“I made coconut kefir with kefir grains. They don’t smell or taste good now. Did I ruin my grains?” asks Janet M. on today’s #AskWardee. I’m sharing my thoughts below!
I broadcast #AskWardee live each Wednesday at 10am Pacific (1pm Eastern) on Periscope and Facebook Live. Both the podcast and video replay of this week’s show are below. Enjoy!
Subscribe to #AskWardee on iTunes, Stitcher, YouTube, or the Podcasts app.
The Question: “I made coconut kefir with kefir grains. Did I ruin my grains?”
Janet M. asks:
I read somewhere that I can make coconut kefir out of coconut milk. I tried it with coconut milk from a carton, the kind you would drink or put on cereal, not from a can. It didn’t work and now my milk kefir grains don’t taste or smell as good. Almost like it’s too sour or ‘bad’. Did I ruin my kefir grains?
My Answer:
For more information on coconut kefir, refer to #AskWardee 002: How To Make Coconut Kefir {3 ways}. I’m not sure whether you made coconut kefir with water or milk. I’m leaning toward milk (from your message).
To clarify, the difference between the 2 is that coconut milk has the cream and the water, so it ends up white and creamy and much like a milk alternative. To ferment that is what most people would call coconut kefir.
Anyway, you can ferment either and your real question is… did you ruin your grains?
Not necessarily.
Remember: your milk kefir grains prefer cow or goat milk, not coconut milk or coconut water. They are not going to thrive and grow in coconut milk or water as they do in regular milk.
Yet that doesn’t mean that you can’t learn how to make coconut kefir with kefir grains — and still keep your grains alive and well.
I would think that alternating between coconut milk (or water) and regular milk will generally keep your grains happy.
Perhaps your first batch was off due to the grains not being used to the coconut water and then going back to regular milk. They might perform poorly until they get back on track.
Perhaps the grains did suffer a bit; but they probably didn’t die. Put them back in regular milk and do a few batches to try to restore them.
Kefir grains are a bit like people. They have tastes and preferences and want to be happy. We have to play with the variables to keep them happy and producing for us. 🙂
If you’re interested in fermenting, please grab my free gift for you — the fermenting formulas cheat sheet that will give you easy formulas for all kinds of ferments like kraut, salsa, pickles, relish, and more…
What should you do in the future?
I suggest keeping back some grains that always kefir your regular milk — you can always count on them. Then, also have a set of grains that switches back and forth between regular milk and coconut milk (or water).
Links Mentioned:
What Is The #AskWardee Show?
The #AskWardee Show is the live weekly show devoted to answering your niggling questions about Traditional Cooking: whether it’s your sourdough starter, your sauerkraut, preserving foods, broth, superfoods or anything else to do with Traditional Cooking or your GNOWFGLINS lifestyle.
I share tips and resources, plus answer your questions about Traditional Cooking!
The Details
When: Wednesdays at 10am Pacific / 1pm Eastern
Where: @TradCookSchool on Periscope or Traditional Cooking School on Facebook
What If You Can’t Make It?
Don’t worry. You can catch the replays or listen to the podcast!
- Come back here to AskWardee.TV; all replays will be up within hours of airing live; the print notes are always posted at the same time I go live.
- Follow @TradCookSchool on Periscope or Traditional Cooking School on Facebook to view the replay.
- Subscribe to the #AskWardee podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, YouTube, or the Podcasts app. While you’re there, be sure to leave a rating and review!
Want To Get YOUR Question Answered?
Here’s how to submit your question. If we answer it on #AskWardee, you’ll get a gift!
Or, you can…
- Tweet your question to @TradCookSchool on Twitter; use hashtag #AskWardee
- Send an email to wardee at AskWardee dot tv — add #AskWardee to your email so I know it’s for the show
Please do NOT add future questions for #AskWardee to the comments of this post because they might get missed!
Do you know how to make coconut kefir with kefir grains?
We only recommend products and services we wholeheartedly endorse. This post may contain special links through which we earn a small commission if you make a purchase (though your price is the same).
Leave a Reply