Kefir water

Cindy Walter
Passionfish restaurant, Pacific Grove

"Kefir water is a simultaneously explosive sweet, sour and fruity refresher in your mouth," says Monterey County restaurateur Ted Walter. His wife, Cindy, makes a new batch each day.

Ingredients

4 cups water
1/4 cup rapadura sugar
1/4 cup live water kefir grains
1/4 cup fresh fruit

Directions

Place water, sugar and water kefir grains in a glass container. Cover with cheesecloth or a coffee filter and let sit at room temperature for 24 hours. Strain over a non-metal strainer and add the liquid and fresh fruit to a 16-oz. brewing bottle. Let sit at room temperature for 48 hours, then refrigerate.

Notes: Rapadura sugar is more effective than granulated sugar for fermentation and is available online and at specialty food stores. Live water kefir is available online. Fruit must be fresh, not frozen or dehydrated.