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–+ servings

Root Beer Water Kefir

You make this yummy soda by first making a root beer extract
Course: Beverages
Servings: 2 quarts

Ingredients

Root Beer Extract

  • 1/3 cup raisins
  • 3/4 cup Water spring or filtered with minerals boiling
  • 1/2 gallon Water spring or filtered with minerals
  • 1/2 ounce dried sassafras bark * see note
  • 3 3/4 cups Sucanat you can substitute regular sugar

Root Beer Kefir Soda

Instructions

Root Beer Extract

  • Place raisins into a bowl. Pour ¾ cup boiling water over raisins and Set aside. (You are allowing them to steep while you make the rest of the extract.)
  • Place half-gallon of water into pot over medium heat.
  • Place the sassafras root bark into tea bags or closely woven cheesecloth and tie with cooking string. Add it to the half-gallon of water. You can add it loosely into the pot but then you have to strain it several times through a fine mesh strainer.
  • As the water heats, stir in the sugar slowly. Don't dump it all at once.
  • Simmer uncovered for 40 minutes.
  • Remove from heat and remove sassafras.
  • Strain the raisin water into the brew pot.
  • Allow to sit for 30 minutes.
  • When it is cooled you can use your extract, storing extra in the fridge to use again. Try to use within 2 months.

Root Beer Kefir Soda

  • Place all ingredients in canning jar, adding filtered water, almost to the top of the jar. Leave about an inch of room at the top of the jar.
  • Place on counter with a tight lid for 24 hours or until bubbly and fizzy.
  • Remove water kefir crystals by straining them out with a strainer and then add them to more extract and water (to ferment again).
  • Place the fermented root beer in a clamp down bottle and place in refrigerator to store.

Notes

* There are warnings on sassafras bark and much controversy. Lab rats were fed huge amounts of sassafras and caused the FDA to label this product not safe, but in small amounts it actually has protective qualities. Nourished Kitchen posted a blog on this, along with her own root beer kombucha recipe. Read and decide for yourself. http://nourishedkitchen.com/homemade-root-beer-recipe/
Make sure you use sturdy swing-top bottles (the caps clamp down) when making this recipe. You can repurpose beer bottles, such as those from Grolsch, or you can buy new heavy glass bottles that are specifically designed for brewing. Bottles bought at craft stores aren’t as sturdy and may explode.

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