Kefir anyone?

[canesisters]

I've read a little bit about kefir on a couple of other threads and thought that it might be helpful to start one just for info and experiences in growing and using this 'wonder food'.
I've never tasted it before. Is it like a thin yogurt??

 

[ninnymary]

I've never tasted it before either. But I've seen it on cooking shows and that's how they describe it.

Mary

 

[thistlebloom]

The store bought tastes just like a drinkable yogurt. I prefer the berry flavored to the plain, but it's a mild taste and even the plain is easy to drink and pleasant.

 

[canesisters]

Question. When I go online, there are kefir grains for sale. It looks like tapioca. How does lumpy, jelly-balls become drinkable yogurt?

 

[catjac1975]

I love it.

 

[journey11]

Question. When I go online, there are kefir grains for sale. It looks like tapioca. How does lumpy, jelly-balls become drinkable yogurt?

They're little things--look kinda like cottage cheese curds, but they are firm and yellowish colored compared to milk curds. They won't go through the strainer if you press them with a spatula. I guess they are kinda like the mother SCOBY in kombucha. They are small but mighty. I can't believe how quickly they go to work.

 

[canesisters]

So what do you do with them? Add them to milk?

 

[catjac1975]

So what do you do with them? Add them to milk?

Just drink as a yummy healthy beverage.

 

[journey11]

It's beyond easy to do. Just dump them in a jar of cold milk and stir, cover with a coffee filter, set out on the counter and wait about 24 hours, checking from time to time. A little too easy really. I am already getting overrun with kefir. My house is awfully warm though, so that speeds things up.

 

[canesisters]

Grocery store milk? Or raw milk? Or does it matter?