LymeNet Flash: Having trouble growing Kefir

LymeNet on Facebook

LymeNet on Twitter

Follow @LymeDiseaseNet

The Lyme Disease Network receives a commission from Amazon.com for each purchase originating from this site.

When purchasing from Amazon.com, please
click here first.

Thank you.

Dedicated to the Bachmann Family

LymeNet needs your help:
LymeNet 2020 fund drive

The Lyme Disease Network is a non-profit organization funded by individual donations.

»	LymeNet Flash » Questions and Discussion » Medical Questions » Having trouble growing Kefir

UBBFriend: Email this page to someone!

Author

Topic: Having trouble growing Kefir

Sandy
Member
Member # 8877

posted

I got my Kefir 10 - 14 days ago. It's just not working. I followed the instructions but it smells like yeast and tastes rotten. I've tried letting it grow a shorter time and a longer time but it doesn't change anything (it looks different but it tastes really bad.

We heat with a wood stove so the temperature changes in our house but it doesn't get below 50.

I was wondering if any one has any suggestions on how to make this work.
Thanks
Sandy

Posts: 56 | From Washington State | Registered: Feb 2006 | IP: Logged |

Lymetoo
Moderator
Member # 743

posted

It's going to be a little yeasty or sour smelling, but make sure you don't let it sit out more than 24 hrs to get the culture going.

Does it get above 70 in your house?

--------------------
--Lymetutu--
Opinions, not medical advice!

Posts: 96239 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001 | IP: Logged |

trails
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 1620

posted

It is supposed to smell that way and it is a taste that takes SOME getting used to.

It does have yeast in it, in fact, but i have read that it is beneficial yeast that overpowers the bad stuff.

I dont have links here-- sorry. But wanted you to know that it is pretty hard to NOT make it work. It is hardy stuff and it isnt finicky.

I like mine chilled, so I put it in the fridge for a day after i have it ripen for a day.

hopefully someone will come along with some good links.
trails

Posts: 1950 | From New Mexico | Registered: Sep 2001 | IP: Logged |

tory2457
LymeNet Contributor
Member # 10384

posted

Hi Sandy,

Here's a link on Kefir: http://users.chariot.net.au/~dna/kefirpage.html

I found this very helpful and I also bought grains on ebay from Dom...to get me started.

As Trails mentions it's pretty easy to make these grains grow; as a matter of fact I find they "mulitply" at a rapid rate!

Keep us posted as to how you make out!
Good luck, and before you know it you will LOVE the yeasty sour taste from Kefir! [Big Grin]

BTW, I obtained all this Kefir info right here on lymenet, thanks to whomever posted!

Posts: 158 | From PA | Registered: Oct 2006 | IP: Logged |

Penn92
LymeNet Contributor
Member # 9207

posted

It is a sour taste - sort of like strong plain yogurt. It should smell yeasty, too. It works faster at warmer temps, so if your house is cooler it may take 24-48 hours to work.

I agree that it is better if you strain the grains out and chill it before consuming it. Try it in a smoothie with a bit of ice and some stevia and strawberries (low glycemic fruit). Much tastier that way.

Google "Dom's kefir" and you'll find a wealth of great kefir-ing info.

--------------------
Getting older is when we would rather not have a good time
than have to get over it. - Oscar Wilde

Posts: 386 | From Radnor, PA - where the ticks run free | Registered: May 2006 | IP: Logged |

richedie
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 14689

posted

I am trying to make Coconut Kefor and it is not working. Any tips? I used low fat coconut milk and kefir starter. I added the started to the milk after it cooled and let it sit in a container for 24 hours and nothing happened! I thought curd would form?

--------------------
Mepron/Zith/Ceftin
Doxy/Biaxin/Flagyl pulse.
Artemisinin with Doxy/Biaxin.
Period of Levaquin and Ceftin.
Then Levaquin, Bactrim and Biaxin.
Bactrim/Augmentin/Rifampin.
Mepron/Biaxin/Artemisinin/Cat's Claw
Rifampin/Bactrim/Alinia
Plaquenil/Biaxin

Posts: 1949 | From Pennsylvania | Registered: Feb 2008 | IP: Logged |

Parisa
LymeNet Contributor
Member # 10526

posted

Richie,

I didn't have any success making coconut kefir either. It just went sour/bad. My goat milk kefir turns out fine though.

Posts: 984 | From San Diego | Registered: Nov 2006 | IP: Logged |

MariaA
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9128

posted

I'm also having a failure with coconut milk (though I'm using coconut juice, which I've used before ,and it's different than coconut milk).

Hmmm... sometimes grains do go bad. I've heard the 'my grains arrived and are disgusting' problem before. If it really tastes and smells awful through two or three changes of milk (and re-culturings) then it really might be bad.

--------------------
Symptom Free!!! Thank you all!!!!

Find me at Lymefriends, I post under the same name.
diet: http://lymefriends.ning.com/group/healthylowcarbrecipes
Homemade Probiotics thread
Herbal Links Thread

Posts: 2552 | From San Francisco | Registered: Apr 2006 | IP: Logged |

richedie
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 14689

posted

Thanks all, I don't do dairy so I guess I'll have to forget about drinking kefir or making coconut kefir. Oh well.....I was hopeful.

The woman who sold me the coconut milk and kefir kit said she had no issues. Next time I am in the store, I'll ask for tips.

--------------------
Mepron/Zith/Ceftin
Doxy/Biaxin/Flagyl pulse.
Artemisinin with Doxy/Biaxin.
Period of Levaquin and Ceftin.
Then Levaquin, Bactrim and Biaxin.
Bactrim/Augmentin/Rifampin.
Mepron/Biaxin/Artemisinin/Cat's Claw
Rifampin/Bactrim/Alinia
Plaquenil/Biaxin

Posts: 1949 | From Pennsylvania | Registered: Feb 2008 | IP: Logged |

backintherain
LymeNet Contributor
Member # 14385

posted

Thanks for the tip on finding kefir grains on ebay!

I used to have some several years ago, but I let them die when I moved. I've looked everywhere for a replacement.

--------------------
09/29/07: bitten
since
05/01: omnicef+biaxin+plaquenil 350
cats claw + knotwood thruout.

Posts: 227 | From Northern CA (bitten in Illinois) | Registered: Jan 2008 | IP: Logged |

evgen
Member
Member # 14118

posted

Parisa and Richedie, funny you are. You'd better try cow's milk for making kefir. That's the original recipe

--------------------
~From Russia with Lyme~

Posts: 34 | From Rostov-on-Don, Russia | Registered: Dec 2007 | IP: Logged |

GiGi
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 259

posted

If you do a search here, there is lots of info on Kefir and Yoghurt. There is quite a difference between the two. You will find my post about it when searching. If you can't, I will post later.

And here is more on Kefir

http://users.chariot.net.au/~dna/kefirpage.html

Have fun.

The milk or liquid for Kefir (unlike yoghurt) is not heated. I cover the container with a tea-cozy to keep drafts away and try to set it in a quiet corner - away from drafty window, doors, etc. It should start setting after 12-16 hours. Then drain through metal-free sieve, and store in fridge. If you let it sit out too long, it gets too sour. I often freeze the little "cauliflowers" in clean water, if I don't want to start another badge. It takes a little longer to start a new one because it has to melt and at room temp.
't

Posts: 9834 | From Washington State | Registered: Oct 2000 | IP: Logged |

Printer-friendly view of this topic

The Lyme Disease Network is a non-profit organization funded by individual donations. If you would like to support the Network and the LymeNet system of Web services, please send your donations to:

The Lyme Disease Network of New Jersey
907 Pebble Creek Court, Pennington, NJ 08534 USA
http://www.lymenet.org/