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The pleasures and benefits of kefir
Today we’re going to talk about kefir.
Don’t know kefir yet? The word comes from Old Turkish.
It’s an ancient drink that became trendy in just a few years, resulting from the fermentation of milk or fruit juices, prepared using ‘kefir grains’, a starter culture made of lactic bacteria and yeasts, passed around informally, and which looks a bit like cauliflower.
The resulting drink is fizzy, objectively delicious and entirely beneficial for our happy little tummies.
At home, Matthieu and I make it twice a week, and we all drink it, including the kids, from morning to night.
Also read | Buy probiotics: our tips
Guests: Nicolas Pradignac and Benjamin Abrat
To talk about kefir, we’re hosted by Nicolas and Benjamin, founders of Symbiose Kéfir, which was founded in September 2020.
We went to join them in their workshop in Paris’s 19th arrondissement. Located in the heart of a building devoted to local craftsmanship, it’s a place where you can meet carpenters, up-and-coming designers, or speaker makers.
Their project is to make real artisanal kefir – as opposed to an industrial approach. They also launched the Kéfir Academy, a knowledge base about fruit kefir.
Nicolas is making kefir while Benjamin answers our questions.
Questions
- How did you get started with kefir?
- Explain to us what kefir is — how would you define it?
- What is the difference between milk kefir and water kefir?
- What are the health benefits?
- Are there any ongoing studies on the subject related to the microbiome?
- What types of kefir do you sell?
- How do you make your own kefir to get started?
- How can you vary the flavors if you’re already experienced? (Nicolas)
- How can you easily obtain kefir grains?
- When should you drink kefir (in the morning? on an empty stomach or not?), and what amount produces noticeable health benefits? Is there a limit you shouldn’t exceed?
- Do you have an original recipe using kefir or kefir grains?
Resources to learn more
- The Symbiose Kéfir website
- The Kefir Academy
- The fruit kefir recipe
- A feature on kefir by Marie-Claire Frédéric, fermentation expert
