Anyone else make their own kefir?

[Doginthewindow]

Been meaning to try this for years, and finally did. I’m on my third batch, and it was much easier than I thought. I got kefir grains online, but they’ve already grown a lot so will give some away. I just think it would be an easy way to stay healthy and boost the immune system, as kefir contains about 30 different species of probiotic bacteria and yeasts. You can just add some berries if you have in the garden, for flavour.

Anyone else tried it?

Yes, I found it disgusting. It may depend on the milk you have.
I tried water kefir as well.

The only thing I actually enjoy drinking is the sodas based on ginger bug. They are really good!

I use organic 4% milk. It works well. Water kefir I don’t like.

I make milk kefir but have got slightly bored of it

We usually buy kefir, but it doesn’t have the same good bacteria or health benefits as the one you make yourself. We have the freezer full of berries so easy to do new flavours.

I'd like to try this. May I ask where you bought the grains? There's such a variety online! Thanks

I’m not in the UK, I bought them from a farm shop online. But I know there are fb groups where people share info and advice, and give away grains.

Thank you @Doginthewindow I'll ask locally too

You will henceforth think of this as your kefir phase, I'm calling it 😉

@SausagePourHomme Without a doubt in my mind 😂

If you still want them I can send you some.

I've been thinking about trying this. DP is looking at me like this However I do eat some kefir every day for my gut (I have an IBD) and it's been very helpful.

I'm currently entering a 'pressing flowers phase' and he's already sceptical about the longevity and usefulness of that. Tbf to him, we've only just finished eating the 30 jars of black olives I bought in 2021 from Lidl. He doesn't even really like olives. Now for the 30 jars of green olives ...

I've been making kefir for 8 years! Just part of my routine now. The person who originally gave me the grains gave up long ago.

We ought to set up a swap shop for the Brexit/Covid stashes...

Are you saying that you're still using the same grains? Is that how it works?
I ordered some grains today, I've been drinking a supermarket one for a week and a bit but I'd like to be able to just buy milk from a walk to shop rather than get the car out for one item.

I presume when you say 4% you mean a low fat milk. We have skimmed, semi-skimmed or full fat here. I’m just starting to make it and it says to use full fat so am interested that you are using a low fat milk. Is the end result thick or thin?

4% milk is full fat milk. We made kefir when I was a child in the 70s but I accidentally ate the grains one day 🤣

Yes it's so easy to make, I use goats milk and always have some on the go.

Thanks.

I make it with 1,5% and it is fine. They grow so much though, hate throwing grains away..

It becomes thicker with time. Mine was thin for a couple of weeks or so, but don’t give up. Didn’t take long before they grew and became thick so quickly I had to put them in the fridge to slow down.

Thanks, that is helpful. Last time I tried to make it I accidentally washed the grains down the sink.

I use this collander from Ikea, with a bowl underneath. It is perfect for it, I just use a wooden spoon to stir around until there are only grains left in the collander. Once the kefir is thick, I rinse the grains in the collander quickly in water a couple of times a week, before filling up with more milk.

At first I thought I did something wrong, as the kefir was thin like milk and didn’t taste as nice..but like I said just keep going.

Oh, and the collander. 😅

Do I have to use organic milk? I want to use jersey milk, the place I’m buying from specifies organic.

I use a sieve and wooden spoon into a bowl but don't rinse grains. You can eat the grains, I occasionally eat a teaspoon of them as I have far too many. If you put some in a smoothie they don't blend fully, there are little gummy bits. I offered the cats some but they weren't impressed.