Help me make Kefir at home please!

[laurabfig]

I'm tired of spending almost $4 a quart for the stuff.
Anyone know where I can buy kefir grains to make my own?
And has anyone experimented making your own and adding some fruity flavor so it is yummy? My plan was to make the kefir and then just blend in the blender with strawberries or raspberries or peaches. Could this work?

[Smokering]

I cribbed mine off a friend. It couldn't be easier to make, though - mix milk with kefir grains, leave for 1-2 days, rinse and repeat (chucking out or giving away some of the grains as they multiply). I neglected mine recently while I was ill and they didn't die.

I drink mine with a touch of raw honey and cream added, but people do make smoothies. Just use the kefir in place of yoghurt and add frozen berries, banana, flax seed oil, greens or whatever takes your fancy.

[earthhugmama]

If you are looking for kefir grains do a search at craigslist, ebay, or etsy. If you can find a local chapter for the Weston A. Price foundation in your area, you might be able to find someone local who has some grains to share.

There is a kefir list on mdc swaps.

You can also try to contact someone on this international kefir list.

After a bit of research I decided to buy milk kefir grains from this etsy seller. She has a fun blog where she uses her kefir in several recipes.

[SaoirseC]

I just started making kefir again. What's nice about kefir is that you can use any sort of DAIRY milk (pasteurized, UHT, raw, non-homogenized, reconstituted dry milk powder, probably goat too though I haven't seen this specifically addressed). BTW, it is not necessary to rinse the kefir grains unless they've been contaminated with something- it's actually better for the grains to not be rinsed because they retain more of their "kefiran" that way.


If you get tired of drinking/making kefir every day, you can "rest" your grains by putting them in a jar filled with non-chlorinated, sterile water (with a lid) in your fridge for a few days. Or, you could also put them in milk for a slow fridge ferment (2-3 days).

[laurabfig]

Thanks for all the tips!
I did a craigslist search and found someone locally who gives away FREE kefir grain regularly. Going to pick some up this week, hopefully!

[earthhugmama]

Originally Posted by laurabfig

Thanks for all the tips!
I did a craigslist search and found someone locally who gives away FREE kefir grain regularly. Going to pick some up this week, hopefully!

great! enjoy your kefir making!