Kefir for Health: A Fermented Alternative to Yogurt

Hi. I would love to get my hands on some 'Water Kefir Starter grain'. Does anyone out there still have some to share or know of how I can get some here in Australia? Thanks so much!

You can find great kefir grains from Dom in Australia - just google Dom's kefir. Mine came from him, through a friend who carried them from AU to London to here! He has great info on his site, too.

Hi I am interested in making kefir and would love to take you up on your offer of kefir grains

Hi,
I have fantastic Water Kefir grains, which I'm willing to share for postage costs. Email me- gamgo ~(AT)~ optusnet (DOT)com (DOT)au

Hi Annette, I have not checked this thread for a while so I only just got your message. I have kefir that has only been used in organic raw cows milk if you still want some. I get into Canberra weekly but am happy to post them.

My email is egrace(at)aussiemail(dot)com.au

Hi Everyone, after reading Lisa's post on kefir I have been researching it and would like to give it a try. I live in Chicago and noticed most post say to ask someone for some for a small symbolic monetary fee. I figured this is a big city so why not ask somebody here. So if anybody would like to give me some please contact EC for my email. Does Whole Foods sell grains suitable for making kefir??? Either way can someone please help me.Thanks in advance!

Hi PossibleCandidaSufferer, No, WF does not carry kefir grains. They carry a starter but it is not the same at all. It will work for a few rounds and then it's done. With kefir grains, they are living beings and they actually self-propagate. When they multiply, you can give them as gifts to family and friends. Hence why you see so many kefir enthusiasts offering them.

You can google kefir groups. There are a couple of groups on yahoo of which I belong to one. People offer kefir grains there. health.groups. http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/Real_Kefir_Making/

Hope this info helps.

For anyone looking to buy kefir grains you can order them from culturesforhealth.com. I ordered mine a few years ago and from those few grains I continue to give many away as they continue to reproduce. FYI, since making my own kefir I never buy buttermilk anymore, I replace it with kefir and it works great. I also drink at least one glass a day, I love it and love how it makes me feel. No more tummy aches for me!!

Hi Lisa, Well, you answered a question that I was wondering about. I went to my local health food store and they only sold Kefir starter by Yogourmet. I bought it not knowing it is not as good as cultured grains. I followed the directions and added a quart of milk, covered it tightly and let it set overnight. I wanted to make homemade cheese. What do you think I'm going to end up with? Smells like buttermilk or yogurt. Thanks for all of your posts.

Hi Bev, Yes, you now have kefir if you bought kefir starter. It just won't be as full of probiotics as the kefir that the grains make but it's still good and better than commercial. I make kefir cheese from my kefir. Just use either cheese cloth or a nut milk bag which really works great. It makes yummy cheese. Also, don't just throw out the whey. It's loaded w/ nutrients. I save it and will soak my beans in it. Animals love it too! Hope this helps.

After reading all of the wonderful health benefits of home-cultured kefir I'm really anxious to try it myself. I suffer from a chronic illness and am on social security disabilty and money is very tight. I'm wondering if there is anyone who has extra kefir grains that they would be willing to share. I live in Colorado and would be willing to pay for shipping. Thanks, Kathy

Kathy: I will be glad to send you grains. Shipping about $4.50 or so. email me at: frst2601 at hotmail do com if you still need the grains.

I just started making and drinking kefir for my sudden onset of skin outbreaks on my face. I'm really hoping this will help along with a clean diet. Can anyone offer me some reassurance or personal experiences? It would be greatly appreciated!

Hi Alley Cat, I'd love to receive some milk kefir grains. I'm at Wagstaffe NSW. Would you be willing to help me out? thank you, SR

Can you add kefir yogurt (not the grains) to milk and produce kefir yogurt? Thanks! Daniel

Is it okay to give Kefir to my dog?

SHARING KEFIR GRAINS: CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA Hi, I was wondering if anyone knew how to find kefir grains in Cape Town, South Africa? More than willing to pay for them. Many thanks, Georgie

I have good healthy Milk Kefir grains, which I can post anywhere in Oz, for $10. A lifetime investment in your health!

Sr from Wagstaffe NSW - email me your address and I will post some to you, egrace(at)aussiemail(dot)com(dot)au. My email is also on a previous thread. Cheers Ally

Hi, does anyone have some water Kefir grains to share?

Would love to hear from others who are new to kefir growing and drinking to share experiences as we go along. Have been making my own yoghurt for a while and will now try the water kefir then maybe the milk. Please get in touch at rychhmo at a o l d o t c o m. Thanks.

Dear Suseeq,

I think it will be fine. I "lost" my kefir grains in my fridge for a couple of months. I finally found them in a tiny plastic container. Usually I use glass. Anyway, they were fine and the kefir I made when I found them was fine.

You have probably thought of this, but I would leave some grains home just in case. Losing kefir grains to lost luggage, or some other travel related issue would be a shame if you had none left at home! :)

Happy travels!

~Mama to Many~

Hello, I make my own kefir by using an instant pot and 1/2 cup of kefir mixed into 1 liter of milk and set at the yogurt setting for 8 hours, it works well. It gets thick.

Search on Ebay, plenty of people sell milk kefir grain on Ebay. You may be lucky enough to find a person in your country.

Hello Cat from Tauranga, New Zealand, Try these sites for milk kefir grains in NZ...

http://wudhi.com/recipes/kefir.htm
http://www.torontoadvisors.com/Kefir/kefir-list.php
http://thehealthyeatingsite.com/kefir-grains-now-available/
http://waterkefir.co.nz/#ecwid:category=3235633&mode=product&product=13813042
http://heal-thyself.ning.com/group/sharingstartercultures/forum/topics/new-zealand-milk-kefir-grains?xg_source=activity

Good luck, Tina

Hi Cat, I got them in Wellington. They also post. I didnt notice the grains on the website but they definitely have them.

http://www.frot.co.nz/nature/foods.htm

Good news. I made my yogurt with about 1/4 kefir milk added to the yogurt mix before going into the yogurt maker. 20 hours latter the yogurt was thickened and I had yogurt that was 400 to 800 times more probiotic bacteria than plain yogurt, plus about 10 times the bacteria strains. The yogurt is vinegary tasting so next time I will us 1/2 the kefir milk. So this means that for those who don't like the taste of kefir can eat yogurt and get all there probiotics since yogurt is easy to make. Next I have plans to make kefir cream cheese and kefir ice yogurt.

I like the thought of using kefir milk to make yogurt. My homemade kefir, even after a second ferment, is just not a taste I like. Also, my dh doesn't like the 'mess' it makes with it fermenting, straining, etc. I like homemade yogurt and, if this is really a good idea, then I'll make a batch of kefir milk, use it to make yogurt and then just keep using my yogurt to keep it going. I don't know if there is any science showing that the kefir bacteria/yeast/etc can grow in the yogurt process thereby making the yogurt more healthy. I like kefir because it can repopulate the gut and yogurt cannot. Can anyone give me a reason not to do this? If you have done it, can you tell any difference between regular yogurt and kefir yogurt? I use yogurt like sour cream on my oatmeal in the morning, wierd but a taste I like.