Walk into almost any health food shop these days, and you’ll find water kefir sitting alongside kombucha and functional drinks, promising everything from better digestion to improved wellbeing.
Unlike many wellness trends, however, this naturally fermented beverage has centuries of tradition behind it.
Made with just water, sugar and live cultures known as kefir grains, it’s gaining popularity among consumers looking for a refreshing, plant-based drink that supports gut health without compromising on taste.
To learn more about the drink and its benefits, we sat down with the founder of Saba Plant-Based, Vincent Vandenabeele , to discuss all things water kefir.
TE: Kefir water is becoming very popular, but many people still aren’t sure what it is. Can you explain it to someone trying it for the first time?
Vincent: Water kefir is a naturally fermented drink made with water, sugar, and live cultures known as kefir grains. The result is a deliciously refreshing beverage with vibrant fruit flavours, a light, clean taste, and all the benefits of natural fermentation.
For someone trying it for the first time, think of it as a healthy and organic alternative to conventional soft drinks – one that not only tastes great but also nourishes your body. Water kefir contains both prebiotics and probiotics, making it a fantastic ally for gut health and digestive wellbeing.
While no single product is a magic solution, small daily habits can make a meaningful difference, and adding naturally fermented drinks to a balanced lifestyle is one simple change that can help you feel your best.
Vincent Vandenabeele, founder of Saba Plant-Based
At Saba Plant-Based, we believe wellness should be enjoyable. Water kefir is an easy and delicious way to incorporate fermented drinks and live cultures into your daily diet. A healthy gut plays an important role in many functions throughout the body, including digestion, immunity, and overall well-being. Often referred to as the ‘second brain,’ the gut is closely connected to the nervous system and contributes to the production and regulation of important neurotransmitters involved in mood and emotional balance. That’s why supporting gut health can have benefits that extend far beyond digestion.
TE: What are the health benefits of regular consumption?
Vincent: Regularly drinking water kefir can be a simple way to support gut health thanks to its natural live cultures (probiotics), which help maintain a balanced and healthy microbiome. A healthy gut is linked to better digestion, improved nutrient absorption, and overall wellbeing
The gut microbiome plays an important role in everyday health. Supporting it through fermented food and beverages is a simple and pleasant way to introduce more beneficial microbes into one’s daily routine.
Water kefir also offers a refreshing substitute to heavily processed beverages, making it easier for consumers to choose drinks that align with a more mindful approach to health and wellness. While no single product is a magic solution, small daily habits can make a meaningful difference, and adding naturally fermented drinks to a balanced lifestyle is one simple change that can help you feel your best.
TE: Is Kefir water a suitable alternative for vegans?
Vincent: Yes – water kefir is completely vegan-friendly. It’s made by fermenting water and sugar with kefir grains, which are a symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeasts, with no dairy or animal-derived ingredients involved.
That makes it a great plant-based alternative to traditional dairy kefir, while still offering naturally occurring live cultures that support gut health. For vegans, it’s an easy and enjoyable way to include fermented, functional drinks into a daily routine.
Beyond those following a vegan lifestyle, water kefir is also appealing to people who are looking to reduce their dairy intake or explore more plant-based food and beverage choices. As more consumers become conscious of what goes into their bodies, there is growing interest in products that are both functional and aligned with personal values such as sustainability, ethical sourcing, and mindful consumption.
TE: Why do you think more consumers are turning towards probiotic drinks?
Vincent: People today understand much more how important gut health is for overall wellbeing. It’s linked to digestion, immunity, hormones, mood, and even the nervous system – so it really plays a central role in how we feel every day.
There’s also a growing awareness that what we eat matters, and that traditional, ancient foods like fermented drinks have always supported health naturally.
That’s why probiotic drinks are coming back into focus – they connect modern health needs with simple, natural nutrition that people trust and understand.
Many highly processed wellness beverages rely on artificial additives, flavourings, concentrates, or long ingredient lists, whereas fermented drinks are built around a natural process that has been used across cultures for generations
Vincent Vandenabeele, founder of Saba Plant-Based
At the same time, consumers are becoming more selective about the products they purchase. They are reading labels more carefully, seeking out cleaner ingredients, and looking for foods and beverages that offer genuine functional benefits beyond basic nutrition. Rather than relying solely on supplements, many people prefer obtaining nutritional support through everyday foods and drinks that can easily become part of their routine.
The rise of preventative wellness has also played a role. More consumers are adopting a proactive approach to health, focusing on maintaining wellbeing rather than only addressing concerns when they arise. Probiotic drinks fit naturally within this shift because they offer a convenient, accessible way to support digestive health while enjoying something refreshing and flavourful.
TE: What makes kefir water different from processed wellness beverages?
Vincent: Natural fermented drinks are one of the oldest and most natural ways people have supported digestion for centuries.
Through fermentation, good bacteria naturally develop, creating drinks full of live cultures that can help support a balanced gut and make digestion feel easier and lighter.
It’s a simple, traditional way of doing things – real ingredients, natural processes, no shortcuts – bringing something functional and good for you into everyday life in an easy, enjoyable way.
What sets water kefir apart is that its benefits come from the fermentation process itself rather than from added ingredients designed to create a wellness perception. Many highly processed wellness beverages rely on artificial additives, flavourings, concentrates, or long ingredient lists, whereas fermented drinks are built around a natural process that has been used across cultures for generations.
