If you like yogurt, you have to try this!!!

[Mr. Bloom]

The other day, I was advised to try Kefir (which I had never heard of). I bought some and strangely enough (for me) enjoyed it.

It has the appearance of milk and the consistency of diluted yogurt. It's described as a "probiotic fluid" on the label...I certainly don't know what that means...

So, the question is:

• Why is this not better known?
• Is there a downside to it?

I'm having a very "bad back" week and it was my acupuncturist/chiropractor that suggested I introduce this into my diet.

[Blueberry]

I've consumed Kefir for quite a while. I stumbled on it and happened to like it It was well before I knew anything about the often touted health benefits....

There doesn't seem to be a down side to me, and I'm not sure why it isn't better known. However, even the "big box" groceries around here carry it, so it seems to be gaining in popularity.

[KnottedYet]

We used to make kefir back in the hippy days. (it's like making yogurt, put some starter in some milk and let 'er rip!) Good stuff! Don't think I've had any in about 30 years. Maybe I should go find some and see if it still tastes as good as I remember.

[Pedal Wench]

Back in teh 70's, my dad was on a kick where we had it 'growing' all the time. It was pretty tasty,if I recall.
As a slight hijack - if you like yogurt, you have to try Faje brand yogurt. I get it at Whole Foods or Trader Joes. It's a greek yogurt, and it is SO rich and creamy, even the fat-free one. Actually, that's the only type I've tried. Caution though - there's a sheet of parchment over the top. I didn't realize it and thought my first container was spoiled with a 'skin' on the top. Ooops!

[Kimmyt]

FreshNewbie, I am from the Philly area... where can you find this Kefir stuff? I'd like to give it a try, as I'm always looking for new yogurty things (most regular yogurts are much too sweet for me, but I need something with more sweetness than unsweetened yogurt).

K.

[mimitabby]

Kefir's good. It doesn't require a spoon like yogurt.

[limewave]

So, do you buy it in the yogurt section? I did a quick google, and it looks like it comes in a box? I'm confused.

[margo49]

We used to make kefir back in the hippy days. (it's like making yogurt, put some starter in some milk and let 'er rip!)

When you say "starter" do you mean culture or just some kefir added to milk? I have been trying to get these "seeds" as they are called thru a Cheese website and Russian shopkeepers with no luck.
I am also a bit wary of trying it myself because of the high (room) temps here and it is not expensive to buy.
It is a mould + bacteria culture I believe not a straight bacterial one (like yoghurt) and someone told me it takes *days* not hours so God alone knows what else might be going on "in there" over that kind of time. Mind you with milk any unwanted bacteria usually either spoil the product or give you a colour or texture that you aren't expecting so I s'pose I shouldn't worry...

[Mr. Bloom]

THis morning, I poured Kefir over my healthy cereal instead of milk. It was a good substitute for milk and has a longer shelf life.

[farrellcollie]

It was a good substitute for milk and has a longer shelf life.

Just don't substitute it for milk in coffee.

[Mr. Bloom]

Well, I don't drink coffee, but why can't it be used in coffee?

[OakLeaf]

Kind of off topic, but just for reference, you can make soy yogurt from unsweetened soy milk using a regular dairy yogurt recipe and starter. Sweetened soy milk won't culture. Homemade is obviously best, but you have to do it hands-on - those machines make really thin milk that's no good for yogurt. I usually just buy unsweetened Eden soy milk (yeah, the packaging and shipping, I know ). It's still way cheaper and uses a lot less plastic than buying prepared soy yogurt.

[Blueberry]

Kind of off topic, but just for reference, you can make soy yogurt from unsweetened soy milk using a regular dairy yogurt recipe and starter. Sweetened soy milk won't culture. Homemade is obviously best, but you have to do it hands-on - those machines make really thin milk that's no good for yogurt. I usually just buy unsweetened Eden soy milk (yeah, the packaging and shipping, I know ). It's still way cheaper and uses a lot less plastic than buying prepared soy yogurt.

Good to know! I always thought you couldn't make homemade soy yogurt because you had to have something to make it "gel." Now I have made homemade goat yogurt