Vee wrote on Mar 3rd, 2011 at 8:27pm:Yes, I know what you mean and I love Kefir too, have just discovered it lately and lucky that a local store gets it in.
Hi Vee, just wanted to share a helpful tip with you regarding Kefir.
Unfortunately, most bottled Kefir found in most stores is not real Kefir!
It's a pale shadow of the real stuff. Real Kefir is made with what are called "Kefir Grains". The "grains" are a complex colony/bio structure containing MANY various strands of probiotic micro-organisms primarily in the bacteria and yeast categories. The average Kefir grain, and Kefir cultured milk from same, contains up to 30 to 40 some odd probiotic strands of different micro organisms. Milk Kefir grains look sort of like rubbery pieces of cauliflower.
Most store bought brands of Kefir are not made using the original "grains" developed from ancient times and natural means, but rather selected lab isolated strands, much in the way that commercial yogurt is now made.
In most commercial Kefir products we find only 10 to 12 strands of probiotic micro-organisms, and often, by the time you consume them they are weak (and some dead) from long term, non ideal storage.
That's the bad news, but the good news which is really good and many times makes up for the bad news is this:
There are various "Kefir communities" out there on the web wherein people have and often give away for next to free, real kefir grains.
To make homemade Kefir yourself is pretty easy, easier and more convenient than making homemade Yogurt, because Kefir cultures at room temp.! So all you need is a clean & sterile container (large glass canning mason jars work good), some good and fresh milk, some Kefir grains, and some non metal spoons or what not to later scoop out the Kefir grains before you drink or store the product.
Usually the Kefir grains will culture the milk quite well within two days, but it's very temp. dependent. If it's really warm (above 78 degrees F) where you store your Kefir, then 1 full day is often enough. In hot summer months, unless one cranks up ones air conditioning, it's often best to start the Kefir culturing at room temp. for at least 7 hours or so then move it to the refrigerator to slow down the process. Since the yeast in Kefir grains tends to produce some fermentation aka producing carbon dioxide, it's best to screw the cap on lightly & loosely and not tightly so the glass doesn't shatter from too much gas buildup. Can happen!
This kind of homemade, real Kefir cultured with the actual Kefir grains is far superior to the often expensive bottled stuff, both in variety of probiotics and especially in the sheer amount or count of live organisms and vitality of same, we're talking billions and billions of strong, fresh, live probiotics. Like i touched on, it's far less expensive too, you just pay for the cost of the milk and whatever initial cost of the Kefir grains which in most cases is just the cost of postal shipping costs.
Many people offer completely free kefir grains if you can pick them up locally.
Here are a couple of sites to help you find people in your area that are willing to freely, almost freely, or for a small profit send or share Kefir grains with you.
http://www.rejoiceinlife.com/kefir/kefirlistCanada.phphttp://www.torontoadvisors.com/Kefir/kefir-list.php It's best, if you're going the mailing option, to find people closest to you as possible, so there is the least possible transit time. Longer transit time equals greater stress on the Kefir. This time of year is excellent for getting Kefir grains because it is neither too hot, nor too cold outside in many areas of the world. This translates, with less transit time as well, to less time needed to nurture the grains back to a very active and healthy state (depending, this can take from just a couple of days of fresh milk, to weeks if they were really stressed).
I originally got my Kefir grains from one of these sites from a guy in VA U.S., who was trusting enough to mail out the Kefir grain to me, and who expected the postal compensation after i received it. I think i paid him like 5 dollars in return. Not very much considering I had the grains for a couple of years until i went on a long vacation and mistreated the culture and it died.
Here is the ultimate Kefir site on the web, by Kefir obsessed, Kefir genius Dom of Australia (or is it New Zealand, i don't remember now). There is a ton of information about Kefir on here, including many various recipes for using Kefir to make various cheeses, sourdough foods, sauerkraut, etc.
http://users.chariot.net.au/~dna/kefirpage.html