What is KEFIR and what are the KEFIR HEALTH BENEFITS?
Kefir is a fermented milk product made from cow, goat or sheep milk that tastes like a drinkable yogurt. Kefir contains high levels of vitamin B12, calcium, magnesium, vitamin K2, biotin, folate, enzymes, and probiotics.
We love homemade Kefir! Store versions just don't compare or have added sugar or too sweet or not sweet enough. We very much enjoy making this wonderful healthy drink right in our kitchen and having always a jar available in the fridge. In our home, we love to drink kefir straight or flavored with fresh berries. Our favorite choices are organic cherries, blueberries or strawberries. Simply wash the berries of your choice and blend them with filtered kefir. Store in the fridge. We don't add sugar to kefir but prefer to put more berries to make it sweet enough.
How to Make Milk Kefir?
- Use a clean pint glass jar. Place the kefir grains in the jar first, then pour organic milk over them. A typical ratio is 2 tablespoons of kefir grains for every pint of milk. Gently stir the mixture for a few seconds then place the lid on the jar.
- Cover with a coffee filter or butter muslin secured by a rubber band
- Place in a warm spot, 68°-85°F, to culture.
- Culture until milk is slightly thickened and aroma is pleasant. Check after 24 hours - typically takes 1 day once you have used the culture a couple of times and it has gotten used to the milk you use.
- Filter through a strainer and pour into another pint jar and store in the refrigerator. Kefir will last up to 3-5 days in the fridge and will retain its qualities and freshness
- Put the kefir grains from the strainer back into the jar where milk was cultured, and pour milk again to make the next batch - back to step 2. Do not rinse the grains.
Are Kefir Probiotics good for you?
Yogurt is the best known probiotic food in the Western diet, but kefir is actually a much more potent source. Kefir grains contain about 30 strains of bacteria and yeasts, making it a very rich and diverse probiotic source. Other fermented dairy products are made from far fewer strains and don't contain any yeasts.
Happy Kefir Making - let us know what you like to flavor your Kefir with!
We love homemade Kefir! Store versions just don't compare or have added sugar or too sweet or not sweet enough. We very much enjoy making this wonderful healthy drink right in our kitchen and having always a jar available in the fridge. In our home, we love to drink kefir straight or flavored with fresh berries. Our favorite choices are organic cherries, blueberries or strawberries. Simply wash the berries of your choice and blend them with filtered kefir. Store in the fridge. We don't add sugar to kefir but prefer to put more berries to make it sweet enough. 
