Abstract:Water kefir is a kind of non-animal sourced traditional fermented beverage with great development potential, which is named for its rich probiotics and beneficial substances. The mutually beneficial interactions between the strains in the particles increased the number of cells in the flora. These particles can be applied to variousraw material substrates, such as fruits, vegetables, cereals and teas, with a low sugar content, low acidity, carbonation and low alcohol content after fermentation, thereby making them suitable for developing products for specific consumers, such as those who are lactose intolerant, vegans or vegetarians. Water kefir particle fermentation can increase the added value of products, make full use of by-products, and reduce environmental pollution and crop waste. In addition, it also has great development potential in functions and bioactivities related to aspects such as healthcare and disease prevention. In this paper, the physiological functions, formation mechanisms, types of fermentation, and microbial species of water kefir are reviewed to clarify the significance and application prospects of developing functional water kefir fermented beverages. Moreover, this paper also provides reference value for the development of new fermented beverages and functional products through summarizing different types of fermentation substrates used domestically and abroad, based on their physical characteristics and the existing microbial species.