What are kefir (pronounced keh-feer) grains you ask? Well, according to Wikipedia they are:
'... a combination of lactic acid bacteria and yeasts in a matrix of proteins, lipids, and sugars, and this symbiotic matrix, or (SCOBY) forms "grains" that resemble cauliflower. For this reason, a complex and highly variable community of lactic acid bacteria and yeasts can be found in these grains.'
Informative if kinda boring...
I like to think of them as gooballs, or maybe mutant gummybears, or maybe a gummybear in the aftermath of being hit by an alien death ray.
Yeah......... Gooball it is.
Well, I can hear you thinking. Gooball I get but what's with the Gummybear thing? This thought occurred to me as I was tasting one. Despite have a consistency reminiscent of booger (you know you have) it also struck me that it was also kind of like a slightly sour gummybear in taste if a bit softer. Not unpleasant though, in fact rather tasty.
Aah but was does it do?
These little critters turn ordinary milk into a fermented beverage chock full (HUGE amounts) of all those beneficial bacteria that you pay through the nose for in health food shops and supermarkets (like Yakult and that fancy yogurt at 8 bucks a tub).
On top of that they multiply at a ferocious rate (horny little beasts), to the point where I have to eat some every now and then to keep them in check. Sometimes I have these daydreams where I have visions of these things saying stuff like:
'Noooooo, the Great One comes. We must multiply and offer up the ferment to appease the Great One or it will EAT US ALL!' as they frantically ferment away. (I know, alright, but my therapist seriously thinks he can help)
Anyway, depending on how long you leave these things in your milk they will turn it into a slightly fizzy, slightly tart drink the consistency of a milkshake to which I then add a bit of honey, assorted fruits (strawberries, blueberries, raspberries etc) and blend into a fermented fruit smoothy with ZING.
OR
Something resembling cottage cheese which you can strain though muslin and indeed make a soft cheese out of to spread on bread and crackers, or even make dips out of. YUM.
On the right plain old milk, on the left gooball stew.
So if you're like a lot of people and suffer from lactose intolerance, eat a lot of highly processed crap, junk food, pre-made low nutrition meals and suffer the associated heartburn, reflux, upset stomachs that go with them then I recommend getting some of this stuff.
1 Tbs is all you need to start with. In Australia I found mine on Gumtree and got it for free but most folks sell it for around $5 a Tbs. Elsewhere its all over the net so is pretty easy to find. There are two types though. One for milk (my kind) and one for water (juice and stuff).
Seriously. Try this stuff!
Kanpai (Cheers)
'... a combination of lactic acid bacteria and yeasts in a matrix of proteins, lipids, and sugars, and this symbiotic matrix, or (SCOBY) forms "grains" that resemble cauliflower. For this reason, a complex and highly variable community of lactic acid bacteria and yeasts can be found in these grains.'
Informative if kinda boring...
I like to think of them as gooballs, or maybe mutant gummybears, or maybe a gummybear in the aftermath of being hit by an alien death ray.
Well, I can hear you thinking. Gooball I get but what's with the Gummybear thing? This thought occurred to me as I was tasting one. Despite have a consistency reminiscent of booger (you know you have) it also struck me that it was also kind of like a slightly sour gummybear in taste if a bit softer. Not unpleasant though, in fact rather tasty.
These little critters turn ordinary milk into a fermented beverage chock full (HUGE amounts) of all those beneficial bacteria that you pay through the nose for in health food shops and supermarkets (like Yakult and that fancy yogurt at 8 bucks a tub).
On top of that they multiply at a ferocious rate (horny little beasts), to the point where I have to eat some every now and then to keep them in check. Sometimes I have these daydreams where I have visions of these things saying stuff like:
'Noooooo, the Great One comes. We must multiply and offer up the ferment to appease the Great One or it will EAT US ALL!' as they frantically ferment away. (I know, alright, but my therapist seriously thinks he can help)
Anyway, depending on how long you leave these things in your milk they will turn it into a slightly fizzy, slightly tart drink the consistency of a milkshake to which I then add a bit of honey, assorted fruits (strawberries, blueberries, raspberries etc) and blend into a fermented fruit smoothy with ZING.
OR
Something resembling cottage cheese which you can strain though muslin and indeed make a soft cheese out of to spread on bread and crackers, or even make dips out of. YUM.
So if you're like a lot of people and suffer from lactose intolerance, eat a lot of highly processed crap, junk food, pre-made low nutrition meals and suffer the associated heartburn, reflux, upset stomachs that go with them then I recommend getting some of this stuff.
1 Tbs is all you need to start with. In Australia I found mine on Gumtree and got it for free but most folks sell it for around $5 a Tbs. Elsewhere its all over the net so is pretty easy to find. There are two types though. One for milk (my kind) and one for water (juice and stuff).
Seriously. Try this stuff!
Kanpai (Cheers)
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