Ancient At-home Remedies | Beet Kvass

by | Jul 26, 2017

 

Beet kvass is one of my go-to tummy tonics with quite a history. Folk medicine values beets and beet kvass for their liver cleansing properties, and beet kvass is widely used in cancer therapy in Europe. Anecdotal reports also indicate beet kvass is an excellent therapy for chronic fatigue, chemical sensitivities, allergies and digestive problems. The word kvass, Slavic and Baltic in origin, originally referred to the fermentation of stale bread and has been enjoyed in many forms since the Middle Ages. It might sound strange, but in times of high infectious diseases, it was a sure thing to drink.

PRICE

The organic beets cost me around $2-3, and the bottle of Farmhouse Gut Shot was $5.99, and only takes about half the bottle. You can either buy filtered water or use a filtered water pitcher from home, like my Pitcher Of Life alkaline water pitcher. I buy Himalayan sea salt in bulk from the organic market, and $3 worth can last me months. This makes at least 3-4 Mason jars worth of beet kvass, which can last for a couple of days or a week.

PROCESS (about 5 minutes)

  • Get out 2-3 Mason jars, depending on how many beets you have, probiotic starter of your choice (I prefer Gut Shot or the juice from recently bought fermented veggies), filtered water, and a little organic salt of your choice
  • Clean the jars and thoroughly wash the beets
  • Chop the beets into chunks that fit nicely into the Mason jars, pour filtered water to about 3/4 full in the jars, then add your probiotic starter and some salt and close the lids tightly
  • Leave the jars in view in a cool room for about four days. You’ll notice some sufficient bubbling at the top of the jar once they’re ready to quit fermenting. Then place them inside the refrigerator to stop the fermentation process. Be careful when taking the tops of the jars! Just like some kombuchas, once untwisting the top there can be a lot of bubbling and carbonation…sometimes too much! Beets are incredible dying agents, which means your favorite top can easily become beet colored if you’re not careful
  • Dole out small servings over the course of days and enjoy!