What is kefir?

WHAT IS KEFIR

What is Kefir

Kefir is a refreshing acidic drink that results from the fermentation of the milk using Kefir. The fermentation process provides a delicious drink (juice) that is slightly thicker than milk. Kefir contains yeasts (for example Saccharomyces unisporus, Kluyveromyces marxianus) and bacteria (including lactobacillus caucasus, kefyr) that live together harmoniously. For decades now, people have been making Kefir at home to benefit from its claimed health benefits, but also to enjoy the special crisp taste. In the 70s it was all the rage and everyone had a ‘pot of Kefir’ on their work tops.

Kefir is easy to make with the starter cultures from The Kefir Company, so it will cost only a fraction of what you would pay for the dairy drinks at your local supermarket. Moreover, Kefir is not a product that stems from the fantasy of a large business, it is a product that comes straight from nature.

The drink of the centenarians

The Ossetians were the early users of Kefir. This Russian ethnic group was known for its vitality, health and longevity. The Ossetians lived thousands of years ago in the Caucasus. The Caucasus is a mountainous region enclosed by Russia, Turkey, Armenia and Azerbaijan. The Ossetians were nomads and stored their milk in bags during their travels. They discovered that the milk fermented in the bags, resulting in ‘Kefir’. The Ossetians kept their secret for many centuries. From the 19th century onwards, Kefir was called ‘the drink of the centenarians’ and is now synonymous with a daily source of health and vitality.