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Kefir Origins

Pronunciation:

Keh-FEAR

or

KEFF-er

 

If Like Us You Are From Yorkshire

Bronze Aged Burial Ground, Xiaohe Cemetery, China 2003
3,600 years ago
The exact origins of Kefir are not well documented. However the oldest traces of Kefir were found in a bronze aged burial ground in Xiaohe Cemetery.
Bronze Aged Burial Ground, Xiaohe Cemetery, China 2003
Kefir Cheese found in coffin of mummies in 2003
First Known Kefir
Researchers identified multiple bacterial and fungal species in the 'kefir cheese', including Lactobacillus kefiranofaciens and Pichia kudriavzevii. Both of which are found in modern kefir grains. The DNA of the Kefir was linked to that of Tibetan Kefir grains, suggesting China and Tibet shared the kefir grains.
Kefir Cheese found in coffin of mummies in 2003
Caucasus Mountains
Caucasus Region
It is not clear when or how Kefir grains arrived in the Caucasus region. However we do know they are significant in their arrival to todays world. It is thought the word Kefir comes from the Turkish word - keyif which means "Feel Good".
Caucasus Mountains
Nomadic woman pouring milk into a goats skin bag
Nomadic Woman Pouring Milk into a Goats Skin Sack
Nomadic Caucasus Woman
Over 2,000 years ago the region between Russia and Georgia, known as the Caucasus Mountains, was populated by nomadic mountain people. They raised herds of goats and cattle for their milk. The best way to store this milk was to ferment it with Kefir grains.
Nomadic woman pouring milk into a goats skin bag
Nomadic Woman Pouring Milk into a Goats Skin Sack
Yogurt Making Using a Goats Skin Sack
Kefir in Russia 1867
There has been documents of kefir in Russia since around 1867, traditionally made in Goat skin bags that were hung in doorways, the bags would be knocked around as people passed through the doorways keeping the milk and Kefir grains well mixed.
Yogurt Making Using a Goats Skin Sack
Kefir Milk Grains
Kefir Grains as we Know Them
Since 2017 we have been making Kefir using the traditional methods of Live Kefir Grains to ferment whole dairy milk. We also added a new spin by using the Kefir grains to ferment coconut milk. For a great alternative to dairy milk.
Kefir Milk Grains