Strawberry kefir soda is an easy and delicious way to flavor water kefir with a second fermentation. This recipe is made with a simple strawberry puree that will fuel the fermentation process to make a fizzy, refreshing probiotic drink!
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Flavoring Water Kefir
Water kefir is a bubbly, easy-to-make fermented drink that is full of probiotic goodness. It only takes a few ingredients, including water kefir grains, and a few days for fermenting.
Flavoring kefir water is a great way to make it taste more delicious, and it adds extra benefits, too. For example, this herbal water kefir has herbal benefits along with the probiotic bubbly goodness.
For this recipe, homemade strawberry puree adds beautiful color and a delicious flavor. The purred strawberries fuel the second fermentation process for a fizzy and probiotic-rich strawberry kefir soda.
While some sugar is added to the strawberry puree, it is necessary to activate and feed the fermentation process. Ultimately, it is still a low-sugar drink since the yeast digests the sugar. Without it, kefir soda wouldn’t be bubbly!
Like flavoring kombucha, this second ferment process is easy and makes for a healthy alternative to pop or other carbonated beverages. Now, let’s make some strawberry kefir soda!
Strawberry Water Kefir Soda Recipe
The first step of this recipe is to make a half-gallon batch of water kefir. This is easy to put together and only takes a few days to ferment.
Read my post for detailed instructions on how to make fermented water kefir.
The pre-made water kefir is considered the first ferment, while making the strawberry kefir soda is the second ferment.
Make the Strawberry Puree
Once the first ferment is done and you have a half-gallon of finished water kefir, it’s time to make the strawberry puree to flavor and fuel the second fermentation process.
Ingredients
Frozen sliced strawberries: I usually use homegrown strawberries that are sliced and frozen. If you have access to fresh, feel free to use those!
Sugar: I use organic cane sugar to best fuel the fermentation.
Non-chlorinated water: It’s important to note that many public tap water is chlorinated which can affect the fermentation process. It’s best to use filtered or bottled water if possible.
Lemon zest: Never skip the zest! If you need zesting tips, learn how to zest a lemon here.
Freshly squeezed lemon juice: Go ahead and squeeze the lemon you just zested for the juice!
Strawberry Puree Instructions
First, put the strawberries into a 9×13 dish. Sprinkle the sugar and the lemon zest evenly over the top.
Then, pour the water and the lemon juice over the strawberries. Stir everything together.
Cover the strawberry sugar mixture and allow the strawberries to thaw at room temperature. Then, place the dish in the refrigerator for several hours or overnight.
Once the strawberries are fully marinated, place them in a blender along with the juices. Blend until they are a smooth puree.
Note: If you have a small blender, you may have to break this step up into 2-3 batches.
Use this strawberry puree right away or store it in jars in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Freeze any extra puree for later use.
Strawberry Kefir Soda Recipe
The two ingredients necessary to make strawberry water kefir are:
- Fermented water kefir
- Strawberry puree
How to Second Ferment Water Kefir
First, pour the fermented water kefir into swing-top bottles until they’re halfway full. This will be about one cup of water kefir per bottle if you are using 16 ounce bottles.
Note: If you don’t have swing-top bottles, any bottle with a tight-fitting lid will work.
Then add some strawberry puree to each bottle, and leave about an inch of headspace at the top.
The ratio of water kefir to strawberry puree can be adjusted to your liking. Half and half is a good place to start! If you want more water kefir and less strawberry puree in each bottle, that will work too.
Now seal the bottles tightly and store them at room temperature for 24 hours. Make sure to store them in a place that is out of direct sunlight.
After 24 hours, open a bottle to test how fizzy it is. This is a quick and active ferment, so it will probably be quite fizzy already. Be careful when opening the bottles, as they might bubble over!
If the strawberry kefir water isn’t fizzy enough, put the caps back on and leave the bottles to ferment for another 24 hours.
When it’s ready, chill the bottles of finished strawberry kefir soda in the refrigerator before serving.
Enjoy anytime you need a refreshing probiotic boost that is delightfully bubbly!
More Fermented Drinks
- Pine Needle Soda
- Fermented Root Beer
- Strawberry Rhubarb Soda
- Yarrow, Rose, and Strawberry Soda
- Fermented Turmeric Soda
- Fermented Elderberry Soda
- Sweet Potato Kvass
- Winter Herb Kvass
Strawberry Kefir Soda
Ingredients
Strawberry Puree
- 3 pounds sliced strawberries frozen or fresh
- ¾ cup sugar
- 1 cup non-chlorinated water
- lemon zest from one lemon
- freshly squeezed lemon juice from one lemon
Strawberry Water Kefir 2nd Ferment
- 8 cups fermented water kefir
- 8 cups strawberry puree
Instructions
Strawberry Puree
- Put the strawberries into a 9×13 dish and sprinkle the sugar and the lemon zest evenly over the strawberries.
- Pour the water and the lemon juice over the strawberries and stir everything together.
- Cover the mixture and allow the strawberries to thaw at room temperature.
- Once thawed, put the strawberry mixture in the refrigerator for several hours or overnight.
- After the strawberries have been marinated, place them and their juices in a blender. Blend until pureed with a smooth consistency. For a small blender, you may have to puree in 2-3 batches.
- This mixture can be used right away or stored in jars in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Freeze any extra puree for later use.
Strawberry Water Kefir 2nd Ferment
- Pour the fermented water kefir into swing-top bottles (or any bottle that has a tight-fitting lid) to halfway full, about 1 cup per bottle.
- Add the strawberry puree to each bottle, leaving about an inch of headspace at the top of the bottle
- Seal the bottles tightly and store them at room temperature out of direct sunlight for about 24 hours.
- After 24 hours open a bottle to test for fizziness. This is a quick and active ferment so it likely will be quite fizzy, but if it’s not the bottles can be left to ferment for another 24 hours.
- Chill the bottles in the refrigerator before serving.
Notes
- A fermented half-gallon batch of water kefir needs to be ready before starting this recipe.
- Fresh strawberries can be used instead of frozen.
- The ratio of water kefir to strawberry puree in the bottles can be adjusted to your liking. Half and half is a good place to start, but if you want more water kefir and less strawberry puree in each bottle, that works.
- This is a very active and quick ferment – be careful when opening the bottles, as they might bubble over!
how long will the strawberry soda last in the fridge, if you don’t drink it right away?
It’ll last for up to a week.