We wouldn’t be able to make our incredible kefir milk without real kefir grains! But most of you are probably wondering… what exactly are they and where do kefir grains come from?
Let’s break it down! Kefir grains are the secret ingredient that makes this drink so special. When added to milk, they kickstart the fermentation process, transforming regular milk into a probiotic powerhouse!
At Chuckling Goat, we prefer to use goat’s milk for our kefir because it’s naturally easier to digest compared to cow’s milk and packed with beneficial nutrients.
Where do kefir grains come from?
The precise history of kefir grains remains a mystery, but they are believed to have originated in the Northern Caucasus Mountains.
Here nomadic tribes, like the Karachais, used them for centuries to ferment milk in animal skins and preserve it in the harsh mountain climate – creating the creamy, tangy, and fizzy kefir drink we know today! 1https://fungimag.com/summer-08-articles/7_Medicinal_Final.pdf
Some, particularly in the scientific community, claim that kefir grains formed naturally and spontaneously by the process of adding and removing milk from animal-skin bottles.2https://brill.com/view/journals/bm/6/2/article-p159_2.xml
Others say they appeared miraculously, with legends stating they were a divine gift from the prophet Muhammad – this is why they are often referred to as “seeds of the prophet”. People of the Northern Caucasus, known for their longevity, have one of the highest proportions of centenarians in the world, with kefir being a staple in their diet.
Initially, kefir grains were kept as closely guarded secrets and treated like family heirlooms by these nomadic tribes. However, the Russians highly sought after them due to their life-extending and health-promoting properties.
The secret eventually leaked due to the efforts of spy Irina Sakhavora, who charmed the Karachai prince, Bek-Mirza Barchorov, and secured the grains. This resulted in the spread of kefir to neighbouring regions, including Turkey, where it became a beloved drink.
By the early 1900s, kefir’s health benefits began attracting attention in the West, even long before “probiotics” became a term.3https://fungimag.com/summer-08-articles/7_Medicinal_Final.pdf
What are kefir grains?
Kefir grains are not really “grains” in the traditional sense. They are a natural cluster of bacteria, yeast, and polysaccharides, all bound together in a gelatinous form that resembles tiny cauliflower florets, also known as kefiran.4https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4626640/#B72
These living cultures work in harmony to ferment milk and make the magic happen.
Kefir grains are often compared to SCOBYs (Symbiotic Colonies of Bacteria and Yeast) used in kombucha fermentation and water kefir grains, used to ferment sugary water, as they share similarities in appearance.
However, they all differ in their microbial makeup and milk kefir grains are specifically designed to ferment diary-based liquids, such as milk, to produce a unique probiotic drink.5https://www.intechopen.com/chapters/1195007
Though many have tried, no one has successfully recreated kefir grains artificially. Labs have developed powdered culture starters that mimic kefir, to produce a commercially consistent product. However, these imitations contain far fewer probiotics.6https://www.intechopen.com/chapters/1195007
Unfortunately, many supermarket kefirs use these powdered starters, which lack the full range of beneficial bacteria found in the real thing. At Chuckling Goat, we make our kefir with authentic kefir grains – nothing less!
Click here to learn more about what kefir is?
What are kefir grains made of?
Kefir grains contain billions of beneficial microorganisms, including lactic acid bacteria and yeasts, which work together to ferment milk. This process breaks down lactose and produces lactic and butyric acids, contributing to the kefir’s characteristic tangy flavour.
Additionally, this fermentation process generates beneficial components, such as vitamins and enzymes.7https://kefirsa.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Kefir-report-1.pdf
As mentioned previously, one of kefir’s standout qualities is its ability to preserve food. The low pH from the fermentation and competition for nutrients make it hard for harmful microorganisms to grow.8https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/nutrition-research-reviews/article/milk-kefir-nutritional-microbiologic-and-health-benefits/1393DC2B8E5F08B0BE7BD58F030D387B
This diversity of good bacteria makes kefir an even more potent probiotic than yoghurt or cheese, as it contains a wider variety of bacterial strains that can colonise your gut longer. Making it great for your gut health!
These are what we call non-transient bacteria, meaning they remain in your gut, promoting better health over time.9https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9003261/10https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-38800977
Once fermented, the grains can be collected and placed into fresh milk to begin a new fermentation cycle – making kefir a renewable, sustainable source of probiotics!
How Chuckling Goat’s kefir grains differ from the rest
At Chuckling Goat, we take our kefir grains very seriously! Ours are cultivated in small batches and carefully nurtured to ensure the healthiest, most active cultures possible. This attention to detail is what sets our kefir apart from others – it’s the key to the smooth, tangy kefir that our customers love.
After over eight years of cultivating and growing our grain bank, which began with just one tablespoon, our unique kefir grains are now licensed and registered to our farm.
We take pride in using traditional, high-quality methods to cultivate our kefir grains, ferment our goat’s milk, and craft our kefir – ensuring you get all the benefits with every sip! Read all about REAL vs FAKE kefir here. Plus, our sustainable farming practices guarantee that our kefir is not only good for your gut but also for the planet.
Fun fact! We were taught to make kefir in the traditional Russian style by Dr Natasha Campbell-McBride, who pioneered the use of kefir in her GAPS protocol.
Can you grow your own kefir?
This question definitely pops up from time to time, and we often see comments on our social media from people making their own kefir using their very own kefir grains!
Yes, you can grow your kefir grains at home and make kefir milk, but it requires patience and the right knowledge. Start with quality kefir grains and a safe environment, and ensure you follow best food safety practices and guidelines when reusing any live cultures. If not done correctly, the process can be risky!
For more details, check out our guide on safe kefir-making. While we don’t sell our own Chuckling Goat kefir grains, you can find other types of kefir grains online.
What are the risks of reusing kefir grains?
Using live bacterial cultures has great benefits but potential risks! Bacteria, just like humans, can catch viruses – in this case, viruses called phage can affect strains like Lactobacillus (the main bacteria in kefir).11https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3231927/
Phage infection can lead to issues with the quality and safety of the kefir, which can then spread to future batches. A phage-infected culture can even cause dangerous bacteria like E. coli to produce harmful toxins.12https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/01/210106142642.htm
When buying kefir grains online, these risks are rarely disclosed, so it’s crucial to take proper precautions to avoid these risks. First, ensure you use fresh, high-quality grains; second, ensure proper microbiological testing regularly and implement quality control mechanisms.
How do I know if I killed my kefir grains?
Healthy grains should be firm and jelly-like, with a smooth texture and a slight white or yellowish colour, as shown in the picture above. If they’re mushy, discoloured, or have an unpleasant smell, it’s time to get some new ones!
Can I use kefir as a starter culture?
We strongly advise against using kefir as a starter culture to make more kefir. This is not a food-safe procedure, as only live kefir grains can safely ferment milk and drop it to the correct pH.
For proper fermentation, it’s also important to use the right grain-to-milk ratio to quickly drop the pH and prevent harmful bacteria from growing.
Can I use alternative milk for kefir?
While plant-based alternatives like coconut, soy and oat milk can be used to make kefir, they lack lactose, which is vital for the proper growth and activity of the kefir grains.
The lactic acid bacteria in the kefir grains feed on lactose, and without it, fermentation is hindered, reducing the effectiveness of probiotic production and limiting the grains’ growth.
So why leave it to the experts?
For your safety, we microbiologically test every batch of our kefir at a public safety lab to ensure it’s free from contamination before it leaves our farm. We can guarantee that every kefir bottle is safe and pure, and we can happily provide the paperwork!
We recommend doing the same if you make kefir at home and regularly test your batches. If not, it’s best you buy from a licensed and registered supplier like Chuckling Goat.
Now that you know where kefir grains come from and how crucial it is to use high-quality grains, why not leave the hard work to us? At Chuckling Goat, we’re experts in fermentation, so you can rest easy knowing that our award-winning Kefir is top-notch, full of live cultures, and ready to do wonders for your gut health!
Want to take your gut health to the next level? Combine our kefir with our Complete Prebiotic, which contains 18 different natural fibres that feed your probiotics and boost your microbiome. This dynamic duo, part of our Gut Health Protocol, creates a synbiotic intervention that promotes the growth of beneficial bacteria and the production of anti-inflammatory substances known as postbiotics.
Learn more about the science and positive results of our synbiotic. Or you can check out our reviews and find out for yourself!
Interested in our Microbiome Test Kit? Take advantage of our Gut Health Starter Pack, which includes the test, our kefir and the Complete Prebiotic – plus a free 30-minute consultation with one of our expert Nutritional Therapists. You’ll receive personalised insights into your gut health and a plan to improve it!
Click here for more articles on kefir.
Learn more about us and how the company started.
Any questions? Contact one of our Nutritional Therapists via live chat, weekdays from 8 am to 8 pm.
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