Homemade Lacto-Fermented Sodas

All summer long Carrisa and I perfected our soda making skills.  Soda making turned out to be one of our favorite on-going food projects.  We made so much soda that we ended up giving a lot of it away as gifts.  Of all the recipes that we tried this one got the most reliable results.

HOW TO MAKE LACTO-FERMENTED SODA

Phase I

2 c. filtered water
1/2 c. fruit juice, or tea
1/4 c. organic sugar
1/4 c. whey

Heat the juice or tea with sugar until it just begins to simmer.  Remove mixture from heat and stir in the filtered water.  Let it cool to about 100 degrees and stir in the whey.  Pour into a quart-sized mason jar and seal with the lid.  Set the jar aside in a warm location for 2 - 5 days.  If the weather is warm the process will be faster.  Open the jar and check it everyday to release a little gas.  When you hear a fizzy sound the brew is ready for Phase II.

Phase II

Jar of base
2 c. filtered water
1/4 c. sugar
1/2 t. sea salt
1 T. lemon juice

In a large ceramic or glass bowl combine the soda base with the additional sugar, sea salt, and lemon juice. Then add the filtered water.  With a funnel pour it into strong glass bottles.  Carrisa and I used old soda and kombucha bottles. Cap the bottles tightly and set them in a warm location for an additional 2 - 5 days.  Refrigerate for at least one day and enjoy your own home-brew.

SODA TIP FOR THE DAY:

It is fun to experiment with different flavors.  When Carrisa and I were gifted with a jar of homemade blackberry juice this summer we added a few drops of rose hydrosol used that to prepare the base for what became a delicious Blackberry-Rose Soda.