Our websmaster, who spends a good deal of time in Russia, is a great kefir enthusiast so when Sue Cane (our gluten-free beer expert) offered us some kefir grains to ‘grow our own’ I thought he would be very excited.
For those of you who have never heard of it, kefir is the Superman version of yogurt, a living culture which grows in milk (or water), fermenting the milk to superfood status and, it is said, ensuring for those those who consume it, a long and healthy life… These consumers live mainly in the Northern Caucasus mountain where is believed that the Moslem tribes-people were gifted kefir grains by the Prophet Mohammed.
So what is so big deal about it? Well, to quote from the Seeds of Health website:
Microorganisms present in the grains include lactic acid bacteria, Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis, Streptococcus thermophilus, Lb delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus, Lb helveticus, Lb casei subsp. pseudoplantarum and Lb brevis, a variety of yeasts, such as Kluyveromyces, Torulopsis, and Saccharomyces, acetic acid bacteria among others. They give kefir excellent keeping qualities by keeping putrifying bacteria that might otherwise colonise the milk at bay…….. In addition to beneficial bacteria and yeast, kefir contains many vitamins, minerals, amino acids and enzymes. Particularly calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, B2 and B12, vitamin K, vitamin A and vitamin D.
Its generous allocation of tryptophan, calcium and magnesium are all thought to calm the nerves while its abundance of enzymes mean that, if taken raw (cooking kills the enzymes) it can be tolerated by those who are normally lactose intolerant. Enthusiasts believe that it will improve almost any health condition, including candidiasis as the beneficial yeasts in its structure will help kill off the harmful yeast, candida albicans.
Kefir grains are remarkably tolerant and very vigorous and, given a decent bowl of milk to live in, will ferment, grow and multiply like good ‘uns. However…. If you live in the UK or any other ‘hygienised’ western country, you will only be able to buy pasteurised milk whereas, if the kefir is to do what the Good Lord (or at least His Prophet) intended it to, it needs the full spectrum of bacteria to be found in fresh, ‘raw’ milk to work on, not the few that remain after the milk has been heated to kill off the bad ones.
Serious kefir enthusiasts might well consider buying a cow; for the rest of us, unless we just happen to live next door to a farm selling green-top to milk, we have made do with an inferior pasteurised version. But, things are looking up. The number of farms selling raw milk is growing fast and some of them are now running mail order services.
The Natural Food Finder site has a very useful page on raw milk suppliers around the country. Even better, a few of the suppliers can deliver across the UK.
One of these is Hook and Son at Langley’s Farm in Hertfordshire. (Feed: grass silage in the winter that has been made from lush spring grass and clover. An organic pea bean and wheat mix is also fed to the cows to supplement their grass diet). You can purchase on line and they will deliver across the UK.
Delivering milk around Suffolk and to designated collection points in London is Espace Farming in Woodbridge (currently farming to organic standards although ‘no longer willing to keep certified due to the ethos of the current organic industry’).
Beaconhill Farm in Herefordshire (no routine use of antibiotics; the farm follows organic farming principles, but does not hold certification) can also deliver nationwide.
Overton Farm in Somerset (Feed: grass-fed in the summer and home-grown silage in the winter. No routine anibiotics or grain feeds used.) delivers via Somerset Local Food Direct.
And, John Scott tells me that you can get raw unpasteurised cow’s and goat’s milk from Hollypark Organics delivered by Red23, ‘specialists in Organic Health Food, Superfoods and Therapeutic Food based Supplements.’
Even if you are not up for making kefir, there are those that believe that raw milk is infinitely more nutritious and easier to tolerate than pasteurised anyhow and that, given the enormous improvement in dairy hygeine etc, pasturisation is no longer necessary. While this may indeed be true for a relatively small farm with good welfare standards, pasteuristation will no doubt remain a necessity for large, intensively farmed herds whose basic health and welfare may always remain in question.
For more on raw milk and raw food in general see Jill Jacobs article, Wise Traditions and a old article on the FoodsMatter website, Unpasteurised and proud of it by Sir Julian Rose, one of the pioneers of green top milk.
You could also sign up to the Campaign for Real Milk:
Over the last few years milk has become more and more denaturised by the supermarkets and large dairies and the public have been left in the dark about what has been going on. The Campaign for Real Milk is here to expose the true facts to you – the consumer – and to let you know where you can buy milk as you used to drink as a child and how you can help to turn back the tide of homogenisation and long life.
You might also be interested to follow the raw milk story States-side where the battle rages a lot more fiercely and where, despite the best endeavours of the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) whose position is that ‘raw milk should never be consumed’, the sale of raw milk is legal within 10 states, but not across state borders. The latest standoff has been between the FDA and an Amish farmer in Pennsylvania who has just been taken to court by the FDA, after a year-long sting operation, to prevent him selling his contraband goods to willing customers in the Washington area. Read the report in the Washington Times….
11th July 2011
It has just been brought to my attention that the current UK regulations state that there is, in fat, no restriction on the sale of raw goat, sheep or buffalo milk, or on the sale of raw cow’s milk cream.
am lactose intolerant and I am able to take milk kefir without any issues. I started with kefir after attending a talk by Dr. Natasha Campbell McBride at Wise Tradition Conference in London last March 2011. She developed what’s called GAPS diet. I am currently on the Intro GAPS diet and have seen significant improvement on my skin. Its a condition (big red rashes covering only certain parts of my body but not itchy) that cannot be properly diagnosed by Specialists. All my blood tests, allergy tests are negative and my skin biopsy only showed inflammation… I get my raw goat’s milk from Hollypark Organics
Great to hear, Peachy. Dr Campbell’s McBride’s GAP diet is wonderful and I think has helped so many people. (For those who don’t know about her there is a short summary of her approach in a conference report on the FoodsMatter site or you can get her book here.
I have just ordered my first consignment of raw goat’s milk from Red23 who deliver the Hollypark organics milk. Can’t wait!
Sue Cane, who gave us our kefir grains, says that she now has so many that she would love to pass some on! If you are interested, please let us know and we’ll arrange to get some to you – somehow……
” Michelle Berriedale-Johnson says:
June 28, 2011 at 11:44 am
Sue Cane, who gave us our kefir grains, says that she now has so many that she would love to pass some on! If you are interested, please let us know and we’ll arrange to get some to you – somehow……”
I would love to have some kefir seeds. Could you please guide me how to get it?
Thanks
Woldu
Where can I get free kefir grains?
If you send us your mailing address we can send you a few which will then, hopefully, grow and multiply for you! That is assuming that you are UK based……
Hi,
I just found this website, whilst looking for organic kefir grains.
Does anyone know a good, reputable source of organic kefir grains, fed with preferably non-homogenised cow’s milk or raw milk would be even better.
Many Thanks and Best Regards
Nicole
Hi Nicole –
Sadly we are rarely able to get raw milk to feed out grains, but they seem to flourish OK on goat’s milk. If you are UK based, I could try positing you some – I have done so successfully for a couple of other enthusiasts. Bit you would need to email me a mailing address.
Michelle
Hi
I came across this site as I am searching for kefir grains. I’m in the process of ordering raw milk from red23 and I’m really keen to try kefir grains, but they are not that easy to get a hold of. If you have any available or could point me in the direction of where or who to obtain some from that would be very much appreciated.
I’m based in the UK
Kind regards
Barbara
Hi Barbara – I’m afraid that our kefir grains are in a slightly dodgy state at the moment – they seem to be shrinking rather than growing….. But the person who gave them to us says that this does sometimes happen and just to hang in there. So, assuming that they recover and start to grow and multiply again, I would be happy to send you some in the post. Let’s stay in touch….
Hi Michelle,
Thank you for coming back to me on this, which I just found out through an email the website just sent to me.
It would be great if you could post me some grains. Goat’s milk is supposed to be great but unfortunately I cannot get used to its taste. But I guess it doesn’t matter as I still can feed them with cow’s milk?
Do you use organic goat’s milk?
We are in the process of moving. Can I let you know our address as soon as we are settled in the new place?
Many thanks for you kind offer. If you have got a pay pal account I would cover your expenses or whatever you would ask for this favour.
Kind Regards
Nicole
Hi Nicole –
We do use goat’s milk but cow is fine. Ideally it should be unpasteurised of course. Do let me know your new address once you are moved – and hopefully, by that time out grains may have recovered!!
No charge – just nice to spread the word!
Best – Michelle
Hi Michelle
Thanks, Hopefully they will start growing again. Will definately stay in touch
Kind regards
Barbara
Hi Michelle,
Thanks a lot! It’s very kind. I will be in touch with our new address as soon as we move.
Best Regards
Nicole
I just bought some organic unpasteurised buffalo milk today in Kensington at South Kensington Farmer’s market. I think I’ve bought raw milk at Blackheath Farmer’s market as well.
I have just been given a link to Dom’s About Kefir site which tells you everything you need to know – or are ever likely to need to know – about kefir!!
I used to have a mother kafir about 20 years ago and would love to start again. Any ideas where I can get one now? My daughter will be so happy if I can get hold of some. She and I were the only ones in the family who loved the taste.
Hi – so sorry about the delay in responding… Sadly, our kefir is not in very good shape at the moment but if you look at the comments on this blog, Sue has some good suggestions as to where you could get some.
Hi everyone,
Just to let you know that we have got some lovely, well growing pearly white kefir grains for sharing. I bought those originally through Dom’s Kefir Website, Australia in dried state and since then after successful revival I have got a good amount of great, healthy grains and wouldn’t mind to share some (I have got about 4 x 2 table spoons too much). I gave used only organic non-homogenised full fat milk. The grains are doing well from the start. I would post them by first class mail in plastic bottle – 200 ml in milk. I am asking for a modest fee to cover the postage plus some towards the expenses I incurred myself. Please let me know if interested to my email address nicolego@hotmail.co.uk.
Cheerio
Hi Nicole – That’s brilliant – than you so much! I am going to repost your comment as a new post to make sure that as many people as possible see it!!
Can someone ship kefir into the US from Great Britain? I once had some kefir that a medical doctor had said came from somewhere in Europe was ‘different’ because it came from there. All I know was that it was real good with either cow or goat milk. Then I fear it became contaminated, so I am looking for a new source. I would pay to have it shipped into Colorado as long as it is free.
To be honest, I don’t know Nate. Not sure how well kefir grains cope with being dried out, which would be the obvious way to ship them. Anyone out there got any ideas?….
A strainer (the plastic kind with the handle and a metal mesh strainer work great).
Because the kefir grains were considered as tribal wealth, they were inherited from
generation to generation and possession wasn’t easy. How to Make Kefir – The production of kefir grains requires the addition of live kefir in milk.
Hi, does anyone still have any Kefir Grains to ship to the uk as all the ones i have tried so far dont seem to last more than a few batches?
HI,
I HAVE GOT SOME GRAINS IN GREAT CONDITION, WHICH I REVIVED FROM DRIED CONDITION (THAT’S HOW THEY WERE POSTED TO ME FROM AUSTRALIA ABOUT A YEAR AGO) AND I NEVER HAD A PROBLEM WIH THEM. I MAKE KEFIR FROM NON-HOMOGENISED, WHOLE MILK, MAY BE THAT’S THE KEY. YOU WOULD NEED TO PAY FOR THE POSTAGE £3.99 AS I NEED TO POST IT 300ML BOTTLE OF MILK + £5 TO CONTRIBIUTE TOWARDS MY EXPENSES OF BUYING, REVIVING AND CARING FOR GRAINS ( I THINK IT IS ONLY FARE TO ME). CHEERS
Hi , do you know if kefir is ok for people with Multiple Sclerocis, if yes , please can you tell me how can I get some grains , I would like to try the kefir with goat milk , I was using Kombucha back in 2000 before running the London marathon in 2001.
Many thanks
Regards S Fairbrass
Hi Stewart – Don;t know about MS and kefir but I cannot see any reason why it should not be unless you have a specific problem with animal milk proteins. I would be happy to send you some grains if you want to give me your address, although it will not be for about ten days as I am away next week. Michelle
Wonderful information regarding kefir and its benefits. Just started taking it, myself & 12yr old son, and we love it! would love some kefir grains, please.
HI Jane – so glad you have found the information useful. If you would like to email me your address I will send you some grains next time I replenish ours. Best – Michelle
Hello Michelle, thank you so much for the information. My husband and I would love to introduce this superfood in our diet but I do not really know where to get them from. I am still a bit new on all this… How to prepare it, how to conserve it, what to make with it… So exciting! Thanks for you help.
If you send me your address, next time our grains outgrow their pot (they grow very fast at this time of year) I can send you some. Meanwhile you might want to check out Sue’s video here and Gill’s article http://www.freefromsupplements.com/micronutrition/superfoods/articles/kefir-jacobs-09-13.html
….
Hi, thank you for the great information – I really want to start making my own kefir but am having trouble finding live grains. Do you know where I can look? I have just discovered kefir and am a bit new to all of this but very excited! Thank you!
Hi Francesca – if you send me you address (assuming that you are in the UK) I can send you some grains next time I make ours as we have too much at the moment. If you are not in the UK you can buy grains on line.
Oh, that’s incredible – thank you so much! Yes, I am in the UK. I will email you my address at michelle@foodsmatter.com. Thanks again!
I grew up in Estonia and kefir was something we always had in the fridge – granted from a supermarket, but it was delicious and nutritious nonetheless. To be honest it never crossed my mind to try to make it myself because all I ever had to do to satisfy my “kefir fix” was run to the shop next door and get myself a bottle. It wasn’t until I moved to England 6 years ago that I realised the rest of the world knows very little of it and I could only find it in a handful of Eastern European shops – and it just didn’t taste the same. So I’ve decided to give it a go making my own, I found a raw milk supplier (another thing I couldn’t believe is so hard to find here, in Estonia they have huge milk dispensers in super markets where you can fill a bottle with raw milk!) in Cornwall, but now I just need to get some kefir grains. Could anyone point me towards someone who has extra I could buy, or a shop which sells them? Thank you in advance!
Hi Liis – Yes, I am afraid we have been very ignorant about fermented foods of all kinds here in the UK….. Great that you have got a raw milk supplier and, as it happens, my kefir has just gone through a spring growth spurt so I have some to spare!! Would you like to send me your address (assuming that you are in the UK) and I will send you some.
Michelle
Hi Michelle . Yes please I would like some rains , my home address is 7 Stroud Park Avenue , Christchurch , Dorset . BH23 3HQ. thank you
Regards Mr. S. Fairbrass.
Oh yes please, I would love some! I’ve emailed you my address on michelle@foodsmatter.com. Thank you so much!
Hi Michelle
Do you still have some milk kefir grains? I tried contact you by email but it failed. Could you please send me some milk kefir grains? Could you please to contact me. Thanks a lot.
Hi Winnie –
I do have some kefir grains and, provided you are in the UK, can send you some. Do you want to email me your address? michelle@foodsmatter.com
IF THERE IS ANYONE WHO HAS SOME SPARE KEFIR GRAINS I WOULD LOVE SOME SENT TO ME MY ADDRESS AND MY NAME
PAUL ELLIOTT
222C GLOUCESTER TERRACE
LONDON
W26HU
http://www.superfoods-for-superhealth.com/kefir.html
I HAD A BRAIN INJURY, AND NOW HOW GREAT KEFIR IS FOR THE BODY!
Hi Paul – I’ll put you on the waiting list!! Best – Michelle
THANK YOU MICHELLE, REGARDS PAUL
Hi Michelle.
Like Liis, when I came from East Europe I was terribly missing kefir. A friend from Canada introduced me to kefir and I have been using it for 4 years. The taste wasn’t the same but I have been using pasteurised milk. I only found out today, after reading your blog, that I should have used unpasteurised milk. Nevertheless, using Kefir has been really beneficial as I have been suffering from candidiasis since 2000. Sadly, I recently managed to kill my lovely kefir grains while recovering from concussion. I left them for too long outside and I realised that I cannot revive them. If you or anyone else reading this has some kefir grains to spare I would really appreciate if you can send it to me. Alternatively, do you know a shop in London which sells them? Thanks very much.
Katarina
Hi Katarina –
I am very happy to put you on the ‘waiting list’ for some of our grains but it may be a few weeks before I have any ready. If you are happy to wait, can you email me your address to info@foodsmatter.com.
Alternatively, if you Google kefir grains I think there are now a number of places where you can actually buy them.
Do hop ego get up you and ‘kefir-ed’ again soon!
Thanks very much Michelle. I don’t mind waiting. I have sent you my address.
All the best
Katarina