Kefir is a drink that is made from yeast and bacteria working together through the process of fermentation. Two types are commonly known: water, made from water kefir grains (also known as tibicos), and milk, made from milk kefir grains. Each has its own characteristic flavor.
If you want to give your water kefir grains (tibicos) a break or if you can’t take care for them for a while, you can put them in the fridge with sugar water. You can also dry them out and store them in a container for several months.
In this article, we will focus on water kefir grains, which are basically the microorganisms that we use to ferment water kefir. Since they are living things, if we take good care of them, they can last us a long time and can be regularly included in our diet.
How to Let the Water Kefir Grains Rest
First, we need 1–2 tablespoons, but as time goes on, we can give kefir grains to others so that they can grow and share this natural gift with more people who are interested in fermentation.
1. Storing Water Kefir Grains in the Fridge
Keeping your water kefir grains in the fridge is a valid option, not only for those you have left over, but also if you want to let your main batch rest for a while. To do so, follow these steps:
- Feed your water kefir grains with sugar water as usual (see Kefir: What It Is and 3 Incredible Ways to Prepare It).
- Leave them out of the fridge for 2 hours so that they begin to increase their acidity.
- Store them in the fridge. They can be there for around 3 months or less. They will be sad, since it is not their favorite environment, but they will not die.
- When taking them out, feed them with a sugar that has a lot of minerals, such as panela (raw sugar cane) or cane syrup (molasses). This will help them regain strength and continue giving delicious water kefir.
Note: It can take a couple of batches to make the same water kefir they used to make.
2. Dehydrate Water Kefir Grains for Shipping or Storage
If you want to send your water kefir grains to someone so that they can also ferment, or you simply want to store them outside the fridge in a jar or Tupperware, of dehydrating them can be very useful.
Steps to dehydrate our water kefir grains:
- Place a paper towel and put the scattered water kefir grains on it so that they dry well.
- Having them already scattered on the kitchen paper, cover them with another paper towel to prevent anything from landing on them and to avoid unwanted animal attention.
- Let them sit for a day and a half to two days (36 to 48 hours). This depends on the climate where you live. If the climate is more humid, they will take longer to dry.
- Check them every few hours when possible. Turn them over and transfer them to another dry paper towel, always leaving them scattered and covering with another paper towel.
- You will notice that they get smaller due to liquid loss.
- They will reduce their weight by 85 to 90% due to dehydration.
- In this way, you can store your water kefir grains for months, perhaps years, in a glass jar or in a Tupperware container.
Note: It may be that water kefir grains that have been dry for more than a year, in their “dormant” state, do not ferment as powerfully as they did before. They generally bounce back just fine, but it may take a couple of batches to get them strong and happy to ferment again.
How to Rehydrate Water Kefir Grains
Now we are going to re-hydrate our water kefir grains. Suppose you have them stored in a glass jar or covered Tupperware container for several months, and now you want to use them again or you want to send them to someone and this person wants to give them life and start fermenting. You can use the following steps:
- Place ¼ of a cup of panela (raw sugar cane) or organic sugar in a glass jar.
- Add non-chlorinated water. Cap and shake to dissolve inside the jar.
- Add the dry water kefir grains to the jar, and cover either with the lid or with a paper towel secured with a rubber band or a tie.
- Check them every few hours to monitor rehydration.
- Let them rest for at least 1 day (24 hours).
Note: You must be patient. They may require a couple of batches of feeding with new sugar water every 24 hours to get them to their optimal state to produce good water kefir.
Additional Uses of Water Kefir Grains
1. Eat them or add them to your drinks
They are pure probiotics, ideal for boosting our digestive system and maintaining a healthy bacterial balance in our intestines. You can eat them mixed with a little lemon water (to reduce their characteristic taste), or add them to your smoothies for an extra boost. You can also give them to your pets.
2. Give them away and share the love
You can put them in beautiful bottles, decorated with a bow, and give them to your family members for Christmas or some other special occasion, hopefully inspiring them on their own journey towards fermentation.
3. Use them as fertilizer
Because kefir grains are acidic, they help keep the soil’s pH level stable. Just throw them on the ground and they’ll do a great job of fertilizing the soil.
4. Use them as a hair conditioner
They are excellent for conditioning hair because they balance the pH.
5. Add them to compost
They make it easier for the other bacteria to break down the waste.
DISCLAIMER
This information is not presented by a medical practitioner and is for educational and informational purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you have read.
