Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Fermented Drink Successes!

Remember how I started and brewed my water kefir? Well, I tried drinking it the other day and it was good! I was so surprised!

I wasn't planning on brewing more right away, so I got my supplies together to brew another batch to keep in the fridge. I'll have to feed the water kefir grains once a week until I brew more again.

 
My first drink of water kefir! I was a little hesitant because I wasn't sure what it was supposed to taste like and it smells like dirty socks. Don't let the smell fool you! I took a little first sip and was pleasantly surprised! It tastes like a non-carbonated cream soda. I later splashed in some lemon juice and some ice and made a very delicious lemonade-type drink (that is good for me)!

 The water kefir grains after the first brewing. They totally grew about a fifth more. I'm surprised! Eventually I will have enough to give away.

I was also excited that my ginger beer plant came in! I need to feed it a few times before I can start brewing the ginger beer and since it just came from the UK it hasn't eaten in some time, so I set out to do that the other night.

I got my supplies together. I needed some lemon juice, some sugar, a jar to feed the plant in (which it's not really a "plant," per se. It's actually a SCOBY made from a fungus, the yeast Saccharomyces florentinus and the bacterium Lactobacillus hilgardii - thanks, Wikipedia!).

I put maybe a cup and a half or two cups of water into my jar, a splash of lemon juice, and then maybe four tablespoons of sugar. I then squeezed the ginger beer plant into the jar.

I stirred everything up.

I put the coffee filter over it and rubber-banded it on. I put the jar in the water heater closet on the top shelf to keep it warm. The temperature is more stable in there than the rest of the apartment. I'll leave it in there for another day or two and then do the whole process again. This gets the SCOBY fed, which makes it stronger, so then I will be able to brew actual ginger beer with it. Hopefully this weekend it will happen!

Has anyone else done any fermented drinks? I'd love to hear your stories!
Posted by Brittany at 4:28 PM
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2 comments:

  1. Becca Seitz, LAcNovember 15, 2011 at 5:42 PM

    Super exciting! I can't wait to see how it all turns out for you! With enough of your experimenting, maybe I'll get the courage up to give it a try? ;)

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  2. BrittanyNovember 15, 2011 at 6:46 PM

    Ha ha! I see how it is...maybe by the time I am done experimenting I will have enough kefir grains or ginger beer plant SCOBY to give to you. ;o) (Which I will be more than happy to do!)

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