storing the water kefir in.

Ingredients:

• 4 cups room temperature water
• 1/4 cup kefir grains
• 1/4 cup sugar

Preparation:

1. Fill a half-gallon jar with 4 cups of room temperature water.
2. Stir in the sugar until it dissolves. Alternatively, you can use pure fruit juice in place of sugar.
3. Stir in the kefir grains. Cover the jar loosely and let sit at room temperature overnight or for 48 hours.
4. Using a fine-mesh strainer, remove the kefir grains. You can drink the water kefir at this point.
5. If you want to do a second ferment for more flavor and fizz, pour the strained liquid into another jar with fresh, muddled fruit, herbs, vanilla extract and fruit juice. Cover tightly and let sit for 24 hours.
6. When it’s fizzy, place it in the refrigerator to chill. Serve cold.

Water kefir looks and tastes like kombucha, and it offers more or less the same benefits as well, minus caffeine and alcohol. Improve your overall health by incorporating water kefir into your diet.

Sources:

MindBodyGreen.com

WellAndGood.com