I bought mine on ebay, also check out etsy.com, I saw some cheap there. Mine are dried, otherwise I would send you some.
Yes, water kefir is different, it grows in sugary water. However, you can use milk grains to make the water kefir recipes. But you can not use water grains to make milk kefir. The milk grains become thin from the water and take on the color of whatever they are growing in. But they still work.
This is how I made water (juice) kefir
Juice Kefir Recipe
1 part grape juice (from frozen 100% grape juice, reconstituted)
1 part water
I would make about 6-8 cups total.
Add the water kefir grains (or milk grains), about 1/2 cup
Tighten lid, let sit for about 48 hours. strain out the grains. Re- tighten lid. refrigerate for 24 hours. Drink. Sometimes I would add some sweetener like honey or stevia. My kids love this! Sort of like soda.
Water kefir with Lemon
8 cup glass jar with lid 6 cups filtered water
1/2 cup raw or brown sugar
1 tsp blackstrap molasses
1 sliced lemon
2 tablespoon of raisins
2/3 to 1-cup water Kefir grains OR milk grains
Tighten lid, let sit for about 48 hours. strain grains. Re- tighten lid. refrigerate for 24 hours. Drink. Add some sweetener like honey or stevia.
Dom's kefir site has you adding baking powder and eggshell to these, but I wonder if that is new, I don't remember that at all from these receipes. But that was a few of years ago, and now I do it from memory and taste. His site has some incredable information. It is overwhelming at first.
Milk kefir
It is 1 part kefir grains and 7 parts milk depending on the grains and temperature you can add more or less milk. You don't have to be exact. Tighten the lid and let culture at room temp. for 24-48 hours. Strain and drink. It is like thin yogurt, very tart and a bit yeasty (a good yeast, not like candida) tasting. We make smoothies with this.
OK. After writing this, I have to go reactivate my grains. I am craving some kefir!
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