Water kefir grains (crystals)- Frequently Asked Questions - Troubleshooting

At this point we have compiled all important information and frequently asked question with regard to water kefir grains. Maybe one or another will find his own question again. Many kefir buyer are very delighted about this valuable hints that is always accessible.

Kefir and Kombucha @ Youtube

Valuable Tipps and frequently asked questions around the cultures kombucha and kefir you will find on our youtube channel.
Worthful tips and tricks on our Youtube channel - all around Kombucha and Kefir and Milk kefir and Ginger root beer
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Which ingredients do you use to make the delicious water kefir lemonade?

For the manufacturing of our high quality kefir grains we exclusively use selected ingredients from trustful and reliable sources. All products have been tested and have to correlate with our high quality standards before we offer them to our customers. This includes with regard to the japanese kefir crystals especially dried fruits and sugar. For the cultivation we use solely high quality dried fruits and sugar. Concerning our organic live kefir grains we of course use exclusively organic fruit types. Besides organic fruits the culture also needs sugar. At this point we use selected organic raw cane sugar and whole cane sugar. Naturally the sugar used to produce our organic live kefir grains is also organic.

How much water kefir beverage can I make with the Natural-Kefir-Drinks starter set?

If you treat your kefir mushroom well it will accompany you for the rest of your live. The quantity of kefir lemonade you are able to produce is nearby endless. With our water kefir starter set (30g water kefir crystals) your can make 1,0 litre water kefir lemonade with the first batch. After one to three days of fermentation 1 litre of the delicious beverage is ready. Now you can enjoy the aromatic drink. The culture is continuously growing so that you can produce more and more of the delicoius beverage. Click here to learn more about the manufacturing of kefir lemonade.

 


Just click here to buy our tasty and fresh Water Kefir and make it at home easy and quick

Just click here to buy our tasty and fresh Water Kefir and make it at home easy and quick

How is the kefir culture of the Natural-Kefir-Drink package packed?

The fresh kefir grains including the ready water kefir lemonade respectively transport liquid is packed in a secure food-safe bisphenol-A free plastic bag. This bag guarantees that your kefir grains will reach you in perfect conditions. In addition the parcel is well-padded, so that the parcel is assured against vibrations.

Could the kefir grains get damaged while transport?

We pack the water kefir grains including transport liquid only on the day of dispatch. The liquid provides protection during the transportation. Furthermore every parcel that leaves our facilities has to pass our quality checks. Even after a transport duration of many days the kefir mushrooms will make tasty kefir soda for you. Nevertheless please unpack the parcel immediately after receiving and start brewing kefir. In case our delivery is contrary to expectations please give us feedback. Our top priority is your satisfaction.

How long is the shelf life of the ready water kefir soda? How can I store it?

You have successfully made your own kefir lemonade? Congratulations! If you can't enjoy all of the beverage at the first go naturally the question arises how long water kefir lemonade actually can be kept. Basically the ready lemonade can be kept several days. However, please note that kefir is a foodstuff. It is living. That means the fermentation process is going on even after the drink is filled into bottles. During storage the tiny diligent microorganisms keep on fermenting. In this way the sugar is more and more metabolized and the beverage gets even more acidic. But that's not all. Through this process even more carbon dioxide is developed. If you have filled the kefir lemonade into bottles you should regularly check the resulting pressure. There would be a danger of bursting in case of too high pressure. Ideally you should plan your kefir production, so that you can enjoy fresh kefir daily. Just make several batches 2, 3 or even more. If you for example want to drink one litre - three days fermented - kefir lemonde each day, just make three batches. In this way you can "harvest" one batch every day. Please note that kefir soda made with real live kefir grains is a natural product, that could slightly varying from batch to batch in consistency, colour, taste etc.

How do I recognise that my japanese water kefir crystals are fine?

For water kefir newcomer it is often difficult to assess whether the grains are fine. After all you simply don't want to do anything wrong. The many and varied bacteria and yeasts have built over the time a good protective barrier against undesirable, health-endangering germs. The sour environment, which is formed from the culture ensures that no undesired spores have a chance to enter the batch. In case that your water kefir batch smells unpleasant smelly please dispose the drink. You can make a new batch with the grains to try to bring them back to life. Just rinse the grains with fresh water and make a new batch. If you are unsure about the quality of grains you should get some new ones. 

Does the ready water kefir lemonade contain alcohol?

This question is especially important and very often ask from our friendly customers. As you are probably aware that the water kefir culture is symbiosis of lactic acid bacteria and valuable yeasts that interact and collaborate in an unique way. This complicated process produces alcohol and carbon dioxide. The lactic acid bacteria makes the most of it and metabolize a part of the alcohol and other substances into lactic acid. The formed lactic acid gives the kefir lemonade a pleasant aromatic acidic taste. As a rule of thumb: The longer the japanese water crystals can "work" the higher the concentration of alcohol and the less sugar content. Through the whole fermentation process - depending on the duration of fermentation - an alcohol content of 0,1 - 2,5 volume percentage is formed. If you are now surprised by this fact and hadn't expected that so much alcohol could be formed we provide some more examples. There are a lot of fermented products respectively fermentable foodstuff we have grown to love and enrich our everyday lives.

A very popular example is apple juice. But did you know that this daily beverage can have a alcohol content of up to 0,38 volume percentage.Apples
Also very interesting is that customary grape juice even can have a alcohol content of up to 1,0 volume percentage.
Grapes
Beer with an alcoholic strength by volume of up to 5 % can be declared as alcohol-free as you probably already know.

It is very surprising that vinegar can reach an alcohol content of 1.5% vol.
vinegar
With great surprise we found out that overripe bananas can reach an alcohol content of 0.6% vol.
vinegar
As you can see wherever foodstuff could ferment, more or less alcohol is formed.
Aside from the importance of the alcohol content the quantity is crucial. Please take care of the right dose because: the poison is the dose, not the substance in itself.

Can I drink water kefir soda during pregnancy?

As a result of the yeast's work alcohol develops during fermentation. Due to the alcohol content of between 0,2% and 2% pregnant women should avoid the kefir drink.

Finally vacations - but what should I do with my kefir grains when going on holiday?

That is the most frequently asked question of our friendly customers. Now, the time has finally arrived and the long awaited vacation is just around the corner - but what to do with the kefir crystals? At this point you realise again that kefir is a living culture - a real living foodstuff. Of course you can ask your friends at first to care for the grains if they anyway look after your flowers. But perhaps you are among the people who don't like to ask somebody else for a favor respectively do not to become a burden for the others. The best news: You don't have to! You can rest easy, even if you are for about 1 - 3 weeks on vacation. After that you can keep on brewing the delicious water kefir lemonade. To prepare your grains for vacation please proceed as follows: Create a mixture of of sugar and water and add your water kefir crystals. 30 to 60g sugar is completely sufficient. Now store your jar - of course airtight but in a way that the formed carbon dioxide can escape - at a cool place (for example the fridge). Because of the low temperature the whole fermentation process becomes slower. Nevertheless, lactic acid is created. This organic acid acts like a kind of natural preservative agent. Using this method the kefir grains can be stored for about 1 - 3 weeks. After this break or your vacation you can easily activate your water kefir crystals again. Just separate the kefir culture form the fluid and rinse the grains carefully with cold to lukewarm water. Now continue making your water kefir batch as usual according to this guidance: (Tutorial - How to make water kefir). Occasionally, it can happen that the culture needs 1 to 4 batches to become completely acclimatized. During this period, it is possible that the ready water kefir soda doesn't tastes as usual. After few batches the result will be persuasive again and you can benefit from the positive effect on your health as usual.

Should the fermentation jar and the water kefir grains be rinsed after every batch?

Cleanliness and hygiene are a guarantee for success and long-term satisfaction. We recommend to clean the jar after every batch and thoroughly rinse the water kefir crystals.

My japanese water crystals become a reddish brownish colour, what should I do?

We can cheer you up, your culture is fine. It may occur that the grains become discolored. This is due to the used fruit and resolve after some time. Perhaps you should think about using other fruits. Please use organic dried fruits but at least non-sulphurized fruits.

Just click here to buy our tasty and fresh Water Kefir and make it at home easy and quick

Just click here to buy our tasty and fresh Water Kefir and make it at home easy and quick

My water kefir lemonade tastes sour / bitter not sweet! What can I do?

Your kefir grains or japanese water crystals as they are also called are a symbiosis of living microorganisms. These organisms react to different changes. The culture ferments the sugar of the batch and the fluid gets acidic. This process creates the valuable ingredients and the unique taste of the ready water kefir soda. If your kefir beverage is too sour or bitter it mitght be for the following reasons:

Is the fermentation duration too long!?

Tip: We recommend a fermentation duration of 1 - 3 days. The duration depends on your individual taste. For this reason you can check the taste after one day of fermentation (for example with a straw) and decide whether to still let it ferment. You can adopt this procedure on the following days. 1 - 3 days of fermentation is just a guideline. If the kefir lemonade is still too sweet on the third day you can let it ferment 4, 5 days or even longer. The lemonade must be tasty for you!!!

Is the fermentation temperature to high!?

Tip: The fermentation temperature has an impact on the fermentation process. If the temperature is to high lower it. Sometimes the room temperature in summer is higher than in winter. Please also check if the fermentation tank is located near sources of heat (for example a radiator). If you can't or don't want to change the temperature it is also possible to reduce the fermentation duration. In this way you can also create a perfect delicious kefir soda.

Do you add the appropriate amount of dried fruits!?

Tip: The sweetness of your kefir lemonade of course depends on the amount and type of fruits. The fruits have a different sweetening power. Cranberries for example are very sweet - it contain about 40% of organic raw cane sugar. Goji berries are less sweet compared to cranberries. Depending on your individual taste we recommend for the manufacturing of one litre kefir soda 30g dried fruits.

Did your water kefir grains grow [they did most certainly;-)!?

Tip: The more kefir culture works in the batch the faster the added sugar is metabolized. Naturally the grains grow from batch to batch. Basically we recommend to brew one litre of kefir soda at least 30g kefir grains. If the grains grow it happen very fast that the batch contains 100g of the water kefir crystals. For this reason the ratio is no longer adequate and the sugar is faster metabolized. Please check the ratio between the batch and the kefir grains and if necessary  remove some grains or increase the volume of the batch.

Too little sugar!?

However sugar has a significant impact on the sweetness of the ready water kefir lemonade. Now you should check whether you have added enough sugar into the batch. The less sugar is added to the batch the faster the lemonade gets acidic. We recommend to add about 80g sugar for each litre of kefir lemonade you want to make. At this point you can decide! If you want the kefir soda more sweet but also with the plesant acid - result of a longer fermentation - just add more sugar to the batch. You can, of course sweeten the beverage individually after the fermentation process. There are no limits to what can be achieved.  

Does the water kefir grains need air (oxygen) to breath? Fermentation tank open or closed?

With regard to the fermentation there are basically two possibilities. On the one hand the aerobe fermentation. In this case the entire process requires oxygen. In comparison to this there is the anaerobic fermentation. In this case there is no oxygen necessary. Quite the contrary, oxygen could seriously disturb the process and in the worst-case scenario, even stop it. For this reason it is essential that no oxygen can enter the fermentation jar. The jar must be sealed in such a way that no oxygen can penetrate the batch and simultaneously the pressure created by the water kefir batch can escape. The crucial point within the process is to don't let oxygen in the jar and simultaneously let the carbonic acid escape. At this point there are basically several solutions:

  • If you use a jar with screw cap: Twist the lid slightly - but only until you feel a slight resistance.

  • If you use plastic wrap with a rubber band - just fix the plastic wrap with the rubber band on the vessel.

  • If you use a clip top jar - we occasionally be asked how to handle this jar. In particular, it is frequently asked how to dismantle the metal clip. We have taken this frequently asked question as an occasion to create a new article about how to dismantle the metal clip. So if you have decided to buy the high-quality 1,14L jar you can read the notes concerning dismantling the clip here. After successfully dismantling the metal clip you now have the glas cover and the rubber sealing. The usage is really very simple - just put the lid with the installed sealing on the jar. The weight of the lid and the sealing ensure that it is close.

 
With regard to all approaches it is essential that the carbon dioxide can escape. At the same time, it must be ensured that no oxygen and undesired bacteria enter the water kefir batch.  

How much of the water kefir lemonade should I drink?

Every human is unique and reacts in a very individual way to different food. For this reason drink as much water kefir lemonade as you can tolerate and makes you feel good. Be aware of the signs of your body. Nonetheless you should give your organism the time to adapt to this extraordinary beverage so that you have the chance to benefit from its positive effects. Your body will be grateful for it! In order to get started, we recommend to enjoy 300ml daily and increase continuously thereafter. Many water kefir lover enjoy about one litre daily. There are therefore different approaches, ranging from drinking the elixir on an empty stomach or after the meals. Some substances are better absorbed on an empty stomach some better after meals. Some people swear by health treatments with kefir. During such treatments for example you drink 1 - 3 month kefir lemonade and afterwards take a break for 1 month. Just test different approaches and find what works best for you and your body.

My water kefir batch starts to get mouldy? Why? What can I do?

It sometimes happens that the water kefir batch creates a thin skin with bubbles. This skin tends to look unappetizing and reminds most of the kefir fans of mould. Your kefir isn't most likely moulding but rather created a biofilm. This thin layer is among others also called mycoderma acetic bacteria or Mycoderma vini. Take a look at some impressions:
 
Mycoderma on water kefir
mycoderma on water kefir
mycoderma on water kefir
Although it is unappetizing, this layer is completely harmless. If this bacteria has increased in your batch, the only thing that basically could happen is that the ready beverage tastes smelly and unpleasant cheesy. The Mycoderma consists of millions of aerobe bacteria. These organisms need oxygen to develop and feel sustainably comfortable. So please make sure that oxygen can't enter your water kefir batch. To keep the part of air in your fermentation jar as little as possible please choose a suitable container. So if you want to brew 2 litre water kefir lemonade then please use a container with a capacity of 2, 2.5 / 3 litre. The crucial point within the process is to don't let oxygen in the jar and simultaneously let the carbonic acid escape. At this point there are basically several solutions:

  • If you use a jar with screw cap: Twist the lid slightly - but only until you feel a slight resistance.

  • If you use plastic wrap with a rubber band - just fix the plastic wrap with the rubber band on the vessel.

  • If you use a clip top jar - we occasionally be asked how to handle this jar. In particular, it is frequently asked how to dismantle the metal clip. We have taken this frequently asked question as an occasion to create a new article about how to dismantle the metal clip. So if you have decided to buy the high-quality 1,14L jar you can read the notes concerning dismantling the clip here. After successfully dismantling the metal clip you now have the glas cover and the rubber sealing. The usage is really very simple - just put the lid with the installed sealing on the jar. The weight of the lid and the sealing ensure that it is close.

With regard to all approaches it is essential that the carbon dioxide can escape. At the same time, it must be ensured that no oxygen and undesired bacteria enter the water kefir batch.
Furthermore you should add enough lemon slices respectively lemon juice. In this way your water kefir batch gets acidified so that foreign and undesired bacteria can't enter the batch. This is due to the sour environment created through the lemon slices / juice.

What should I do if my water kefir gets "mouldy" / a Mycoderma developed?

Firstly dispose the Mycoderma infected kefir beverage and rinse the water kefir crystals thoroughly. Now brew your water kefir lemonade as usual. But this time please add additionally 2 lemon slices and 2 tablespoons lemon juice to the batch. As already mentioned the basic idea of this approach is to ensure that the undesired bacteria feels uncomfortable. If you make sure that no oxygen enters the batch and the fluid is proper acidified the Mycoderma bacteria will not occur again. Provided the batch has successfully acclimatised you can keep on making your kefir soda as usual.  

How much sugar does the kefir mushroom needs? 80g sugar each litre - isn't it too much?

To make one litre water kefir lemonade we recommend to add basically 80g sugar to your batch. Depending on your personal taste your can add more or less sugar - just the way you like it. You can give the recipe individual character. Furthermore you have the choice between different types of sugar. You can use ordinary white refined sugar, brown sugar, row cane sugar, whole cane sugar, coconut blossom sugar, agave syrup, sugar beet syrup just to mention a few. But what actually happens to the sugar? Besides dried fruits sugar is another food resource for the kefir crystals. A large portion of the sugar will be metabolized into valuable organic acids and yeasts. The speed of the diligent microorganisms depends among other things on the following factors : Fermentation temperature, type of sugar, type fruits and water quality. Basically it can be said that: The longer the water kefir batch ferments the less sugar will be in the ready kefir lemonade and the more acidic it will taste.


You are new in water kefir production?

You just need to order our complete water kefir starter kit. In this package everything you need to start your water kefir production at home is included! Just unpack it and get started.

Water kefir starter kit - Just click here

Just click here to get to our complete Water Kefir Starter Kit!

It is perfect for your own and moreover an ideal gift for your friends. We frequently experience that customer order the grains for partner, parents and grandparents. Many elderly people are very pleased about a kefir or kombucha package because they often know it from their childhood connected wonderful memories with these tiny grains.

Just click here to buy our tasty and fresh Water Kefir and make it at home easy and quick

Just click here to buy our tasty and fresh Water Kefir and make it at home easy and quick


Kefir and Kombucha @ Youtube

Valuable Tipps and frequently asked questions around the cultures kombucha and kefir you will find on our youtube channel.
Worthful tips and tricks on our Youtube channel - all around Kombucha and Kefir and Milk kefir and Ginger root beer
Visit us on Youtube - just click here and learn more


Study our simple and concise tutorial to make water kefir or read the detailed one.
You can also download the whole guidance - just click hereClick here to download the detailed guide of How to brew Water Kefir easy at home


Please notice:

The information on this website is provided for general information purposes. Even if the information provided here has been collected and examined with utmost care, no warranty can be assumed for the correctness, completeness and relevance of the information offered. Nevertheless we assume no liability for incomplete or incorrect information.