Hello fellow Steemers.
I have been making coconut kefir for over a year now. I started with a powered starter which I bought from the local health shop. Instead of cow's milk, I use coconut milk
Why make kefir - it is an inexpensive probiotic which works differently to yoghurt. There are more good bacteria in kefir. Yoghurt only feeds the bacteria which is within you. Kefir adds new bacteria.
No - coconut milk cannot be poured straight from the coconut!! - although I do love that pic!
Coconut milk is a great alternative to mucous-producing cows milk!
I buy coconut milk in cans. I have found that TCC brand is close to natural. Read the labels on different can of coconut milk to see what I mean.
I use a can of light coconut milk (green) and one can of premium coconut milk (blue) and that give a nice creamy texture of kefir.
Here is a link to a page about making kefir, and where you can order kefir grain starters.
http://growyouthful.com/recipes/kefir.php
It is very simple to make coconut milk kefir
Use a 1 litre glass bottle with a lid, clean and dry.
Put in the starter, and then add two 400 ml cans of coconut milk. Mix with a plastic, or wooden spoon.
Put in a place - like under the kitche/laundry sink for a day or so. Depend on the warmth of the atmosphere.
Kefir has a clean, fresh tangy taste when it is ready. It separates into whey, with creamy on top. Stir it together with a plastic/wooden spoon. Place in the refrigerator.
When you need to make the next lot (this is for the powdered kefir starter)
Keep a little of the kefir back, use the same jar, or place in another clean, dry jar. The bacteria does not have any baddies, so to use the same jar again and again is ok.
Add 2 x 400 ml cans of coconut milk, stir, sit in a dark place.......
Keep the cycle going as above.
I have not used kefir grains starter.
I understand the grains need to be rinsed - but not with water that is chlorinated. Clorinated water can kill the kefir.
Remember, the kefir grains are live bacteria.