Kefir grains

[Afraidofthedarke]

I’m wanting to make my own kefir. Any tips? Where can I buy some good kefir grains?

Don't - it's the one fermented food (apart from natto) that I really can't face...

Ask for some on Nextdoor.

Mine are from freshly fermented and I’ve had them a few weeks and already have enough extra to offer on nextdoor (if I used it). The kefir is drinkable if blended with plenty of fruit and honey!
I’m definitely not an expert but my main tip so far is to make it with full fat milk not semiskimmed.

Great thanks. I have read somewhere about not kicking it with honey as this don’t work well with the good bacteria in the kefir… I usually have honey in mine when I’ve bought it though so hope this isn’t true!

The worse it tastes the better for your gut right…!?

Don’t. Tedious business. I’m usually enthusiastic about such things but it was a pain. Just buy kefir in the supermarket

I do currently but hear that it isn’t necessarily any good and they homemade is much better for you…?

I too got mine from Freshly Fermented; two months in my SCOBY is producing very good Kefir and I have a surplus of grains. Before that I was buying it from supermarkets. The advantages of making it -

Much cheaper. I was paying £3.5 per litre for kefir, milk is a fraction of that.

Tastes better. Now that I have an excess of grains I don't filter out the little ones so get a second fermentation in the fridge. I love the fizziness.

Healthier. Commercial kefir has fewer that 10 probiotics, mine has 31. I can DM the list to anyone interested.

Just seen this reactivated- my kefir (grains from Freshly Fermented) is now doing really well too. As above it does taste even better after some time in the fridge. And I don’t need to sweeten it with anything anymore. Definitely better than buying in the supermarket.

I'm intersted in this as just came on to search kefir as I know supermarket ones aren't as healthy

Where do I start I know nothing and would appreciate advice

This is a link to my spreadsheet on the 31 species in Freshly Fermented's kefir grains https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/19F5LNpt4wTfZ3_jPmAbF_KBYmuYNwXlmfrdZ9XjFLC4/edit?usp=sharing The spreadsheet has hyperlinks to Wikipedia articles on them. YouTube has plenty of videos with a search for "Health Benefits of Kefir"; alas some of these have the whiff of pseudoscience. My favourite book on fermentation (including kefir) is https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/160358286X?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details which cites reputable sources.

I’ve started making it now and it’s going really well. There’s plenty of Facebook groups which are great Kefir UK being one. Ask on there and someone will send you some grains. Then it is basically a case of adding fresh milk each day then it ferments and that’s it!

Thanks for replying
I did get some in the international section at the supermarket which is much stronger than what I was getting

Very interesting thread. I love kefir, I usually buy it from the Polish section of the supermarket as way cheaper plus I can get the plain one.
I know I’m being lazy but do you need any special equipment to make it other than grains?

Nope just a sieve, spatula/spoon and a jar!

I make water kefir and end up with loads of grains - it is a bit like having a tamagotchi though so I understand why most people can’t be bothered!

How does it taste? I made homemade kefir and it was honestly the worst, I will usually grin and bear anything for good gut health but homemade kefir was horrible. I just buy the shop bought now!

The first few batches weren’t great but I was expecting that as it takes a few attempts for the grains to settle back into milk as mine were posted to me.

I now use jersey milk and it is lovely! Thick and creamy with a slight tang. I much prefer it now to shop bought and can drink it on its own easily.

I can only tell you how my water kefir tastes - but I make at least 10 litres a week and it all gets drunk (between 3 of us). I like it plain (or just add a slice of ginger and some lemon peel) but I also do a second ferment adding raspberries and rose petal, blueberries and hibiscus plus some other seasonal variations!

The most requested is for the raspberry & rose kefir - though my favourite is lemon & ginger!

I think water kefir is underrated (but I’m lactose intolerant!)

Is it a mild intolerance? I thought it can often be ok to drink milk kefir as the grains eat the lactose.

The problem I’m currently is having with the warmer weather is that everything is fermenting quickly and I have too much!

Just met up with a friend who has started using this and swears she feels much healthier and has more energy. She never mentioned the taste,

Does it ferment in the fridge? I have supermarket keffir every day and I'd be interested in
a) more probiotics in
b) making it it cheaply

Yes I’d assume there are more probiotics etc. all you need is milk to make it (after sourcing the grains).
I have read different things about fermenting in the fridge. Some say the grains don’t really like the change in temp and prefer room temperature others say they have been fine. You can second ferment in the fridge though which increases the probiotics further.