Watermelon Soda Recipe

Jul 29 2014

Filed under Blogs, Recipes

Summer in Florida for me means it’s time for watermelons, and recently that’s started to turn into making watermelon soda! I had never tasted homemade watermelon soda before but the pictures of it always enticed me. That beautiful slightly red glow to it with that little bit of carbonation just seemed too much for me to resist so I finally broke down and made some.

Not only is this drink refreshing, it’s amazingly good for you! Here are just a few benefits of watermelon juice:

Watermelons are high in lycopene right up there with tomatoes
The bright color of the fruit means that it’s high in those good compounds like beta-carotene
Watermelon is rich in antioxidants
Watermelon has a high amount ofcitrulline which relaxes muscles and improves circulation
High in vitamin C
Very refreshing with it’s high water content that’s mineral rich

The most obvious reason to drink some watermelon soda is the amazing flavor and taste that only gets magnified when you ferment it into a nutrient rich drink full of life!

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(Check out our updated recipe for Fermented Watermelon Soda at The Fermentation Adventure)

Optional:

Juice of 1 lemon or lime (~ 2 T.)

Mint leaves

You can do this one of two ways: ferment with pulp or strain and ferment with only the watermelon juice. I think from now on I’ll try the second way without the pulp. You can either blend up the watermelon somewhat coarsely and then put it unstrained into the mason jar to be fermented or you can strain it through a sieve first to get the pulp out and only have the juice left. If you’re straining, let the watermelon juice drain naturally and not force it through or more particles will be in the soda, otherwise you’ll be doing the same step later after it’s done fermenting.

Transfer to jar and add remaining ingredients (through sieve if necessary), topping off with water to fill to about an inch or so from the top.
Ferment for 2 days or so stirring a couple or few times a day to oxygenate the yeast in the ginger bug.

Don’t forget to cover the top so bugs and dust doesn’t get into your beautiful brewing liquid. I just used a towel and a rubber band but even a paper towel or layers of cheesecloth would work.

Between stirring a few times a day, if you haven’t filtered out the watermelon pulp, it will begin to separate into a fairly clear liquid and the bright red pulp which is normal.

Taste every day once you start to see bubbles to brew it to your desired sweetness and sourness. The fewer amount of days you brew it for the more this ends up being more like a watermelon drink recipe. The longer you ferment it, the more it ends up being more of a tangy drink that’s great with ice on the beach!

Once you get the taste that you’re looking for, strain through a sieve if you haven’t already. Otherwise you already have a clear liquid that you can bottle in flip top bottles for a day or so to carbonate if you like it fizzy. If you don’t want any carbonation, just refrigerate. Don’t forget to have one plastic bottle to check the pressure!

Notes for Next Time:

Maybe 3 T sugar instead or ferment out longer to use up more of the sugar
Mint would be really amazing in this recipe
I’ll try straining the pulp out first
You could add a drop of ice cream to make a a watermelon cream soda or a watermelon ice cream float
Also to make a watermelon cream soda, I might try adding some cream of tartar
Adding fruits like kiwi could make a nice watermelon kiwi soda

I hope you enjoyed this recipe! Let me know what you think in the comments below or if you have any great ideas, let me know! I’ll try anything that sounds good.

ginger bug, lacto-fermented soda, soda, watermelon

Watermelon Soda Recipe | The Fermentation Podcast (2024)

FAQs

Does watermelon ferment well? ›

Watermelon rind is wonderfully crunchy and has a great texture for fermenting or pickling. Not only does it absorb flavors well, but it also stands up well when fermented. It doesn't get mushy or fall apart as easily as some other fruits/veggies – even cucumbers, which are traditionally used for pickles.

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Can I drink fermented watermelon juice? ›

The beverage is advantageous in that: after watermelon juice is fermented by using the lactic acid bacteria, the contents of vitamin C, B1, and B2 are significantly increased, the contents of amino acids, lysine, lactic acid, and other nutrients are high, frequent drinking of the beverage is beneficial to human health, ...

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What happens when watermelon ferments? ›

Once the fermentation begins inside a watermelon, it creates the perfect environment for toxic pathogens to flourish, including botulism, E. coli and Salmonella, according to the Fermentation Association.

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What does fermented watermelon taste like? ›

The more I learn about the fermentation process of watermelon, the more I begin to appreciate its taste. Once the shock and suspicion of spoiled ingredients fade, I become fascinated by the combination of sourness and saltiness that continues to linger on in my mouth.

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Who should not drink watermelon juice? ›

Despite having a lot of vital elements, watermelon is also very heavy in sugar. For diabetics or someone who is seeking to regulate blood sugar levels, this may make it a troublesome option. Furthermore, consuming alcohol may be problematic due to watermelon's high lycopene concentration.

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Why is my watermelon juice fizzy? ›

If "foaming" is observed in a watermelon, it is possible that the watermelon is already starting to rot. For the sake of prudence, the CFS advises the public not to eat a watermelon which is "foaming" and shows dubious quality (e.g. off odour).

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Is it OK to eat fizzy watermelon? ›

Taste: Even if the exterior looks okay, there's a chance that the fruit could have gone bad. If you bit into a piece of watermelon that looked and smelled fine but its tastes sour or has a fizzy sensation on your tongue, throw it out. Feel: A slimy or slippery feel is another indication that something is amiss.

How long does it take to ferment soda? ›

You want the contents to reach up to the bottom of the bottle's neck but no higher. Close the top. Ferment for 2 to 4 days at room temperature and check the carbonation by opening the top slightly. Usually I get enough carbonation on day 3 or 4.

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How long do fermented sodas last? ›

The drinks last for weeks in the fridge, although they will slowly continue to ferment and become more tangy and alcoholic (like vinegar).

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What is fermented soda called? ›

Kombucha is now homebrewed globally, and also bottled and sold commercially. The global kombucha market was worth approximately US$1.7 billion as of 2019. Kombucha is produced by symbiotic fermentation of sugared tea using a symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast (SCOBY) commonly called a "mother" or "mushroom".

Why does my watermelon taste like wine? ›

Expired fruit may taste like alcohol because of the fermentation process that occurs when the fruit is left to sit for too long. As the sugar in the fruit breaks down, it produces alcohol and other compounds that can give the fruit a taste similar to alcohol.

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Why did my watermelon ferment? ›

According to the Bangor Daily News, bacteria can be introduced into a watermelon while growing on the vine. The bacteria combine with the sugars and yeast inside the melon and start the fermentation process. The foam — which seeps out of the melon through cracks in the rind — is a sign that fermentation is happening.

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Is watermelon good for alcohol? ›

Feeling of hangover due to dehydration, reduced blood flow to the brain and headache. Eating watermelon can alleviate this symptom. Watermelon is rich in L-citrulline, a nutrient that helps increase blood flow. Besides, the high water content in watermelon also helps to rehydrate the body after drinking alcohol.