What is kefir and how can the Turkish drink benefit me?

Teach a man or woman to fish and you feed them for a lifetime. But there aren’t many fish swimming around in London so people are giving each other kefir starters. It’s a cultural thing — that’s a dairy bacterial culture.

Kefir, which means “feel good” in Turkish, is a grain full of good bacteria that is added to fermented milk to make a tangy but creamy yoghurt. It is traditionally made with cow’s milk but it can also be produced from coconut milk.

It’s commonly used as a substitute for yoghurt but if you want a liquid fix, you can turn it into water too. Londoners are making their own using starter cultures (move over, sourdough starters, this has extra gluten-free powers) and there are plenty of prebottled ones available too. It’s a variation on kombucha and an easy way to get your kefir fix on the go, without worrying about having a spoon to hand to scoop it up like a yoghurt.

Purearth makes cold-pressed tonics. It says that kefir enables better digestion of fats, proteins and carbs, reduces sugar cravings, and has anti-ageing and immune enhancing properties. Wham packed with microflora, it helps fight harmful bacteria and contains vitamins A, D, K, plus the minerals calcium and magnesium along with amino acids and enzymes.

Choose from grapefruit, turmeric or spirulina flavours. They are all pretty pastel colours and have labels with waggish messages such as “You kefir me hanging on” and “Kefir me close to your heart”.

Crookednose water kefir has bright packaging and a range of fruity flavours from bilberry to a more trad lemon and ginger. Kefir can be an acquired taste so these flavours are a good way to ease yourself in and get used to it.

Meanwhile, Projito Water Kefir bills itself as a mock-mojito, with gut-friendly water kefir, lime and mint. Kefir it classy. It might even replace your morning coffee habit.

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