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You’re gonna appreciate this; a simple, authentic bread kvas that doesn’t need a concentrate! My hubby’s cousin, Angelina, shared this recipe with us. We’ve made it with rye bread and with black bread and both were so refreshing! New favorite for sure – thanks Angelina!
This kvass lasts up to a week in the fridge (probably longer, but it might start tasting kinda strong). You’ll notice it loses sweetness daily as it stands. I think it’s best after a full day in the fridge.
Bread Kvas is uber popular in Russia and Ukraine. You might compare it to a sweet, non-alcoholic beer. From my research, kvass only has up to 1% alcohol content (still probably not recommended for pregos). The longer it sits in the fridge, the more slightly “alcoholic” it gets, but it’s still considered non-alcoholic.
So if you drink it in the first day or 2, there is probably no alcohol in there yet. From what my readers have said, it’s best to store kvas in plastic soda bottles since they are designed to hold pressurized drinks. I like to release the pressure from my bottles 1-2 times a day because an over-inflated bottle just makes me nervous.
Ingredients for Bread Kvas:
2.5 gallons or 10 qtof water
1 lb or 9 slices of classic black, dark or rye bread
1 handful of raisins
1.8 lb (4 cups) of sugar
1.5 Tbsp of active dry yeast
3 large plastic soda bottles
How to Make Russian Bread Kvas: (best if prepared in the evening)
DAY 1:
1. Fill giant stock pot with 2.5 gallons of water (or divide it into two large pots) and bring to a boil.
2. While waiting, toast the bread slices twice on the darkest toaster setting. Yes. Seriously. Darker bread makes darker kvass. Toast bread either outside or in your garage or your house will get smokey. We learned the hard way :). It should look like the photo below.
3.When water starts to boil, remove the pot from heat.Add a handful of raisins and toasted bread to the pot, cover with the lid and let it stay overnight or at least 8 hours.
DAY 2:
4. Carefully remove toasted bread and discard it.
5. In a medium bowl, mix together 4 cups of sugar and 1.5 Tbsp of yeast, add them to kvas mixture and stir.
6. Cover with plastic wrap or lid and leave the mixture on the counter for another 6 hours, stirring every couple hours.
7. Discard floating raisins by scooping them up witha large spoon. Using strainer or cheese cloth, pour kvass into bottles, loosely cover with lid and refrigerate overnight. The following day once the bottles are completely chilled, you can tighten the lid.
P.S. According to my readers, it’s best to store kvas in plastic soda bottles since they are designed to hold pressurized drinks.
DAY 3: enjoy
DAY 4: enjoy
DAY 5: …..did it really last that long?
How do you make your kvass?
Easy Bread Kvas Recipe
Author: Natasha of NatashasKitchen.com
Prep Time: 14 hours hrs
Total Time: 14 hours hrs
Ingredients
Servings: 20 -24
- 2.5 gallons or 10 qt of water
- 1 lb or 9 slices of classic black, dark or rye bread
- 1 handful of raisins
- 1.8 lb 4 cups of sugar
- 1.5 tablespoons of active dry yeast
- 3 large plastic soda bottles
Instructions
DAY 1: (best if prepared in the evening)
Fill giant stock pot with 2.5 gallons of water (or divide it into two large pots) and bring to a boil.
While waiting, toast the bread slices twice on the darkest toaster setting. Darker bread makes darker kvass. Toast bread either outside or in your garage or your house will get smokey.
When water starts to boil, remove the pot from heat. Add a handful of raisins and toasted bread to the pot, cover with the lid and let it stay overnight or at least 8 hours.
DAY 2:
Carefully remove toasted bread and discard it.
In a medium bowl, mix together 4 cups of sugar and 1.5 Tbsp of yeast, add them to kvas mixture and stir.
Cover with plastic wrap or lid and leave the mixture on the counter for another 6 hours, stirring every couple hours.
Discard floating raisins by scooping them up with a large spoon. Using strainer or cheese cloth, pour kvass into bottles, loosely cover with lid and refrigerate overnight. The following day once the bottles are completely chilled, you can tighten the lid.
Notes
P.S. According to my readers, it's best to store kvas in plastic soda bottles since they are designed to hold pressurized drinks.
- Full Nutrition Label
- Nutrition Disclosure
Course: Beverage
Cuisine: Russian, Ukrainian
Keyword: Easy Bread Kvas, Russian kvass
Skill Level: Easy
Cost to Make: $
Natasha Kravchuk
Welcome to my kitchen! I am Natasha, the blogger behind Natasha's Kitchen (since 2009). My husband and I run this blog together and share only our best, family approved and tested recipes with YOU. Thanks for stopping by! We are so happy you're here.
Read more posts by Natasha
FAQs
Usually, kvass contains not more than 1.5% of alcohol by volume, but if it stands for longer time, the concentration can become 2.5% or higher. Unlike beer, the kvass is generally considered to be a nonalcoholic beverage and is drunk by children of all ages without any limit.
How is kvas made? ›
In the traditional method, kvass is made from a mash obtained from rye bread or rye flour and malt soaked in hot water, fermented for about 12 hours with the help of sugar and bread yeast or baker's yeast at room temperature.
What yeast to use for kvass? ›
Brewers yeast: The yeast used to brew beer (not the dried supplement) can be used to make kvass. It is much more active, so only use 1/4 tsp.
Is kvass bad for you? ›
Unfortunately, commercial kvass lacks the health benefits associated with traditional kvass. With a high sugar content comparable to a standard can of cola, it's not a healthy alternative. In contrast, genuine kvass typically contains around up to 4 g of sugar per 100 ml.
Can kids drink kvass? ›
It is known as a slightly fermented rye bread drink. It contains less than 1 % of alcohol, so even children are allowed to drink it. Once tasted this soft drink in Russia during the Moscow tour with Moscow tour guide, you want to make it in your home country. Please follow the directions of the recipe.
Is kvass legal in America? ›
“Is Kvass considered alcoholic under US law?” Kvass can have as much as 1 percent ABV. Each state has its own laws so that might count is one state but not in another state. The most common rule in US states is 1 percent ABV and down don't count as alcoholic beverages.
How much kvass to drink a day? ›
Adults: 10mls twice daily, building toward 50mls twice daily. Children: 10 - 30mls once per day, building toward twice daily. CAN I TAKE IT WITH FOOD? When taken with food, Kvass has the added advantage of aiding digestion and promoting the absorption of minerals.
Is kvass the same as kombucha? ›
Unlike the sweet, vinegar-forward flavor of kombucha, kvass has a light, crisp, clean taste and is full of all three biotics: pre- (fuels beneficial bacteria), pro- (live bacteria), and post- (beneficial metabolites).
How long should you let kvass ferment? ›
Ferment for around 8 to 12 hours, until you see some bubbling going on, then strain the liquid into a bottle or into recycled soda bottles if you want carbonation. Check the pressure and place the bottles in the refrigerator when ready. Drink within a couple of weeks.
Can kvass go bad? ›
The shelf-life of kvass is around 4-8 weeks from the moment you receive your order. Always remember that Quas can only be stored in the fridge. This is a relatively short shelf-life compared to other soft drinks or non-alcoholic beers.
Lisa Grimm is an ex-archaeologist/archivist and occasional beer historian.
How do you know when kvass is ready? ›
And as every chef knows, the best way to test something is to taste it. Kvass can take anywhere between 2-7 days before it's fermented to perfection, so try tasting a little after the second day. What you're looking for is that perfect balance of sweet and sour, with a hint of carbonation.
How much sugar to add to kvass? ›
Just take a gallon of filtered water, a cup of your wet starter bread, 3/4 cup sugar, and 2 cups of water and repeat the process. This round it will take less time, you can probably get a strong fizzy kvass in about 5 days. Fermentation time always depends on the temperature of your house.
What is the best yeast to ferment alcohol? ›
Classic 8: The best all-rounder Turbo Yeast that performs excellently under most conditions. Classic 8 can be used with 8 kg (17.6 lb) of sugar for a high ABV wash and increased yield, or 6 kg (13.2 lb) of sugar for fast fermentation. Pure: Produces the highest quality alcohol.
How strong is kvass? ›
ABSTRACT: Kvass is a traditional Russian malt beverage, typically either non-alcoholic or slightly alcoholic (1–1.5%). Traditional homemade kvass uses rye bread as the primary raw material. In some recipes the rye bread is roasted, and its croutons are then actually used for making wort.
What percentage of alcohol is raki? ›
Rakı
Type | Spirit |
---|
Alcohol by volume | 40–50% |
Proof (US) | 80–100 |
Colour | Transparent (milky white when mixed with water) |
Ingredients | Grape pomace, Aniseed (flavouring) |
4 more rows
Is it legal to drink kvass? ›
“Is Kvass considered alcoholic under US law?” Kvass can have as much as 1 percent ABV. Each state has its own laws so that might count is one state but not in another state. The most common rule in US states is 1 percent ABV and down don't count as alcoholic beverages.
Is kvass always alcoholic? ›
Similar to fermented drinks such as kombucha and kefir, kvass is considered a non-alcoholic beverage. However, a small amount of alcohol is naturally produced during the fermentation process in all of these products.