Sparkling Golden Beet Kvass Made the Traditional Way
This golden beet kvass tastes good because it is made the traditional Russian way, with sugar! Beetroot kvass is a sweet and tart sparkling drink made from beets, sugar, water, and rye bread.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Fermentation Time: 6 Days
- Total Time: 144 hours 10 minutes
- Yield: 1 gallon
- Category: Fermented Drinks
- Method: Fermentation
- Cuisine: Russian
Ingredients
- 3 large gold beets, rinsed and sliced
- 150 grams organic cane sugar
- filtered water
- 1 small piece crusty rye bread
- Strained kvass from part 1
- 20 grams maple syrup or honey
Instructions
Part One
- Please see the recipe notes before you get started.
- Clean and sterilize your glass jar.
- Scrub any dirt off the beets and rinse clean with cool water. Slice the beets and set aside.
- Add the beets and sugar to the jar. Fill the jar with filtered water. Stir to combine until the sugar is completely dissolved.
- Add the small piece of rye bread (optional).
- Cover with a cloth lid, and allow to ferment for 3-4 days at room temperature (about 75° F).
- Stir the mixture twice a day with a clean utensil during the 3-4 days.
- You should see it begin to bubble within 24-48 hours. You’ll also notice the mixture become cloudy and vibrant in color.
Part Two
- After 3-4 days, strain and reserve the liquid from the fermented beet mixture. I suggest straining through a cheesecloth-lined colander.
- Using a funnel, add 20 grams of organic maple syrup to your pressure-safe bottle. I used a 1-liter bottle. (tip: For higher levels of carbonation, try using 30 grams of honey instead)
- Fill the bottle with the strained fermented liquid from part one, leaving only a little head space, about 1/2 an inch.
- Allow it to ferment and carbonate in the bottle for 2-3 days, then store it in the fridge. You can check the carbonation at 2 days by carefully opening the bottle in the sink. If it is not as bubbly as you would like it, allow it to ferment at room temperature longer without opening the bottle.
- Enjoy chilled.
Notes
- Optional: you can add 1/4 teaspoon cider yeast or a tablespoon of kombucha to part one, this results in the best carbonation.
- If it is cold in your home, parts one and two may take longer. Once the mixture in part one becomes cloudy, vibrant, and bubbly, and ferments like that for about 24-48 hours, you can move on to part two.
- The level of carbonation is dependent on how long the mixture was fermented in part one, the temperature in your home, and how long you leave it in part two.
- You may notice the liquid becomes thicker and slightly viscous in part one, this is completely normal and the natural state of beet kvass. The viscosity will decrease the longer it is bottled and stored in the fridge.
- yes, you can use red beets instead of gold.
