I know how stupid it probably sounds to ask, but I have no clue.......

Thanks, oh wise ones

If KEFIR means the same as it does in Norwegian, its sour milk....

I don`t know any other words to describe it, but when I make really, really dark bread or sourbread, I use Kefir.

Am I making any sense at all?:LOL

It's the original drinkable yogurt, lol. Really, it's a cultured milk beverage.

I use plain kefir when I soak my grains or nuts a la Nourishing Traditions.

HFS also have kefir in berry flavors and my boys love it.

okay, my kids have begged me to buy those "drinkable" yogurts and they tried them or some kind of smoothie at Sams club, so would the berry kefir be a good thing to get instead???

All 3 of my kids drink at least one serving of kefir per day - it's an excellent source of protein, calcium and probiotics. We buy Helios brand at Whole Foods. Strawberry, peach and raspberry are all yummy!

You can buy starter for it at Whole Foods (it's dry in a box) and make your own- just scald the milk cool it, stir the starter in and set the pitcher on your counter for 24 hours!

How easy and cheap is that!

does it have to be dairy based? Can you accomplish the souring technique with goat milk?

I bet you can use any milk. Goat is used to make yogurt, and since Kefir isn't much different (although it's cultured with grains) the milk should sour up just as well. Just make sure that if you decide to use pasteurized milk, get unhomogenized (although raw is best).

here's a FANTASTIC site for all things kefir.

and no, it doesn't have to be made from dairy. what you find in the health food stores is crap compared to what you make on your own.

it's so fun to make!!! i'm addicted! i'm now having a blast experimenting with water kefir and just made the most decadent kefir smoothie with coconut milk, bananas, cinnamon, ginger, and vanilla. yum

i'm obsessed!

email me for more info and definitely check out dom's site:
Dom's Kefir In-Site (http://users.chariot.net.au/~dna/kefirpage.html)