I have seen drinkable yogurt in the stores, all with fruit. Does anyone know of a place to purchase plain drinkable yogurt, or a way to make drinkable yogurt? I have a visitor from Macedonia, and Macedonians drink yogurt like we drink milk.

Thank you

MissJudi

-- MissJudi (jselig@clemson.edu), November 28, 2001

Answers

The drinkable yogurt you are referring to is probably kefir, which is a fermented yogurt. I am not sure about making it at home, I have heard that you need a special sort of culture for it, and that you cannot culture it yourself like you can with yogurt, although you could probably fake it by letting a batch of homemade incubate a tad longer than normal. If you did a search for "homemade kefir recipes" you might turn up something.

-- GT (nospam@nospam.com), November 28, 2001.

This is how I make it useing, regular homemade yogurt, I mix the yogurt same as always I check it at 3 hours and on for the first sign of set up, (if you like it tart wait longer) then stir it, most of the time it will be smooth and not too thick, if it is too thick add some milk (scalded if your picky or plan to store it for more than a day) Your visitor should know how they like it. You can use a good quality yogurt with live cultures for starter, or buy a starter powder for a health food store, For kefir (which gives me headaches from the little bit of alcohol in it) you can make it with the starter grains, I know of a mail order source for them, if you want it I'll have to go look it up. (At least last time I ordered from them they had it) any way, both are easy to do.

-- Thumper (slrldr@yahoo.com), November 28, 2001.

Here is the place I order from, Gem Cultures 30301 Sherwood Rd., Ft. Bragg, CA 95437 their phone # (707) 964-2922 the best time to call is in the mornings pacific time.

-- Thumper (slrldr@yahoo.com), November 28, 2001.

There is a Yahoo list for Kefir, do a web search and it'll turn up. If you want kefir grains, there are almost always people there with surplus grains they'll send you for the cost of postage. The grains increase fairly quickly if you are doing things right. Kefir has a different flavor than yogurt, more yeasty, but is good in smoothies, and has more beneficial bacteria than yogurt. Also it's easier to make!

-- Kathleen Sanderson (stonycft@worldpath.net), November 28, 2001.

we love kefir! the culture is different than yogurt. I think Lehman's sells it, and I know Hoegger Goat Supplies sells it.

You can buy it at most natural food stores premade but pricey. I can't wait to get a culture and start making it in the spring when our goat has babies (our first time milking!)

-- marcee (thathope@mwt.net), November 28, 2001.

I have seen kefir at the larger grocery stores, Kroger carries it around here in Ohio, and the Marc's stores in NE Ohio, in quart bottles.

-- Annie Miller in SE OH (annie@1st.net), November 29, 2001.

Hi MissJud, GT and others here,

I was searching the net for kefir related info. and came across this msg. I would like to lend a hand if I may, by referring you to my Kefir in-site, which has extensive information regarding homemade kefir, and where to obtain the natural mother-culture (kefir grains) to culture a homemade kefir.

http://users.chariot.net.au/~dna/kefirpage.html

This is a non commercial site, setup to share info regarding kefir and other kefir products that I've personally developed and explain how to prepare at home.

I hope this helps.

Bewell Dominic

-- Dominic N. Anfiteatro (dna@chariot.net.au), February 23, 2002.