Kefir, also known as kephir, is a milk drink that has been fermented so the consistency is just like a thin yogurt. It is made of the kefir grains. At this point, the quality of kefir grains can determine the test of kephir you make.
So, if we have to talk more about kefir grains, it is the symbiotic combination of yeasts and bacteria. If you want to make kefir, you should add kefir grains to milk with the proportion from 2% to 5% grains to your milk.
You place the mixture in a container, for example, a glass jar. After that, you should store it in the dark to prevent the degradation of vitamins.
Kefir grains contain microorganisms, and if you make low-fat kefir for about 175-ml, then, you will get these things:
- 4 grams of protein
- 10% Calcium
- 15% Phosphorus
- 12% Vitamin B12
- 10% Riboflavin (B2)
- 3% Magnesium
- Vitamin D
It contains a high level of probiotics and nutrients. It is also good for your gut health and digestion. That’s told, kefir is much healthier compared to yogurt. Here is what you will get if you like drinking kefir (since it contains kefir grains) proven by research:
- Improving bone health and reducing the chance to get osteoporosis
- Kefir inhibits the growth of cancer cell, but no studies yet in human
- Improving digestive diseases and treating various types of diarrhea
- Good for people with lactose intolerance
- Reducing allergic reactions [Source]
We can say that you should find the best kefir grains when you want to make high-quality kefir milk. Where to buy it? We have added some products below with the pros and cons.
10 Best Kefir Grains Review
1. Florida Sun Kefir Kefir Grain Live Organic Tibicos [Best Overall]
The composition of this kefir grain is Florida Sun Kefir and Florida Springs water. 1/4 cup means that you will get 4 tablespoons of kefir grains. Water kefir means that it is not a grain, but it shapes is like a grain. Each piece here is a symbiotic combination of good bacteria.
This is what you need if you have a plan to make kefir water. Of course, sugar is important here. It is okay to add brown cane sugar, as well. For your information, brown sugar is better than white sugar because it has enough minerals.
Pros:
- It only takes six days for the kefir grains to quadruple its quantity
- Super fast shipping (It is living organisms so shipping period is crucial)
- Smart packing
Cons:
- The seller provides PDFs for giving more information, but they have some problems like spelling, grammar, and others. But you can solve that matter by checking this website: Cultures for Health
2. Mr & Mrs Kefir Milk Kefir Grains for Milk Live Probiotic
Kefir grains work best to detox your body, to clean the digestive tract, and to eliminate any harmful bacteria. Therefore, it is what you need to improve your immune system. For those who want to have a healthy diet, take this choice so it gives you the best way to lose weight.
Also, use it to boost your skin health, to improve your hair health, and to protect your body from any infections caused by fungal and viral. Choose this product and you will get 1 tablespoon of kefir grains.
Pros:
- Good for people with chronic heartburn since kefir can keep calming your stomach
- It smells perfect
- Multiply faster
Cons:
- Tiny grains
3. Mr & Mrs Kefir Milk Kefir Grains Fresh
Are you looking for real kefir grains online? Try this. This is what you need to make milk kefir. The seller is Mr. & Mrs. Kefir contains natural and healthy active probiotic which is good for your digestion.
It is also important to know that the product here is directly from the farm. That’s said, it is not-dehydrated.
Pros:
- Good packaging: a cloth bag with a plastic container contains grains
- Comes with clear instructions and FAQ about kefir
- Easy to make: no heating and no fussing over
Cons:
- Tiny grains, but works!
4. Florida Sun Kefir Kefir Grains Live Organic
Florida Sun Kefir offers this 1/4 cup of water kefir grains. It is directly from the tropical sun, Fort Lauradale Florida. Additionally, the company includes a downloadable PDF file for this package. That’s told, you can download the PDF files to get some recipes, the dosage, and the maintenance of this package.
With 1/4 cup of sugar and 1/4 cup of kefir grains, you can make water kefir for four cups. Interestingly, the grains will multiply so that you will enjoy more grains. Also, water kefir is great because it is gluten-free.
Pros:
- Multiply fast if you do proper care
- Perfect for ferment many things like sugar water, water with cranberry juice, coconut water, organic cranberry, organic black currant, and soymilk
- Very tasty
Cons:
- The seller should improve the information sheet so it is more informative
5. Florida Sun Original Water Kefir Grains
This is what you need if you are looking for premium kefir grains. The seller sells it by weight, not the volume so you will get enough supply of grains. Florida Sun Kefir is one of the popular brands and the company has been producing probiotic cultures for many years.
What is water kefir? This source is powerful with a high-level of concentration contains bacterias and yeast. It also supplies you for your daily life and it has more than 40 strains. Simply, supply the live active cultures with clean water and dark brown sugar.
Pros:
- Fast-growing microorganisms
- Nice packaging
- Light flavor and super rapid grains
Cons:
- Clear instructions, but not enough to give more information. Beginners need to use the internet to solve this matter.
6. Cutting Edge Cultures Kefir Grains Starter
You can make a cultured drink, kefir as the source of high nutrients. To make it, you will need kefir grains to your milk. It is very easy and fun to make. Since kefir is healthier than yogurt, you will get many benefits such as boosting your immune system.
Purchasing this product means you need to add one packet to any type of milk you have. After that, wait for 24 hours to enjoy it. For your information, this is made of milk kefir grains. It is why you will get enough range of yeasts and bacteria.
Pros:
- Good for dairy and soy-intolerant
- Healthy and tasty
- Super easy to make
Cons:
- If you think the price of this product is expensive, you may want to know that you get up to 80 quarts of kefir for each 4-box.
7. Natural Probiotic Selection Kefir Grains Starter Sachets
Take one sachet and you will get 1 liter of mild and creamy kefir. You can set it at room temperature without any specific appliances. Also, you do not have to buy yogurt makers to enjoy it.
The cultured starter has a high-level of bacteria such as Lactococcus lactis ssp., Lactococcus lactis ssp.cremoris, and others. Even better, the pure blend of cultures is made in a laboratory environment. That’s said, it is safe and it is free from gluten, additives, maltodextrin, and GMO. Get it and you can make tasty, healthy smoothies anytime you want.
Pros:
- Ideal for those who need powdered kefir starter
- Super easy to make
- It is only for milk-based Kefir, not for water-based.
Cons:
- If you think that the taste is not right, it is because the culture is mild so you have to incubate it longer.
8. Florida Sun Kefir Kefir Grains With Brewing Bags (Water Kefir)
Water Kefir offers a source of high concentration of good yeast and bacteria. Having this for beverage will supply you with more than 40 strains. You can use the strains to complete your healthy lifestyle.
Additionally, these premium kefir grains are available by weight. It means you cannot buy it based on volume. It means that you will get enough SCOBY grains. If you wonder how to make it, it is actually easy. Start using dark brown sugar as well as clean water to supply the live microorganisms.
Even better, the company provides super easy directions so you can make a cup of Florida Sun Kefir every day. You can check the recipes and the uses in the information sheet. Once you have this, your body will never have any issues with Vitamin B, vitamin K, magnesium, potassium, iron, organic acids, enzymes, and others.
Pros:
- Healthy and vibrant source
- Good packaging
- Tasty
Cons:
9. Natural Home Remedies Kefir Grains Organic Probiotics
Take this if you want to make a carbonated Lacto-fermented beverage from fruit juice, coconut water, and sugar water. It is super easy to start because the starter culture will help you make a great water kefir per 24 hours. If you need a non-dairy alternative, this is a good choice for you. It helps you a lot to create various beverages.
If you put the kephir grains at room temperature, make sure that you feed it with milk constantly. Also, when you store it for the short-term, you can put them in milk. After that, you can leave them in the fridge for about a week. You can also freeze or dry it for longer-term storage.
Pros:
- It only takes 12 hours for the new milk to get thickened
- Super easy to use
- The instructions work if you follow each step carefully
Cons:
- Some buyers said that the kephir grains did not work. However, if you check out the comments, other sellers explained that the product was actually good.
10. Yemoos Nourishing Cultures Kephir Grains Organic
If you want to make genuine and real water kefir, make sure that you are using real kefir grains. It should not powdered kefir or packet-based kefir. You need to live grains that ferment and then grows or multiplies as long as you feed the live microorganisms properly.
For your information, take a dried tablespoon of water kefir grains and you will get four to six cups every 24 hours at least. Even better, the company includes instructions on how to care for grains properly. It is also possible for you to carbonate kefir water with carbonated water if you need to. Even though the yeast activity within the water grains will carbonate the water kefir.
Pros:
- The company provides lots of information that help you how to make beverages and how to feed the grains.
- Endless flavor possibilities
- Quite big grains
Cons:
Kefir Grains Buying Guide
If you cannot decide which one is the best choice, well we also give you this buying guide. It is useful if it is your first time to buy the best kefir grains.
1. Fresh Kefir Grains vs. Powdered Kefir Cultures
If you prepare kefir regularly, then you will need fresh kefir grains. It only takes minimal effort to propagate the grains. It means that you only need to buy the grains at once.
On the other hand, if you choose powdered cultures, they contain bacteria and dormant yeast. The latter option is more convenient than the fresh kefir grains. It is because you can store them easily, which means you don’t have to monitor them. Unfortunately, the powdered form can expire, so you have to buy it again. Anytime you want to buy powdered kefir grains, you should use it immediately before it is getting expired.
2. Check Out A Web Directory
Of course, some internet directories provide you some information such as the list of people, including their location. These people are the volunteers to donate and even sell kefir grains.
For example, International Kefir Grains List and Project Kefir can be your choice. If there is someone who lives near you, you can then contact this person to get kefir grains. This is the best way so you can check directly on their location. It is because if you need to buy too far and it requires shipping, make sure that the shipping period is not too long. Otherwise, live microorganisms can die.
3. Be A Member of Discussion Forum for Kefir On the Internet
You can find numerous groups or forums on the internet that discuss kefir. Sometimes, they also provide valuable information related to kefir grains for sale or donation for their member. This is a nice way to get good-quality kefir grains to meet your needs. Therefore, be active when you are using the internet. It gives you many benefits especially to buy kefir grains.
4. Find A Commercial Source
Next, it is good to find retails that provide kefir grains at affordable prices. Even better, some of them are available to sell door-to-door. This is a good way to help you spend your budget. You are lucky if you can save some money when you find the right commercial source with more affordable cost to offer.
5. Understand How to Manage your Kefir Grains
Once you purchase kefir grains, make sure that you keep it well so they are still alive. Use a jar and then keep them at room temperature. You should also add fresh milk to this jar every day. If you store them in the refrigerator, it can last for 2 weeks. Remember that live kephir grains need to maintain carefully and properly.
Those are all things you should know about the best kefir grains for your healthy lifestyle. It is what you need to make sure that your body gets good nutrition intake.
Final Verdict
1. Florida Sun Kefir Kefir Grain Live Organic Tibicos
We think it is a good choice for you if you need kefir grains that multiply greatly within six days. The shipping is also super fast, which means the company knows very well that shipping living organisms should be as fast as possible. You will also love the packing. However, the company needs to improve the literature on its PDFs sheets because it helps a lot.
2. Mr & Mrs Kefir Milk Kefir Grains for Milk Live Probiotic
Anytime you want to keep calming your stomach, this is a good choice for your needs. The smell is tasty and the living organisms grow rapidly. Unfortunately, it does not come out in big grains. You will get tiny grains, instead.
3. Mr & Mrs Kefir Milk Kefir Grains Fresh
If it is your first time to buy the best kefir grains, try this one! It is very easy to make because you do not have to heat the grains first. Even better, the seller provides you everything including the FAQ information about kefir, and the clear instructions to follow.
Get this product means that you will also get good packaging. Well, the seller packaged it with a cloth bag and a plastic container. We think this positive feedback makes you do not mind the tiny shapes of their kefir grains.