Online help and pictures showing How-To-kefir at www.happyherbalist.com/how_to_kefir.htm

Optional when you order our Live Kefir Grains you can purchase Harald Tietze's informative Kefir Book for only $5.00. A savings of $4.95 and a wealth of information. (regular price for $9.95, see below for more information). Choose this option and you'll receive our Live Kefir Grains, Our Probiotic Booklet, Harald's Tietze 81 page book loaded with recipes and fun ideas, toll free support to get you going, and our unconditional guarantee for a total cost of only $19.95 (plus shipping usually $6.50 for a grand total of $26.45). SORRY TEMPORARY OUT OF STOCK on Harald's Book. We expect the books in by mid-March. If you would like this book click the option above and we will ship when they come in. You will not be charged until the book is shipped.

Similar to kombucha and other fermented foods, Kefir is a symbiosis of many beneficial bacteria and yeasts which form grains of cauliflower-like structures. During the fermentation process (usually 12-24 hours) the Kefir Grains changes normal milk into healthy living food. A Probiotic many times the factor of store bought yogurt, kefir or probiotics in capsule form. It is not recommended to take Kefir at same time that one takes antibiotics, as kefir (pro; in favor of, biotic: life) will weaken the overall effect of the antibiotic (anti; against, biotic; life). Kefir and other probiotics are highly recommended right before and right after any antibiotics or vaccinations.

The gift of the Prophet, as people from the Caucasus referred to these grains as they enjoyed a full life expectancy between 110 - 150 years old. Kefir is also known as Snow lotus and as the Tibetan mushroom. which may cause confusion for some folks as the kombucha mushroom is also known as the Tibetan Mushrooms as well as the Manchurian Mushroom (and a host of other names). our Kefir grains are similar to the Japanese Water Crystals, or Tibi and will produce a refreshing healthy beverage using just water (or juice) and sugar.

We ship out 2 spoonfuls of our live kefir grains, enough to make 2 cups of kefir. Unlike the powdered kefir granules our Live Kefir Grains will continue to grow and multiply and almost double in size within 2 months. You also receive our instructions.

No cooking or messy preparation is required. Cold milk right from the fridge may be used and all one needs to do is to strain the kefir. The strained part (kefir) is then drunk or eaten. Flavor freely with fruits and cereals. The other part is re-capturing the Kefir Grains. To do this the kefir when ready is simply poured through a strainer. Being careful not to lose the baby kefir grains down the drain. We offer extra large muslin culinary bags that the kefir grains can be suspended in and then just pull out and place in a fresh glass of milk :)) The Kefir Grains are then added to a new glass of fresh milk and covered for 17-24 hours. kefir is fermented at a extremely wide temperature range - between 39 F-10° F 4 C to 40 C) However, a consistent reliable temperature is optimal. At warmer temperatures the Kefir reproduces much faster. Our 17 watt heating mats are ideal for this :))

For Diabetics or Low Carbohydrate watchers or those lactose intolerant there is a no-fridge method recommended by Dom (Dom's Kefir site a must read) This is achieved by storing freshly strained kefir in a sealed container and left at room temperature to ripen [or mature] for a few days. This system is similar to how kefir was stored by the original kefir-cultures of Caucasus, This method produces kefir with lots of FIZZ! Fermenting Glass jars may explode. Should not be done where small children are present. Freshly strained kefir may be placed in a clean glass [or plastic] bottle, stored at room temperature for up to one week or longer in cool climates, or for up to 3 to 4 days in warmer climates.

Depending on the fermentation process, fermentation temperature, time and type of culture used, the alcohol content of Kefir will vary from 0.06 % (Marshall 1984), up to a maximum of 3% alcohol. The average alcohol content in home brewing is around 0.5% with a loose lid and 1% in an airtight jar. Shaking the fermentation container during the fermentation time also results in higher alcohol content. Using a cloth or paper covering reduces the alcohol amount.

Kefir supplies high-quality protein and calcium, rich mineral content and lowered salt content which may help reduce the chances of bone fractures, strokes and osteoporosis, which are major causes of elderly people becoming bedridden. The Vice President for Education at the American Institute for Cancer Research concluded "The thousands of vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals (beneficial plant compounds) in whole foods act synergistically together to create a more powerful effect than the sum of their parts, producing a result which cannot be recreated by supplements." Although a vitamin and mineral formula (like our Liquid Life Complete, which is a powerhouse of all the nutrients imaginable, can not complete with real whole foods - like our Kefir and Caspian Sea Yogurt and to a lesser degree our Kombucha Mushroom Tea.

We ship fresh Monday-Thursday Priority Mail with delivery confirmation