Water kefir is a light, gently fizzy drink made by feeding water kefir grains with sugar water. It has no dairy, and it is a different culture from milk kefir, so the two sets of grains cannot swap jobs.
What are water kefir grains?
Water kefir grains are small, soft, translucent clumps of bacteria and yeasts living together. They are also called tibicos or Japanese water crystals. Like milk kefir grains, they are called grains only because of how they look: they are not a cereal. You feed them sugar water, and they ferment it into a tangy, lightly fizzy drink. They can be used again and again.
How is water kefir made?
- Dissolve about 50g (4 tablespoons) of white sugar in a litre of chlorine-free water, and let it cool below 30°C.
- Add the grains, cover the jar with a cloth, and keep it at 20 to 29°C, out of direct sun.
- Wait 24 to 48 hours, then lift out the grains and start the next batch.
- Optionally, bottle the strained drink with a little fruit or juice for a second ferment that makes it fizzier.
The full method, with the safe way to do the second ferment, is in How to make water kefir at home.
What does water kefir taste like?
A subtle sweetness with a gentle sourness and a light fizz. The longer a batch ferments, the less sweet and the more tangy it becomes. Fruit or juice added for the second ferment gives it flavour: see Water kefir flavours for ideas.
Water kefir and milk kefir compared
| Water kefir | Milk kefir | |
|---|---|---|
| Made from | Sugar water | Milk |
| Dairy | None | Yes: it is a milk drink |
| Grains | Small, translucent, crystal-like | Soft, white and rubbery, like tiny cauliflowers |
| Time | 24 to 48 hours | About 12 to 24 hours |
| Texture | Thin and lightly fizzy | Thick and creamy, like a drinking yogurt |
| Taste | Lightly sweet and tangy | Tangy and sour |
| Microbes | Fewer kinds of bacteria and yeasts than milk kefir | A wider mix |
| Feed it | Sugar water. Not honey or sugar substitutes | Fresh milk |
Can I use water kefir grains in milk?
No. Water kefir grains are a different culture, and they are meant for sugar water, juice or coconut water. Keep milk kefir grains in milk and water kefir grains in sugar water, and use a separate jar and strainer for each.
Which sugar should I use?
Plain white sugar works well. Avoid honey, molasses and sugar substitutes such as stevia, which can damage the grains or fail to feed them. A raisin, a dried fig or a tiny pinch of sea salt gives the grains minerals.
Where can I buy water kefir grains in Pakistan?
We send live Water Kefir Grains by courier to every city in Pakistan, and you pay cash on delivery. Each order comes with a brewing guide.
Sources: Cultures for Health, Water kefir: how to make, and Water kefir: frequently asked questions, opened 10 October 2026. Written by KefirBuy.
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