Yemoos Nourishing Cultures Forum

I have been trying to brew water kefir for about 3 weeks to a month now. The end of my first fermentation is very sweet and I've tried bottling it for a second fermentation but it doesn't become fizzy. I've tried letting the grains sit longer, and I've tried changing the water and sugar that I'm using. I've also tried adding Celtic sea salt for some extra minerals and will try dried figs soon. The grains don't seem to be dying on me, or at least I think they look the same as the day I received them. Any ideas? We do live at about 6,000 ft above sea level. Could this change the outcome at all?

When you say they look the same as the day you got them, does that mean they haven't grown at all? I don't think its the sea level. It's probably the sugar. Try a mix of white and dark sugar (like rapadura) or white sugar and molasses. And make sure you are NOT using RO water or distilled.