Not exact matches
Loads of people have success with this, but typically you'll find dairy
kefir grains (which have some lactose in them and are best avoided if you are lactose intolerant) and water
kefir grains, which can work in a sugary water drink, coconut water, or other water -
based beverages and makes a light champagne - like drink.
I am trying to find some source for sharing
kefir grains since I can't afford to purchase them, but am anxious to try a plant
based version that subs dates for the lactose it feed on!
Kefir grains are a mixture of probiotic bacteria and beneficial yeasts in a
base of fat, sugar and protein.
Some non-dairy alternatives to milk -
based kefir grains are now available.
Went looking and found a paper on the
base idea http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0168160514001111 So I guess it should be viable; at least some strains of Bifidobacterium do well in
kefir and
kefir grains.
To produce your own home - made
kefir drink ñ whether milk -
based or water -
based ñ simply put 1 tablespoon of
kefir grains in a 500 ml glass jar and fill it up with milk or water to ferment.
Compare the number of probiotics in water
kefir above to double the strains in a milk
based kefir made with live
grains listed below.
I also use the
kefir grains to make beet kvass, a fermented beetroot drink, which is an amazing alternative to a milk
based kefir.
I make
kefir every day using raw goat milk and
kefir grains, and eat a mostly plant -
based diet.
To lay down a clear - cut comparison, milk
kefir and water
kefir have five distinct differences: the
grains, the
base, physical appearance, taste, and contents.
While
kefir is originally a dairy
based ferment, water
kefir grains are not related to them at all.