Tibicos cultures are found around the world, with no two being exactly the same; but typical tibicos have a mix of Lactobacillus, Streptococcus, Pediococcus and Leuconostoc bacteria, with yeasts from Saccharomyces, Candida, Kloeckera and possibly others. Lactobacillus brevis bacteria has been identified as the species responsible for the production of the dextran polysaccharide that forms the "grains." As with milk kefir "grains", the microbes present in tibicos act in symbiosis to maintain a stable culture. Tibicos can do this in many different sugary liquids, feeding off the sugar to produce lactic acid, alcohol, and carbon dioxide gas, which carbonates the drink.
Origin
The origin of tibicos grains is unknown. Tibicos grains form as hard granules on the pads of the Opuntia cactus found in Mexico. These granules then could be reconstituted in a sugar-water solution for propagating the tibicos grains. Another study found a similar tibicos culture made from a bacteria cultured from known stocks with similar properties. Tibicos are also known as tibi, water kefir grains, sugar kefir grains, Japanese water crystals and California bees, and in older literature as bébées, African bees, Australian bees, ginger bees, vinegar bees, bees, Japanese beer seeds, beer seeds, beer plant, ale nuts, eternity grains, and balm of Gilead. Pidoux in 1989 also identified the sugary kefir grains with the ginger beer plant. Different ingredients or hygienic conditions might also change the bacteriological composition possibly leading to the different names found in scientific literature. Tibicos are used to brew a variety of tepache known as tepache de tibicos. The ginger beer plant is also a form of tibicos. Kebler attests that they were used in Kentucky circa 1859 to brew a "home drink" and were referred to as "Japanese beer seeds."
Preparation
The basic preparation method is to add tibicos to a sugary liquid and allow it to ferment 24 to 48 hours. Make sure the water stays at a room temperature range of 68°-85°F. If the room is closer to the 85 degree range, shorten the fermentation period. A typical recipe might contain the tibicos culture, a citrus fruit, and water. It is important to not use ingredients that will inhibit the fermentation, such as chlorine in tap water or preservatives in dried fruit. The fruits used may be changed and mixed to create different flavors. Additional precautions should be taken to keep the cultures healthy. The use of reactive metals such as aluminium, copper, or zinc should be minimized, since the acidity of the solution can draw these metals out, damaging the culture. Instead, plastic, lead-free ceramic, or glass containers should be used. Culturing grains in a glass jar and using clean plastic or wooden utensils when handling the grains is recommended.
