Are There Any Dangers to Water Kefir?

Water kefir, also known as tibicos, is a naturally fermented, fizzy, tangy drink. It is renowned for its many health benefits.

But what are the potential dangers of water kefir? Is water kefir safe? We’ll tell you everything you need to know!

Water Kefir Is a Safe Beverage!

🍹✅ We tried to find studies showing whether drinking kefir was dangerous. We didn’t find any!

That doesn’t mean that kefir is entirely risk-free. Any food, even the healthiest, could cause intolerance for some people. So, it’s normal to ask questions and be cautious.

Although it’s also safe, it’s important to understand that water kefir is different from milk kefir.

When asking yourself about the risks of water kefir, the two most important aspects to consider are its acidity and alcohol content.

The acidity of water kefir

• Natural protection: The acidity of water kefir acts like a shield, preventing the development of pathogenic bacteria. 🛡️
• Studies: With a pH below 4.5, the risk of harmful bacteria is minimal. (ref.)
• Safety: This makes water kefir safer than many other foods in your kitchen. 🔒

Alcohol content of water kefir

• Alcohol production: Fermentation from kefir grains creates a small amount of unavoidable alcohol. 🍾
• Alcohol content: Between 0.02% and 2.0%. (ref.)
• Caution recommended: Although low, this alcohol content makes homemade water kefir unsuitable for young children, pregnant women, and those avoiding alcohol. 🚫👶🚼

5 Benefits of Water Kefir

It’s no longer a secret: water kefir is known for its many virtues. This beverage has been consumed for thousands of years for its great taste and health benefits. These include:

1. Water kefir is low in sugar and contains much less sugar than the carbonated beverages you can buy in the grocery store. This natural beverage is made from simple, unprocessed ingredients.
2. Kefir is rich in probiotics.
3. Kefir supports the intestinal microbiota, i.e. all the microorganisms that live in our intestines. Water kefir therefore benefits our digestion and immune system.
4. Water kefir is packed with a variety of nutrients, including numerous antioxidants.
5. Finally, water kefir can be adapted to a variety of diets. It contains no caffeine (unlike kombucha) and no dairy products.

Read our full article on The Benefits of Water Kefir According to Science to find out more.

Best Practices for Making Water Kefir

Water kefir is easy to make at home. We’ll share with you three precautions to take to make and consume your homemade water kefir without danger. You’ll see how simple it is!

Using the Right Ingredients

The advantage of homemade kefir is that you choose your ingredients. The quality of the ingredients is paramount, both for your health and that of the kefir grains.

• Fruit: prefer organic fruit whenever possible. Fruit could contribute to the development of undesirable microorganisms, although this risk is low (ref.). To reduce this risk, you can wash or peel the fruit (ref.). It is recommended to remove the peel from the lemon slice.
• Water: if your water is chlorinated, allow it to stand for 1 to 2 hours in the container so that the chlorine evaporates.
• Sugar: kefir grains love minerals! Use unrefined cane sugar. For more information on sugars, see What Are the Best Sugars for Making Water Kefir?

Thoroughly Washing Your Equipment

There’s no need to sterilize your equipment! However, wash thoroughly all your equipment (the glass jar, cotton filter, sieve, bottles, etc.) before you start making your homemade water kefir. Make sure you choose the right equipment before you start making kefir.

See How to Clean and Sanitize Your Fermentation Equipment for more information.

Storing Kefir Grains Correctly

The best way to store kefir grains is to start a new recipe! Regular recipes keep your grains active and vigorous.

Water kefir grains can be stored in a small amount of sugar water in the fridge. We do not recommend leaving them in the fridge for more than 3 weeks. If necessary, change the water and add a little sugar every week to nourish them.

If you want to keep them for longer, you can also dehydrate them. All you have to do is reactivate the kefir grains to use them again.

Get the Tools!

We recommend the following products for making water kefir.

Water Kefir Grains

$23.90

On sale

750ml Swing Top Glass Bottles (Case of 12)

$48.90 $58.90

Kefirko Kefir Making Kit

$49.90 - $57.00

Get Started

• Buy water kefir grains
• FAQ: Are my kefir grains sick?
• Learn How to make homemade water kefir
• Find out everything you need to know with our guides and recipes on water kefir