Hmmmmm.....
http://nationalkefirassociation.com/Did I miss something here? National kefir association pop up out of no where? Whats going on here.... lets investigate (Inspector mightyMouse is on the case!!!)
This is probably me being a kefir snob since I have actual kefir grains and make my own kefir, which by the way is WAY different than the store-bought yogurt+yeast stuff you buy at Target (he he he... kefir snob...), but what is this? Kefir is pronounced "kee-fur" according to this "authoritative" site?
And this: "National Kefir Association has stringent standards with regards to products it deems kefir.
Kefir must contain:
• a dairy base
• at least 7 billion units of activity per cup
• a combination of the following cultures:
Lactobacillius Lactis
Lactobacillus Rhamnosus
Streptococcus Diacetylactis
Lactobacillus Plantarum
Lactobacillius Casei
Saccharomyces Florentinus
Leuconostoc Cremoris
Bifidobacterium Longum
Bifidobacterium Breve
Lactobacillus Acidophilus"
This is what we in Mathematics call a "necessary condition" which in non-nerd-speak means
"Well yeah, kefir has all of that stuff. If it doesn't it ain't kefir." but it is not what we call a "sufficient condition" meaning "this criteria is missing something important- KEFIR GRAINS!!!!"
Seems pretty dang simple to me. The standards should be strict. Do they come from kefir grains or not? If not- it ain't kefir! Its "kefir style yogurt plus yeast stuff".
Sorry, felt like ranting. Seems like Lifeway and the other members are trying to change the definition of kefir to suit their personal needs (you will notice, their defining criteria there conforms perfectly to their flagship product). Oh wait! Aren't all of those "members" all subsidiaries of the same company (check it out online if you do not believe me)?! Hmmm..... weird.... kind of a one man club there... the industry authoritative body which "defines" what kee-fur is and how it is properly pronounced is chaired and run by one company.... that sounds like a good thing!
Very annoying...
P.S. Purely by coincidence- while I read this, I happened to be drinking what was probably the best glass of home made kefir I have ever had since I first got my grains 2 or 3 years ago. Store bought "kee-fur" is not even in the same league!
Alright, done with my rant.
(dang, now I am out of Kefir...)
Hmmm..... now that I think of it..... anyone else out there find the "Bread Machine Sourdough Kits" you find in the boxes in grocery stores (the kind that have dried sour flavoring added) kind of annoying too?
Oh well.... their loss!