What does Kefir and Kombacha taste like?

[daisymommy]

I'm baby-stepping into traditional foods Two things I don't have any experience with (and am a bit afraid of ) are Kefir and Kombacha. Can anyone explain what they taste like? I think I may buy some from the health food store before I attempt to make my own, so I know what to expect.

[blessedwithboys]

plain home-brewed kefr is just basically sour milk, but it doesnt taste like milk that went bad, its a pleasant kind of sour. that said, i like it sweetened and flavored. if you buy Lifeway kefir, you'll like it, but the fruity sugared varieties are misleading wrt the taste of the real stuff.

as for kombucha...have you ever tasted ACV? its like that, but with a hint of sugar. of course, the longer you brew it, the less sweet it is. i have a jar thats been forgotten for about a month and i can barely inhale the smell its to pungent, no way i could get it down my throat. i like my kombucha at the day-10 point.

[PeggyinNC]

My home-brewed kombucha tastes much like sparking apple cider, and my also home-brewed dairy kefir, which I primarily use in smoothies, tastes somewhat like yoghurty milk. I also make water kefir, usually lemonade, and it tastes like slightly funny tasting lemonade! Also, grape kefir, which I use converted dairy grains (unlike my other water kefirs), and it tastes like a slightly wine-y flavored grape juice. I was really worried about the tastes, too, because I easily gag over possibly weird food, so just ease into it. But if you don't like the storebought kombucha, don't be too sad, as in my humble opinion, it doesn't taste very good compared to homebrew. Good luck, and have fun!

[daisymommy]

Thanks! I love the taste of apple cider and like to mix milk with my yogurt for a yogurt drink, so maybe I would like it...if I could learn how to make it the way you do! Do you have a recipe that you go by? Any tips of the trade you'd care to share?

[karne]

I think that both are delicious, but my taste defintely runs toward having a mix of sour/sweet. I love the tangy taste of kefir, and my kids love it in smoothies.

Konbucha seems to be an all or nothing taste. I LOVE it, and I feel great when I drink it. I can't explain it because it is a bit like drinking ACV (I like mine a little ginger flavored). I just feel really good after I have some. If I'm sick I feel perked up.....good stuff.

[Pepper44]

I don't like the Lifeway brand of kefir. I think it tastes odd, like powder is in it or something. The Helios brand is way better tasting! (They sell both brands at Whole Foods.)

Kefir tastes like a combination of drinkable yogurt with a hint of sour cream...it's good if you blend it up into a smoothie with frozen strawberries and orange juice, and add a hint of honey if your berries aren't sweet enough.

[Pepper44]

Ok this is interesting...I was just googling Helios kefir because I'm bored, and it looks like it was bought out by Lifeway?

Hmm...oh well.

[elizawill]

i just got into making water kefir. it's really yummy. depending on the ingredients you use will depend on the taste. mine is lightly carbonated and taste like a long island iced tea (kind of? lol). i love it!

[NJ*Doula]

I think water kefir tastes like sparkling cider. I put pomegranate juice in mine, which might make it taste different. Milk kefir tastes sort of like liquid greek yogurt to me. Kombucha is vinegary, but in a good way