How to Buy Kefir Grains

Last Updated: June 17, 2021

Kefir is a fermented dairy beverage that originated in what is now southwest Russia. The beverage is prepared by adding "kefir grains" to milk from cows, goats, or sheep. Kefir grains are small granules of proteins, sugars, and fats that contain living colonies of various yeasts and bacteria. These microorganisms ferment the lactose in the milk over the course of about a day, and the result is a sour, effervescent, slightly alcoholic drink hailed for its probiotic qualities. Kefir grains cannot readily be prepared from scratch, but they can be purchased from several suppliers. Once you buy kefir grains, you can generally keep the cultures alive so that you don't need to buy fresh grains ever again.

Steps

1
Determine whether you want to buy fresh kefir grains or powdered kefir cultures. Fresh kefir grains are the preferred choice for people who prepare kefir regularly. These grains can be continually propagated with minimal effort, so you only ever need to buy them once. Powdered cultures, consisting of dormant yeast and bacteria, are a more convenient option that can be stored easily and do not have to be monitored. However, the powdered form does expire and needs to be repurchased periodically.
2
Ask friends and neighbors if they can give you some kefir grains. If you know anyone living in your area that makes kefir, he or she will almost certainly be willing to give you some kefir grains at no cost. Kefir cultures grow aggressively, so anyone maintaining one will be constantly sloughing off excess. Asking a friend to give you this excess is the easiest way to obtain fresh kefir grains.

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3
Check a web directory for nearby people who share kefir grains. There are several Internet directories that maintain lists of people (and their location) who have volunteered to donate or sell their kefir grains. Project Kefir and the International Kefir Grains List are 2 such directories. If someone on the list lives near you, contact them to ask about obtaining some of their kefir grains.
4
Join an Internet discussion forum for kefir hobbyists. There are numerous groups and discussion forums for people to discuss kefir preparation. Many of these forums will have a page where members can list kefir grains available for donation or sale.
5
Buy kefir grains from a commercial source. There are plenty of retailers that sell kefir grains, many of whom will ship the grains to your door. Health food stores may carry kefir grains, and specialty culture stores will stock several varieties. Cultures for Health, a company based in Oregon, USA, specializes in bacterial and yeast cultures for making cheese, yogurt, pickles, kefir, and more.
6
Manage your kefir grains properly. Once you buy kefir grains, you need to manage them well to keep them alive. The best way to do this is to keep them in a jar at room temperature, adding fresh milk to the jar each day. They can also be stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. ^{[1]
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Community Q&A

Question

What is kefir made of?

Tom De Backer

Top Answerer

Kefir is made by adding kefir grains to milk, at about a 2 - 5% ratio. The milk is then kept for some time, and the grains are then filtered out to be used again. The grains allow the milk to ferment into a thin yogurt; it's just fermented milk that you're drinking.
Question

I want to take some grains to South Africa. How are they shipped? Are they in liquid? How long will they keep?

Tom De Backer

Top Answerer

Keep in mind that exporting or transporting food items is strictly regulated in every country of the world. Just because you want to take grains there doesn't mean they'll let you. Chances are they'll confiscate it a the border and destroy the items.
Question

If someone donates kefir grains to me, should I wash them?

Community Answer

Yes, rinsing the grains would be a good idea.