Probiotic Lacto-Fermented Lemonade Recipe (2024)

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I’m totally hooked on probiotic drinks! I fell hard for kombucha, but it’s out-of-this-world pricey, so I’ll be making my own soon. In the meantime, I’ve found a yummy, easy-on-the-wallet way to drink my probiotics.

For centuries, people all over the world have relied on fermentation to preserve foods (think: kimchi, pickles) [source]. But beyond preserving food, fermentation has the added benefit of providing gut-friendly bacteria [source].

Probiotic Lacto-Fermented Lemonade Recipe (1)

How to Make Probiotic Lemonade with Whey

This is why I tried my hand at making probiotic lemonade, and it turned out delicious! Making your own fermented probiotic drinks at home is game-changing, not only money-wise but also for maintaining a gut-friendly diet routine [source]. While most of the probiotic drinks from the market are partially pasteurized, this probiotic lemonade is natural and packed with live bacteria that will restore your gut health.

When your natural intestinal flora balance is interrupted, it causes problems in your gut and your health. This can happen when you take too many antibiotics, eat lots of processed foods, and a number of different ways. Eating foods rich in probiotics improves digestion and keeps things in check [source].

You can certainly eat plenty of yogurt and take probiotic supplements, but I also like sipping homemade lacto-fermented lemonade. The “lacto” part comes from whey that has been separated from yogurt, which is filled with healthy probiotic cultures [source]. It’s super easy to do!

To make this fermented lemonade, you will use whey as a starter—yes, you can make your own whey at home, and it’s simpler than you think! When you get the whey, all you need to do is combine it with lemon juice, sugar, and water and let the fermentation work its magic for 2 days on the counter at room temperature.

Once you have the whey full of those healthy bacteria, you need to give them something to eat. That’s where the sugar comes in.

You can replace cane sugar with any other favorite sweetener - brown sugar, honey, maple syrup, or even Manuka honey work great. If you decide on using coconut sugar, prepare to get a slightly darker probiotic drink due to the deep brown color of this sweetener.

Probiotic Lacto-Fermented Lemonade Recipe (2)

How to Separate Whey

Whey is the watery, protein-rich liquid left behind when milk is curdled to make cheese. It is also a component of yogurt [source]. The best way to separate whey from yogurt is to strain it through several layers of cheesecloth placed over a fine-mesh sieve. (Not only does this extract the whey, but it also produces a nice, thick yogurt cheese!)

Let the yogurt stand overnight in the fridge to extract as much whey as possible. Use immediately or store in the fridge for about 1 to 2 weeks. (It might last longer, but mine started to look iffy after 2 weeks.) Ideally, you want as much clear whey as possible, but if a little bit of the milky part ends up in the liquid, no biggie.

How Does Fermented Lemonade Taste?

Once the liquid has properly fermented, the sugar will be mostly used up and you’ll be left with a tangy, slightly bubbly drink. It’s not fizzy like soda, but there are some tiny bubbles that you’ll notice.

The flavor is reminiscent of buttermilk but lighter. It’s lightly sweet, which I really like, but if you want it a little sweeter, you could add a little more sugar.

Probiotic Lacto-Fermented Lemonade Recipe (3)

Note: only use fresh lemon juice. The bottled juice has preservatives and other things that will prevent the lemonade from properly fermenting. Any other citrus juice—grapefruit, orange, or lime—could be used instead.

After the initial 2-day room temp fermentation period, the lemonade should be kept in the refrigerator. The flavor supposedly improves the longer it sits in the fridge.

We drink it right away, but it does get a little fizzier after about a week and a half. It is SO good! If you’ve tried other probiotic drinks like Kevita, then you’ll kind of know what this tastes like.

Probiotic Lacto-Fermented Lemonade Recipe (4)

Pretty soon, I’m going to start experimenting with adding other flavors, like ginger and rose.

Have you tried lacto-fermenting at home? What do you think?

Let us know if you try this probiotic lemonade, and don’t forget to tag us #helloglowblog on Instagram so we can see and share it with the community.

Probiotic Lacto-Fermented Lemonade Recipe (5)

Print Recipe

6 votes

Lacto-Fermented Probiotic Lemonade

Easy gut-health restoring lacto-fermented lemonade made with freshly squeezed lemon juice and whey. A great way to drink your probiotics!

Prep Time5 minutes mins

Rest Time48 hours hrs

Total Time48 hours hrs 5 minutes mins

Course: Drinks

Cuisine: Drinks

Keyword: fermented drink, probiotic, probiotic lemonade

Servings: 8

Calories: 31kcal

Author: Lindsey Johnson

Cost: $10

Equipment

  • 2-quart jar with lid

Ingredients

  • 6-½ cups filtered water
  • ½ cup freshly squeezed organic lemon juice
  • ½ cup organic evaporated cane sugar
  • ½ cup liquid whey

Instructions

  • Place all of the ingredients in a large glass jar or pitcher with a tight-fitting lid.

  • Shake well to dissolve the sugar.

  • Let stand at room temperature for 2 days, then refrigerate. Tastes best after 1-½ weeks.

Notes

Recipe adapted slightly from Nourishing Traditions.

Nutrition

Serving: 200ml | Calories: 31kcal

346

Probiotic Lacto-Fermented Lemonade Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How to make lacto-fermented drinks? ›

The basic directions. It's crazy simple. Combine the fruit & herbs, purified water or juice (6-7 cups), sugar (1 cup) and whey (1/2 cup) and refrigerate for a day to let the flavours infuse. You can use any type of jar but make sure that you don't store it air tight as the gasses need to escape.

Is fermented lemonade good for you? ›

Making lacto-fermented probiotic lemonade at home ensures that you're consuming all the natural bacteria that are great for your gut health. On top of that, high-quality juices are not cheap. Making your fermented lemonade saves you a lot of money in the long run.

How do I make my own probiotic drink? ›

Step 1: Pour the orange juice into a glass jar. Step 2: Add 1/2 tsp water kefir grains (culture starter) or 2 tbsp of whey, and a pinch of salt. Step 3: Fill the jar up with approximately 1 cup of water (room temperature). Step 4: Cover with the lid and give a quick shake.

What is the difference between fermented and lacto-fermented? ›

Fermented foods are salty, sour, tend to have more nuance in the mouth, and become more refined over time. In addition, lacto-fermentation consumes the sugar in the food. Lacto-fermented vegetables and fruit lose their sweetness but create new flavours and aromas during fermentation.

Can you lacto ferment too long? ›

After the first 5 days, the fermentation process slows down, and the flavours become more complex. The longer you wait, however, the more likely your vegetables will be too soft. And if by accident oxygen gets into the container, there is a risk of surface mould.

What is the healthiest fermented drink? ›

Kombucha

Kombucha is a fermented tea that's fizzy, tart, and flavorful. It's made from either green or black tea and offers these drinks' potent health-promoting properties. Animal studies suggest that drinking kombucha may help protect the liver from damage caused by exposure to harmful chemicals ( 19 ).

What is the downside of lemonade? ›

Denied claims: A few customers said Lemonade falsely denied or undervalued their claim, especially if it was related to electronics protections. Long claims process: Many negative reviews detail a long, frustrating claims process that included multiple rounds of back and forth with the company.

Is it OK to drink homemade lemonade everyday? ›

You can drink lemon juice daily. Drinking it in lemon water or lemonade are good options.

Will lemonade ferment into alcohol? ›

Pop an airlock in the mouth of the vessel, and place it in a warmish spot to ferment. Soft lemonade will be achieved once there is a complete covering of foam on the surface. If your starter is pretty active, this may only take 12 hours. Leave it fermenting past this point for hard (alcoholic) lemonade.

What does fermented lemonade taste like? ›

How Does Fermented Lemonade Taste? Once the liquid has properly fermented, the sugar will be mostly used up and you'll be left with a tangy, slightly bubbly drink. It's not fizzy like soda, but there are some tiny bubbles that you'll notice. The flavor is reminiscent of buttermilk but lighter.

Does homemade lemonade dehydrate you? ›

Yes, drinking lemonade might be dehydrating your body. This might be a shock to many people as drinking water and lemon are both great to hydrate the body. However, lemonade also has sugar in them which reduces the water levels in the body.

Is it OK to drink probiotic drinks everyday? ›

A common question about probiotics is whether it is ok to take probiotic supplements every day. Whilst there may be a few exceptions to this rule, the general answer is yes, it's safe, and usually recommended, to take them daily. It's important to understand that probiotics are a natural supplement and not a medicine.

What is the easiest drink to ferment? ›

Dairy Kefir is one of the easiest fermented beverages to make and is one we often recommend starting with. Dairy Kefir can be made with Kefir Grains (symbiotic yeast and bacteria comprising a culture that looks like cauliflower) or with powdered Kefir Starter Culture.

Is apple cider vinegar probiotic? ›

“From my knowledge and research, because the number of microorganisms found in apple cider vinegar can vary so greatly across the products available for purchase, ACV is not generally considered a probiotic,” Manian says.

How do you ferment your own drinks? ›

You simply make a juice or infusion, add yeast to it, leave it to ferment for a short time in some kind of container & then transfer it to a closed bottle. This is a probiotic process so the fermentation will continue within the closed bottle & as the pressure builds, this is what creates the carbonation.

What are lacto-fermented drinks? ›

Lacto-fermented beverages are naturally fermented through a process of lactic acid bacteria fermentation. The acids naturally present plus the sugars used in the ingredients produce a drink more hydrating than water because of its mineral content.

How do you start lacto-fermentation? ›

Combine 2 Tbs salt for every 4 cups of room-temperature water to create the salt brine. Be sure to make enough to submerge all the vegetables you are fermenting. Stir vigorously to dissolve salt. Pour the brine on top of the veggies, until they are completely submerged.

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