What is Rejuvelac and why do you need to make it?
The most important reason for me is that it works as a starter in culturing vegan nut cheeses. And it gives the cheese its earthy smelly flavor. And fresh homemade cultured nut cheese tastes much better than store bought. Plus it is way much cheaper.
Second, Rejuvelac is highly nutritious fermented drink. Drinking it daily improves your gut health, encourages growing of good bacteria and helps to remove toxins. It is rich in vitamins B, C, E, proteins and probiotics.
So how is it made?
Rejuvelac is made by fermenting sprouted grains in a pure water. It is slightly fizzy drink with grainy and citrusy flavor. Originally it was made with wheat, but you can experiment with barley, rye, buckwheat, millet or quinoa. Every grain gives different flavors to your Rejuvelac.
Make sure to buy preferably organic grains and rinse them well before soaking. Use filtered water ONLY. Sanitize your equipment. Discard Rejuvelac if it smells bad or if you see any mold forming.
Let’s start.
Measure 1/2 cup of grains. Rinse them well, put in a clean 1 liter jar and cover with filtered water. Cover with two layers of clean cheesecloth and secure with rubber band. Let them soak overnight.
Drain and rinse the grains. They should be moist but with no excess water. Cover the jar with cheesecloth and put it away from direct sunlight. It takes 1 to 3 days for grains to sprout. Don’t forget to rinse them couple of times per day.
When your grains have sprouted rinse them one more time and add 3 cups of filtered water. Cover with fresh clean cheesecloth and let it ferment on a counter for 1-3 days.
Filter Rejuvelac through fine mesh strainer and keep in a fridge for up to 7 days. If after 7 days it still tastes good you can still drink it. Sometimes it can last up to 2 weeks. But better be safe than sorry.
Discard the grains or feed them to birds.
Now you can make your own nut cheese. Simply blend soaked nuts or seeds with just enough amount of Rejuvelac and pinch of salt in a high-speed blender. Transfer in a clean glass container and let it culture in a warm place for couple of days. When ready let your cheese firm up in a fridge overnight.
PrintRejuvelac
Highly nutritious fermented drink.
- Yield: 3 cups
- Category: Drink
- Cuisine: Vegan
Ingredients
- 1/2 C raw dry grains
- 3 C filtered water + more for soaking
Instructions
- Rinse the grains well, put in a clean 1 liter jar and cover with filtered water. Cover with two layers of clean cheesecloth and secure with rubber band. Let them soak overnight.
- Drain and rinse the grains. They should be moist but with no excess water. Cover the jar with cheesecloth and put it away from direct sunlight. It takes 1 to 3 days for grains to sprout. Don’t forget to rinse them couple of times per day.
- When your grains have sprouted rinse them one more time and add 3 cups of filtered water. Cover with fresh clean cheesecloth and let it ferment on a counter for 1-3 days.
- Filter Rejuvelac through fine mesh strainer and keep in a fridge for up to 7 days.
- Discard the grains or feed them to birds.
Notes
You can experiment with different grains: wheat, barley, rye, buckwheat, millet or quinoa. Preferably buy organic.
Keywords: Rejuvelac, fermented drink, probiotic, vegan, vegetarian
