BS: Kefir?

Subject: BS: Kefir?
From: Melissa
Date: 20 Sep 10 - 04:31 PM

What do you all think about this stuff?

Kefir Source site
(the obnoxious popcover thing goes away if you click the red part)

Wikipedia-kefir

Thanks,
M

Subject: RE: BS: Kefir?
From: katlaughing
Date: 20 Sep 10 - 04:38 PM

Not exactly the same thing, but the method sort of reminds me of Kombucha tea which I have several books on and which I used to make at home. Loved it and definitely felt good whilst using it. I think I quit when we moved in with our daughter and space was ltd.

Never did like sour milk and don't have anything but almond milk these days, so don't think kefir would be my cuppa.:-)

Subject: RE: BS: Kefir?
From: Melissa
Date: 20 Sep 10 - 04:42 PM

It looks like the stuff can be grown in other milks too (or water)..I was wondering about almond milk.
..and wondering whether it's more sour than yogurt
..and wondering whether the texture would gag a maggot (because 'ropy' is NOT a texture I enjoy)

Subject: RE: BS: Kefir?
From: open mike
Date: 20 Sep 10 - 05:03 PM

you probably can add a spoonful or two to milk and it will grow over night. this can be done with plain yogurt...you may want to simmer or
scald the milk then cool it before adding the starter. there are machines designed to ferment yogurt in...and the similar temps would
be reauired for kefir. Kefir is thinner and you can drink it. there is some wonderful cheese at the health food store called yogurt kefir cheese.

Subject: RE: BS: Kefir?
From: mousethief
Date: 20 Sep 10 - 07:11 PM

I was drinking kefir in the 70s, back when nobody I mentioned it to had heard of it. You certainly didn't find it at the local Piggly Wiggly. It's a lot like yogurt, only thinner. Great stuff.

Subject: RE: BS: Kefir?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 20 Sep 10 - 08:17 PM

Oh yah, and I think you can make soy kefir too.

Smoothie in a carton or bottle, as they sell it sometimes nowadays-- too sugary. Best plain with real fruit.

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: Kefir?
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 20 Sep 10 - 09:15 PM

Melissa, I like kefir, but it is not for everyone. I had seen it on market shelves but not bought it because I didn't know if I'd like it. Last winter I had a sample of plain whole-milk kefir at a local wintertime farmers' market. As I raised the sample to my lips, the vendor said, "If you like buttermilk, you'll like this." As a child I disliked buttermilk and stopped drinking it. Now I prepared myself to pucker, but I liked the sample. Markets around here carry whole milk and low-fat kefir, but to get nonfat I have to go to Whole Foods which is a little farther from home.

I think it is more sour than yogurt. a friend who is partly of Greek descent and I both like plain nonfat Greek yogurt, but she does not like kefir.

I can't claim it does for me all the wonderful things listed on the website to which you provided links. Wish I could!

Subject: RE: BS: Kefir?
From: Bobert
Date: 20 Sep 10 - 09:17 PM

Danged... Sorry, but I thought this thread was about "keif", or "keef"...

Please don't have to have me explain...

Google it up...

B~

Subject: RE: BS: Kefir?
From: Melissa
Date: 21 Sep 10 - 12:36 AM

Sorry Bobert..maybe next time.

ChanteyLass,
Yeah, I thought those claims looked like they were probably somewhat stretched. I'm glad to hear that it doesn't taste like buttermilk! What about the texture?
Is it just sort of thick..or is it veiny?

My friend has started growing some grains and seems to think it's pretty good stuff so I've been wondering if I want to give it a whirl. I take a lot of pain meds and if the stuff can help clear out some of the gunk those pills leave, I think it might be worth trying.
It looks like it would be fairly cheap to keep some going once you've got some grains.

mousethief,
Does it have unpleasant bathroom effects?

Subject: RE: BS: Kefir?
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 21 Sep 10 - 09:22 PM

I didn't mean to imply that kefir doesn't taste like buttermilk. It may, but I haven't tasted buttermilk since childhood, so I can't be sure. Also, my tastes may have changed. Maybe now I would like buttermilk! Kefir does have (to me) a slightly sour taste, and it is a thick liquid. But I generally like strong flavors. Be sure to shake it before you drink it. I wouldn't describe it as veiny. It would be nice if you could taste a small amount before buying a quart or more and then pouring it down the sink. And although I like it plain, you might prefer it flavored. Actually, I haven't tried any flavored kefir!

Subject: RE: BS: Kefir?
From: Melissa
Date: 21 Sep 10 - 09:38 PM

I tasted a teeny chunk today and was surprised that the sour taste isn't like sour milk. It didn't taste buttermilky to me.


I am planning to grow some..guess I'll probably be able to get started by the end of next week.

Subject: RE: BS: Kefir?
From: Cuilionn
Date: 22 Sep 10 - 01:44 PM

There are several fruit-flavoured kefirs available in our local grocer's dairy case. I find the texture and taste to be just like a yoghurt smoothie, nothing ropey or unpleasant. We also sometimes get unsweetened plain kefir from a local dairy farm. It is comparable to plain lowfat yoghurt, sour

As I understand it, it's a variant on the yoghurt theme-- supposedly, the cultures are a bit more potent and therefore even more beneficial to the digestive tract.



BTW, a Russian friend reminds me that the substance is correctly pronounced "keh-FEER."

Subject: RE: BS: Kefir?
From: Melissa
Date: 22 Sep 10 - 09:03 PM

long and somewhat informative

Subject: RE: BS: Kefir?
From: Melissa
Date: 22 Sep 10 - 09:11 PM

From what I've been reading, it looks like the pre-made kind must be sort of dead. If it wasn't, I think the packaging would explode..

I'm looking forward to starting messing with the stuff.

Subject: RE: BS: Kefir?
From: Melissa
Date: 14 Oct 10 - 07:02 PM

It will be a while before I can leap over tall buildings, but I started noticing plenty of positive effects almost immediately.

This is neat stuff!

Subject: RE: BS: Kefir?
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 14 Oct 10 - 09:41 PM

I'm glad for you, Melissa!

Subject: RE: BS: Kefir?
From: Melissa
Date: 14 Oct 10 - 09:48 PM

Me too!!

It's not even particularly icky to drink..