Probiotic Lacto-Fermented Lemonade Recipe (2024)

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.

📖 Recipe

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

348

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? ›

Companies that sell probiotic beverages on the market partially pasteurize their drinks. This process kills many beneficial bacteria that make fermented drinks healthy. Making lacto-fermented probiotic lemonade at home ensures that you're consuming all the natural bacteria that are great for your gut health.

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 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 drink fermented lemonade? ›

Sima is a fermented lemon beverage.

It is traditionally prepared to celebrate the arrival of spring in Finland during May 1st festivities (Vappu). But don't worry: sima is tasty all year round! Yeast naturally creates bubbles in lemonade.

Is probiotic lemonade good for you? ›

Don't forget about the microbiome benefits, though: Ehsani says probiotics are what turn this lemonade into liquid gold for your gut. “Fermented foods contain live and active cultures that may act as probiotics, which help balance out and keep our gut flora healthy,” Ehsani says.

What are the benefits of fermented lemonade? ›

It's an excellent alternative to mainstream sodas since it's a naturally probiotic beverage that may help support a healthy gut microbiome. The fermentation process reduces the amount of sugar in this drink as the good bacteria metabolize the sugar and then produce B vitamins and beneficial acids.

Is Mike's Hard lemonade fermented? ›

We follow a simple proprietary four-step brewing process: Ferment malt grains with our proprietary, bespoke yeast. Filter through proprietary filtration technology, resulting in a very clean, neutral alcohol base. Squeeze and zest lemons to produce superior, natural lemon flavor.

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.

How often should you drink fermented drinks? ›

It is important to start with drinking small quantities to see how your body reacts to the beverage. The Centers for Disease Control recommends that four ounces of kombucha can be safely consumed one to three times a day. Overconsumption can lead to headache, nausea, gastrointestinal distress, or ketoacidosis.

Is it OK to drink homemade lemonade everyday? ›

An occasional glass of lemonade is unlikely to harm your health. Too much of it, on the other hand, can ‌irritate mouth sores and cause tooth decay‌ in the long run, as the American Dental Association (ADA) points out.

Is apple cider vinegar a fermented probiotic? ›

Apple cider vinegar is a fermented food, so it does contain bacteria. But there isn't adequate research yet to show whether these bacteria survive digestion. Therefore, although many consider apple cider vinegar is a probiotic food, it is technically not a probiotic.

Is apple cider vinegar a fermented good? ›

Apple cider vinegar (ACV) is a type of vinegar made with crushed fermented apples, yeast, and sugar. It's used as an ingredient in foods such as salad dressings, pickles, and marinades. For many years, people have also used it as a home remedy for everything from fighting germs to preventing heartburn.

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.

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.

What do I need to lacto ferment? ›

The simplest method of lacto-fermentation is to submerge a food that naturally contains lactic acid bacteria, such as cabbage or cucumber, into a brine of water and salt. Fermented milk, yogurt, and sourdough may also ferment on their own, but often a starter culture is used to ensure safety and consistency of flavor.

Is apple cider vinegar lacto-fermented? ›

The lactic acid bacteria group, which includes the Lactobacillus species, is one of the most important groups of probiotics. You'll find it in fermented foods like kimchi, kefir, and, yes, ACV.

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