Who likes fizzy, bubbly, effervescent drinks? I sure do! What about when they are good for you too? both hands raised.. My husband loves bubbly water, bubbly sodas and now he loves the fizzy experiments I’ve been making in the lab. My sister’s kids love them too. She recently introduced them to water kefir soda and they loved it. VICTORY! If I can get one person to try a fermented food I have succeeded. Liking it and sharing it with their family and friends is an extra bonus. Ill take it.
My mom bought some kefir grains and gave some to my sister about a month ago. My sis made her first batch and forgot about it for a few days. She called me up asking if it was still good and it was. Not only good, but hers got super bubbly on the first round of fermentation. She put some juice in it and gave it to the kids to try and they loved it. I was beyond excited to hear that. They are picky eaters as most kids are so I didn’t have high expectations they would like it. So now they have a healthy alternative to sugar-filled drinks that will help them grow and boost their immune systems.
You can learn more about the health benefits of water kefir and how to make it in my post, “How To Make Probiotic Rich Water Kefir”.
Why orange soda? Well two reasons; 1. I had a giant bag of oranges I needed to use and 2. orange soda reminds me of camping when I was a little kid. I was daydreaming of warm sun and the outdoors during some rain showers and cloudy skies the other day. Orange soda takes me back to nature, camping, long boat rides on the lake and the warm sun. How is that for nostalgic?
Orange Kefir Soda Pop. Inspired by nature, good health and bubbles! How is that for a tag line? ;)
Orange Kefir Soda is made through secondary fermentation of the water kefir. Directions to make water kefir are in my post, “How To Make Probiotic Rich Water Kefir”. Secondary fermentation is when you take your first batch of water kefir made with kefir grains and add juice or sugar. The bacteria and yeast in the water kefir consume the sugar and turn it into a probiotic rich, fizzy drink. The longer you leave it out for secondary fermentation, the more sugar is consumed and the more bubbly it gets. I recommend trying it after 1 day and if you want it less sweet and more bubbly, leave it out longer. It’s a balancing act to get the flavors the way you like it. I prefer more bubbles and less sweet so I usually leave it out 2-3 days.
This recipe is so simple and only needs two ingredients. I recommend using a high quality, organic orange juice. You can squeeze the juice yourself or purchase at a local store or farmers market. Feel free to experiment by adding in more juice or less depending on your taste. You could also add in some ginger to make an orange ginger soda or vanilla to make an orange vanilla soda.
Caution: Sometimes the gas during secondary fermentation can build up quite a bit, so be careful when opening the bottles. I don’t recommend letting a child open a bottle of water kefir on their own. I’ve had them get so bubbly that they popped off the bottle top.
- 3 Cups Water Kefir
- 1 Cup Orange Juice
- Combine the water kefir and orange juice in a pitcher.
- Pour into sealable bottles and let sit in a cool dark place for 2-3 days.
- Place in the fridge when ready and enjoy.
