Polish flavored water that had to be kept under the sink?

I am a first generation immigrant living in the States. I lived with my grandparents at the age of 7 in 1989 and would like to know if anyone can identify what I cannot remember.

I remember my grandma had a jar of water under the sink. The jar had some kind of clear jelly-like substance that would flavor the water. She never drank it, but I liked the taste when I had the opportunity to drink it. My grandma said that the jelly would flavor the water and had to be kept in the dark or it would "die." So I assume this was some kind of bacteria. My grandma also said that it grew over time and then you can share it with other people. The water was harmless and would help ail ill stomachs.

Can anyone here tell me what I am talking about? I'm curious and would like to see if something like that is kept in the States.

I look forward to your responses.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kombucha

I'm guessing this.

Magdelena, thank you (dzekuje) for the quick reply!

This seems very much like it except the water was always clear and the jelly was usually at the bottom of the jar. My grandma told me that it's a rare item that not many people know about and I think the jelly was obtained from the sea. She obtained it from a door to door salesman. And there is no other way to find it once it is lost. But she said, you can give to others once the jelly grows too big. All it needed was water, darkness, and maybe a little sugar?

So is there a way to have clear kombucha without the tea?

Thanks again.

Daniel

Magdalena, thank you so much! You actually helped me find the right answer!

Water Kefir. But I am now interested in both items and would like to investigate their benefits.

culturesforhealth.com/water-kefir-versus_kombucha-tea
pursuingtheartofwomanhood.blogspot.com/2012/02/how-to-make-water- kefir.html <--------- This site has pictures close to what it looked like. But instead a lot of little crystals, she had one big one.

Again, I'm excited to have gotten your reply.

Dzekuje bardzo!

Daniel

I'm glad I could help :-)