Fermentos

Kefir: the living culture of the Caucasus

Receta de la cocina Simbiosis. Conoce a los chefs que cocinan con nosotros →

Origin: Caucasus (Georgia, Russia, nearby mountainous regions) · Yield: 1 liter · Fermentation Time: 24 hours · Difficulty: Easy

Kefir is made with "grains"—a living colony of bacteria and yeast—that ferment milk (or sugar water, in its plant-based version) in just over a day, resulting in a thick, slightly acidic drink.

Ingredients

  • 1 liter whole milk (or water with sugar for water kefir)
  • 2-3 tbsp kefir grains

Preparation

  1. Pour the milk into a clean glass jar and add the kefir grains.
  2. Cover with cloth (not airtight) and let ferment at room temperature for 24 hours, stirring occasionally.
  3. Strain to separate the grains (save them for the next batch) from the fermented liquid.
  4. Refrigerate the finished kefir; it can be consumed plain or with fruit.

Functional note: Kefir is traditionally associated with providing multiple strains of live bacteria and yeast, unlike other single-strain dairy ferments. This information is educational and does not replace the advice of a healthcare professional.

Learn the full picture on our Fermentation page.