Coconut water kefir is an immune boosting fermented beverage that helps to build good gut health and is full of electrolytes. Drink daily with each meal for better digestion.
Coconut kefir was one of the first fermented beverage I made at home. I decided to give a try after reading The Body Ecology Diet by Donna Gates. According to Dana Gates, “a half cup of the Coconut Water Kefir with meals greatly helps digestion.” Coconut kefir has many benefits including better digestion and immune boosting properties.
I’ve been drinking coconut water for years for it’s health benefits and because I love the taste! Once I discovered coconut water could be fermented into a healthy probiotic beverage I had to try it!
Coconut kefir is the only fermented food my husband will drink on a regular basis. It’s actually become quite an expensive treat since I’ve been lazy lately and started purchasing the bottles of Kevita from the health food store instead of making it.
I enjoy making fermented foods and drinks so I decided to get back on the kefir making train! I’m now making coconut kefir again and I’m learning to make different flavors as well!
PrintCoconut Water Kefir
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup kefir grains or water kefir starter
- 6 cups young coconut water, fresh is best but store-bought coconut water works too
- 1/2 to 1 cup of juice (we like lemon, lime, cherry and tangerine)
Instructions
- Pour the water kefir grains and the coconut water in a jar.
- Cover jar with cheesecloth and a rubber band.
- Let the mixture stand for up to 48 hours at room temperature. If your fermenting the kefir in a warm room the process may be quicker than 48 hours.
- Strain the kefir and reserve the grains for another batch of kefir.
- Now it’s time for a second fermentation! This step makes your coconut water kefir fizzy!
Second Fermentation Directions:
- Mix coconut kefir and juice together and pour into a tight-sealing bottle.
- Allow the coconut kefir to ferment for up to 48 hours or until it’s fizzy.
- Store your bottles of coconut water kefir in the refrigerator.
Last Updated on
Alesha Whitaker
February 4, 2019 at 3:37 amHello!
I was wondering when the juice is mixed in for the second fermentation what kind of juice should be used? I hear that the fermentation only takes place when there is sugar to feed off of. The lemon juice I was going to use is 100% lemon juice, no sugar added. Will this work?
Dana
June 30, 2018 at 10:13 amJust wondering what the difference would be in taste or anything else if you skipped the second fermentation. I’m not a fan of fizz. Thanks for your help
Cheri
December 21, 2017 at 11:19 pmI LOVE Your Recipes!!! ♥I have a question though.I take medication AND have Drank Komacha AND I thought I had food poisoning…I asked my Hubby If he was sick And He said No…I felt like I drank alcohol and kept vomiting up. IS this BC of the Fruit AND grains ?? Like Beer?? Im an epileptic So I DONT /can’t drink or I become ill !!! I Haven’t drank for years.Im just Wondering. Thank You ????G♥D BLESS
The Coconut Mama
January 1, 2018 at 1:30 pmIt’s hard to know for sure but Kombucha can have alcohol in it! Some people don’t know that, so that may have been the problem for you.
Pej
August 23, 2017 at 8:55 pmPlease help as I’m starting out with this. I bought the culture and organic coconut water.
Mixed them and left the at room temp for about 18 hours, glass jar, used wooden spoon and covered with cheese cloth and coffee filter.
After that I put it into the fridge for one week now. I haven’t strained anything, it’s the same mix with plastic lid in the fridge. Today i took it out to taste it and it’s just weird, not slimy or gooey but just an unusual taste. What is coconut kefir supposed to taste like ? The mixture at this point has sediment at the bottom.
Can u explain or email me please at apt604 @ gmail .com ?
I really need assistance I mean trying t I make it for my son and need to make sure I’m doing this right.
Dominica
March 24, 2017 at 12:00 amSo I’ve been wanting to try making this but have a few questions before I get started.
So I’m going to buy water kefir grains online. Once I get them and do the first fermentation process, can I keep reusing them? Say I finish the first batch, can I strain and then refill with more coconut water and continue doing that every 48 hours? I’m still a little confused with how the whole reusing or refermneting goes.
Also, I have TONS of bottled Zico coconut water and I was wondering if I could use that? It has 9 grams of sugar so it will definitely offer plenty of sugar to the kefir grains.
Lastly, when I brew can I use a cloth and rubber band on top? And will it make my kitchen smell funky?
Thank you so much and can’t wait to hear back!
rebecca
February 8, 2017 at 8:22 pmHi Donna, your website was sent to me by my sister who is living in michigan. So thankful she gave me this website. I am based in the Philippines. I would like to ask if you can blend pure apple juice with coconut water kefir and what other pure juices can be blended to the coconut kefir.
Thank you.
Rebecca
Dianna
February 6, 2017 at 4:22 pmWhen you say juice… do you mean the fresh juice of an orange/lime/lemon or do you mean the sweetened stuff?
Also would adding dried non-candied fruit (ie ginger) be ok?
Thanks! Love the website!
miki
January 24, 2017 at 3:15 amhi there i have attempted twice at 2nd fermentation of coconut water kefir both times epic fail followed instructions not fizzy at all any advice appreciated! 🙂
The Coconut Mama
February 9, 2017 at 10:34 amHmmm. Which culture are you using?
Flo
December 9, 2016 at 7:44 amWhat temperature do you consider “room temperature”? We keep a fairly cool house in the winter. 58 degrees at night. Thanks!
Peter Mengos
August 24, 2016 at 12:59 pmThanks
Nola
June 30, 2016 at 1:22 pmWould it be ok to add the coconut water to the 2nd ferment? I am brand new to making water kefir and am worried that I may kill my grains. I just finished activating my water kefir grains. Thank you.
John Marris
May 21, 2016 at 1:09 amI immediately tried a refreshing drink and substituted water to coconut water and enjoyed it. My daughter does not like the plain coconut water, but he liked the chocolate flavored coconut water as it is, so make it more fun I make a smoothie, which he enjoyed drinking.
mary cat
April 26, 2016 at 3:40 pmCan I use my milk Kefir grains or coconut water kefir?
Adda
December 29, 2015 at 6:35 pmMy house is really cold!!
Should I try using my euro yogurt maker??
Adda
December 29, 2015 at 6:33 pmWhat if my house is really cold ??
Should I use my euro yogurt maker??
Kath
December 10, 2015 at 5:20 amI made my coconut water kefir with probiotic capsule, I must hAve used too much (3 capsules) because it smells like vomit/ vinegar and frothy! I fermented it for 3 days! It is also extremely warm in my kitchen counter. Is it spoiled? Please help!
Riwyli
July 3, 2015 at 8:32 pmWhat if you don’t have cheesecloth to cover the jar? Anything else I can cover the jar with?
The Coconut Mama
July 6, 2015 at 10:00 amA coffee filter can be used if you don’t have a cheesecloth.
Webb Christel
April 16, 2015 at 3:32 amHi Tiffany
I have just, today for the first time, put my water kefir grains into coconut water. Do you use coconut water all the time or do you give your grains a rest ever so often in sugared water to bump them up? I am totally unexperienced with coconut water, I always used coconut water in the second fermentation, but my grains don’t behave as usual and I think it might be because of over acidity.
Your advice in this is really appreciated
Thank you
Christel Webb
The Coconut Mama
April 16, 2015 at 8:11 pmWhen I was using Kefir grains I would switch between the coconut water and water kefir. Now I use the body ecology starter, which can be used with just coconut water.
Margaret
March 22, 2015 at 2:02 pmCan you use an opened probiotic capsule to ferment the coconut water? I am sensitive to a lot of probiotics and fermented foods but have a favorite probiotic that agrees with me. Just wondered if that would work
Johanna Thorn
January 8, 2015 at 3:32 pmI am assuming by the picture that you are using “live” water kefir grains. Could you please confirm though whether you are using dehydrated water kefir grains or “live” water kefir grains for the first step. Thank you!
The Coconut Mama
January 12, 2015 at 11:26 pmHi Johanna, I’ve used both live kefir grains and powdered kefir starter to make coconut kefir. Both have turned out well. In this particular batch I was using live grains.
Susan Goodman
October 9, 2014 at 7:22 amWhere do you purchase the bottles for making coconut water kefir? What are the bottles called? Thanks.
Christie
September 21, 2014 at 7:45 pmAre the grains used for milk kefir and coconut water kefir the same type?
Abbie
September 20, 2014 at 12:13 pmI thought first ferment needed sugar to feed grains. I know some coconut water brands do put sugar in their coconut water but is it enough? And what if you’re using a brand with no added sugar?
Kim
July 25, 2014 at 12:13 pmThe grains survive on just coconut water and no sugar?
rita
July 18, 2014 at 11:28 amIs coconut water the same as coconut milk?
Leeanne
July 18, 2014 at 4:18 amOn the second ferment do you leave on counter to fizz or put in fridge, or do you wait till the fizz happens and then store in fridge
Kim
August 1, 2016 at 9:20 pmI was wondering the same thing. Second ferment on the counter and in the fridge later or in the fridge for second ferment and store in the fridge???
Judith Curran
July 17, 2014 at 5:18 pmWhat are coconut grains? Where can I buy them in the Philippines, where I live.
Larry Webb
July 17, 2014 at 2:02 pmDo you have a receipt for milk Kefir?
Webb Christel
April 16, 2015 at 3:21 amHello Larry
I just read your question. It’s a bit late but do you still need the recipe for milk kefir? It’s really simple. I add 2 litres of 3.5% fat, shop boughtmilk to 120 g of milk kefir grains. I leave it on the kitchen bench for 24 hours (in summer not so long) then I put it in the fridge until I need it. Then I strain the fermented kefir and repeat the process.
Kind regards
Christel Webb
Lois
July 17, 2014 at 11:41 amI should be getting my grains soon. I love Kefir. Thanks for the recipe…. I do have a question. When you do the second fermentation, do you tightly cap the bottles and leave on the counter for 48 hours or so to get the fizz.