All you have to do is buy a nice little packet of dry powder from the food co-op. It comes in boxes in the baking section usually. And add it to boiled and cooled milk. No disgusting fungus necessary and it is much healthier than the pasteurized kind you can buy already made.

Anonymous wrote:omg. Don't google "gribok". My eyes! My eyes!

OMG, I just did it and I'm sorry. I was the person who originally posted about "gribok". In Russian it means "little mushroom" or "little fungus" and it was my family's affectionate name for the spongey white things that you pour the milk on to make kefir. Unfortunately, if you google it, you're going to see more the fungus side of the meaning and related pictures. Majorly gross.

Try this brand OP:

http://greenvalleylactosefree.com/products/product.php?p=6

They sell it at Whole Foods. I have not tried the kefir but love their yogurt and sour cream. Doesn't look like there is any added sugar.

omg. Don't google "gribok". My eyes! My eyes!

Good for you! I also suggest using Cultures For Health. I use the milk grains to make cow's milk and coconut milk kefir.

http://www.culturesforhealth.com/?a_aid=4f3d5fb0bd330

Also, here's a recent blog post I did for those who are unfamiliar with kefir:

http://coachchristymarie.healthcoach.integrativenutrition.com/blog/2012/02/milk-kefir-lets-break-it-down


Christy Przystawik
Holistic Health Coach
www.coachchristymarie.com
@ChristyMarieHHC

I'm also from Russia originally. You can buy plain kefir at Whole Foods or Trader Joes, though it's not like homemade. For several years I did make it at home. My mother got the "gribok" from a friend and gave me some. I got tired of it and gave it up but it is very good for digestion.

It is so incredibly easy to make. You just buy the starter at a food co-op or health food store, boil the milk, let it cool down, add the packet of stuff and let it sit over night. You can strain t through cheese cloth if you want it thick.

I've never made kefir, I make yogurt, which I love. This site has kefir cultures for sale:
http://www.culturesforhealth.com/

I've gotten their yogurt culture and it worked pretty well. Now I just use yogurt as a starter.

TJ has plain Kefir.

What's a kefir?

safeway has plain lifeway kefir, you can also waste money on organic http://www.lifeway.net/Products.aspx

Bump

I'd love to see a recipe. I agree that the ones here are full of sugar. In Europe, particularly Switzeland, the kefir is delicious.

I used to drink this when I lived in Russia. The only kefir I have seen here is full of sugar, which I'm trying to avoid. Has anyone ever made their own, or know of somewhere that sells organic plain kefir?