Dear Everyone who has asked us if we know of a source of, or could supply, some kefir grains (see post way back in June last year),
At the time we did manage to supply several people with ‘children’ from our plant – which had kindly been donated to us by our gluten-free beer lady, Sue Cane. However, recently, while still making perfectly nice kefir, our grains have ceased to grow and multiply as they before……
I have just consulted with Sue on this matter and she says that her grains (which were originally her dad’s and were vigorous in the extreme) have also started beating a retreat and she wonders whether the kefir grains, like the rest of us, are so depressed by endless, if needed, rain that they have decided to go into hibernation…
So this is really just to tell the five or six people who have recently asked about grains that, as of now, we really cannot afford to give any away but, if the sun comes out, and the kefir leaps back to energetic life, I will put up an alerting blog and, if you have not managed to get any elsewhere, do please come back to me.
Dear Michelle
I just wanted to say that although of course it’s really lovely to be given grains by friends, there’s quite a large international kefir-sharing community at large and it’s easy to obtain new grains online for just the cost of postage.
You can also buy kefir grains on Ebay. I’ve done this a few of times with great success. It’s exciting because each batch is a slightly different variety. Some make a kefir that’s mild with less tang to it, and others a kefir that’s strong and almost cheesy. The grains vary in size and shape from tiny and well-defined, like white couscous, to much larger and sloppier shapes, like tapioca.
Once you do have your grains they last for years. (My father was given his by friends and made kefir from this same batch for over 20 years, far longer than the friends who originally gave them to him.)
Don’t worry if the grains occasionally seem to reduce in quantity. They’re living organisms and do naturally wax and wane. But now’s an ideal time to acquire some as kefir loves the warmth of spring and summer and will get off to a really good start at this time of year.
Do the kefir grains multiply as batches are made over and over?
I got some raw milk from a farmer friend. Is this milk best?
Also what ratio of grains to milk is recommended?
Thanks.
Hi Michelle,
How are your Kefir grains doing? 🙂
We moved a while a go but it took us time to settle down properly. I am expecting now and really fancy some kefir. We still do not have any easy access to raw milk but The Waitrose non-homogenised organic Dutchy milk is the closest to it we found locally, so I guess I’d use that.
If you are still willing to part with some of your kefir grains and if they are in a healthy state, could I email you my address please? (I’d need your email address for that, if that’s o’k).
Thanks a lot.
Nicole
Hi Nicole….
I am afraid that I am currently not quite sure…. Our main kefir maker has been away so we put them in the fridge to hibernate fora while- and haven’t yet retrieved them…. Hoping that their ‘winter’ off might have revived them – will report…. However,if you cannot get any from us, Sue, a few comments back, suggested some other good sources.
Michelle
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!!