One of the most underrated drinks ever is water kefir. This delicious fermented beverage is loaded with probiotics, making it a healthy (and even more tasty) alternative to traditional sodas. Different from Kombucha, water kefir has less of a distinct taste, making it even easier to infuse it with delicious flavors. It is like a blank canvas to get creative with. One of my favorites is this strawberry water kefir. A touch of basil gives this drink a perfect, exciting balance. Strawberry water kefir is a healthy refresher that you won’t get tired of sipping on a warm summer day.
Ingredients you need to make Strawberry Water Kefir:
- Freshly fermented water kefir (learn how to make it here)
- Strawberries
- Basil
The biggest challenge to making this recipe is making a successful batch of water kefir yourself. For this, you need water kefir cultures and a bit of skill. If you haven’t made water kefir before, give this in-depth guide on how to make water kefir a good read! It’s so much fun.
Strawberries and basil will bring delicious flavor to your water kefir. I am using fresh strawberries today, but frozen ones are fine too. Simply let them defrost a bit before adding them to the kefir. Furthermore, a few fresh leaves of basil make a delicious complement. If you don’t have basil, other herbs can make a great addition too. Fresh mint goes perfectly with the taste of strawberry.
How to make Strawberry Water Kefir:
Making strawberries is super simple. Once you have a batch of water kefir on hand, a short secondary fermentation is the only thing you need to do for this delicious beverage. While the secondary fermentation needs between 24-48 hours, the actual preparation time is super short.
Give the basil leaves and strawberries a good wash. Next, make sure your fermentation bottles or jars are perfectly clean. I’d recommend giving them a thorough wash with boiling water before using it for fermentation.
Next, add the basil and strawberries, and fill the bottles or jars with kefir. , Let them ferment in a sun-protected place for 24-48 hours. The perfect fermentation time will depend on factors such as temperature, strength of your kefir brew, sugar content in the strawberries, and more. I’d recommend checking the flavor every once in a while, so you can stop the fermentation process at the perfect time. During the fermentation, make sure to burp the kefir bottles regularly to avoid explosions.
Once you are satisfied with the taste, strain the added fruits, and store the kefir in the fridge. The colder temperatures will slow the fermentation process. You can store the strawberry kefir easily in the fridge for up to three days.
I hope you enjoy this strawberry kefir. In my opinion, it is such a great refresher. I’d recommend enjoying it on a hot summer day on ice!
Let me know what you think in the comments.
Some more Recipe Recommendations:
- Peach water kefir
- Spicy orange mint tea
- Tonka banana water kefir
- Refreshing espresso soda recipe
- Watermelon juice recipe
- Passion fruit water kefir
- Cranberry Kombucha
Strawberry Water Kefir
Strawberry basil water kefir is one of the most refreshing drinks ever. This fermented beverage is loaded with probiotics and delicious taste!
- Total Time: 24-48 hours
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
Ingredients
4 glasses of fresh fermented water kefir (learn how to make it here)
6 ripe strawberries (fresh or frozen)
8 leaves of basil
Instructions
Wash the strawberries and basil and cut the strawberries in slices or cubes. Thoroughly clean the fermentation bottles or jars, and add evenly distribute the strawberry and basil among them. Add the water kefir, and let it ferment for 24-48 hours.
Notes
The final flavour depends on the ingredients you use and the flavour and strength of the water kefir. Experiment with what you like best.
Burp the bottles regularly during the second fermentation the minimize the risk of explosions.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Fermentation Time: 24-48 hours
- Category: drink, beverage
- Method: fermentation
- Cuisine: International