Kefir is a fermented milk drink made with kefir grains. It usually is prepared b
ID: 32423 • Letter: K
Question
Kefir is a fermented milk drink made with kefir grains. It usually is prepared by inoculating cow, goat or sheep milk with kefir grains.
I would like to prepare the drink with soy milk, which worked fine for some months. Then the kefir grain stagnated in its growth. I use bottled soy milk from the supermarket. I do not produce the soy milk by myself.
In "real" milk the kefir grains never stop growing (and dividing), but in soy milk they apparently do.
Why do the kefir grains stop growing in soy milk? Are they lacking a specific nutrient that is only contained in milk from animals?
Explanation / Answer
Animal Milk. The ideal environment for Kefir Grains is animal milk. Varieties include cow, goat, sheep, and other similar species. Kefir Grains thrive in animal milk due to the chemical makeup of the liquid. The lactose in animal milk provides the most efficient food source for the Kefir Grains and therefore the most efficient and effective culturing process.
Alternative Milks. While animal-based milks are the healthiest for the Kefir Grains, alternative types of
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