If you’re looking for the best gifts for kefir lovers, you are in the right place. Whether your loved one loves milk kefir, water kefir, ginger bug or all three, these gifts are absolutely PERFECT!
1. Milk Kefir Grains
Milk kefir grains are essential for making homemade milk kefir. If your friend doesn’t know how to make milk kefir, then you can point them to this post on how to make milk kefir, or you can print the FREE printable included there.
The best milk kefir grains can be found on Etsy. You want to get LIVE milk kefir grains, which means grains that have not been dehydrated. Grains that are live and already in use will work to make kefir from the start. Dehydrated milk kefir grains have to be “primed” and re-awakened in order to make kefir, and this can be time-consuming. Sometimes it also just doesn’t work.
Milk kefir grains are preferable to powdered milk kefir starters because it allows you to make homemade milk kefir forever, as long as you don’t kill the grains. It is easy to store some back-up grains in the freezer in a little milk. Milk kefir grains also ensures your homemade milk kefir has tons of different bacteria and yeast strains for healthy gut flora. Powdered starters have limited select strains.
2. Raw Milk
Raw milk is best used within a week or two of purchase. While it may be difficult to gift raw milk because of this, you could consider purchasing a farm share for your friend or family member, or gift cards to local stores that sell raw milk.
Some farms also offer CSA subscriptions. Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) subscriptions support local farmers and come with a wide variety of goods. While they mostly contain vegetables and sometimes fruits, some shares also include raw milk, cheese, yogurt and other varied artisan products. Check with your local farmers to see what they’ve got! CSA memberships range from around $250-650 per season (working out to around $20-30/week) and some offer a variety of options.
Of course you could also purchase a VISA/Mastercard or AmEx gift card and note what you intend to gift.
3. Water Kefir Grains
As with milk kefir grains, it is best to get your water kefir grains live and active! This will ensure that you can begin making fizzy water kefir beverages as soon as possible.
I always get my water kefir grains from Florida Sun Kefir on Amazon. Every time I get big, beautiful grains that work perfectly, right from the start! Here’s some handy instructions for making water kefir at home. There are also some recipes to help with flavoring.
If you get these for someone a few weeks prior to Christmas Day, it is best to start using them. Use filtered, unchlorinated water to rinse gently, and then add sugar and water. If you will not be making water kefir for yourself with them, you can freeze until you are ready to gift, or change out the sugar water solution every 3-4 days.
3. Organic Cane Sugar
I personally buy the 10lb bags of organic cane sugar at Costco. I make lots fermented beverages and make other artisan products to sell locally, so 10lb bags work perfectly for me.
For someone who will probably only be making water kefir for themselves, 1lb-5lb bags will likely work better.
I love Anthony’s brand organic cane sugar and use it for several things, including turmeric, tapioca starch, cocoa powder and more. Their items are always fresh and come in strong, resealable pouches.
Organic cane sugar makes a great gift for water kefir lovers because it is something they will always need!
4. Molasses
Unsulphured blackstrap molasses is great to add to water kefir grains to give an extra boost of nutrients and ensure optimal grain health.
I put a little in every 4 or so batches, and that keeps my grains happy and growing. I also put a little extra in if I’m going to be storing my grains for a while.
A little goes a long way!
5. Water Filter System
Chlorinated water can kill kefir grains, so having a water filter is extremely helpful. This allows you to always have clean water on hand.
I personally love and use the Berkey Water Filter System. It is an on-counter water filtration system that gets rid of chlorine, pathogens, and various chemicals. There are also optional fluoride filters that can further purify your water, if needed.
Berkey water tastes great and the filters last a very long time. It is perfect for brewing fermented beverages, and for mixing brines for fermented vegetables!
6. Fermenting Jars
There are multiple ways that people ferment their kefir. Many use a glass mason jar with a paper towel or cheesecloth on top, secured by a rubber band.
I personally ferment both my water kefir and milk kefir anaerobically. This means that I use a jar that doesn’t allow oxygen in, but allows any gases created during the fermentation process to escape. I do this for several important reasons:
- Locking out oxygen inhibits the growth of mold and other harmful pathogens
- Locking out oxygen allows the bacteria and yeast strains in kefir to flourish
- Allowing fermentation gases to escape results in kefir that doesn’t develop weird smells
When the first ferment goes smoothly, the second ferment (in swing-top jars) will go smoothly as well. It will result in water kefir that smells and tastes great, and has the fizz you love so much!
I use Pickl-It jars that I have had for years, but I’ve noticed recently that it’s difficult to place an order. These Jillmo fermentation jars are a very similar set-up, but use a different jar than Fido. They are airtight, heavy-duty and work well to create delicious ferments, which is what is most important!
This set is a two-pack, which is perfect for making milk kefir and water kefir for one person or a small family.
Some people prefer to use regular mason jars. Mason jars are generally less expensive, especially if you can find them locally (check Wal-Mart, Target, Publix, etc.). They are quick and easy to use, and easy to wash. You don’t have to worry about the wire bail, D-ring, grommet and gasket.
7. Easy Strain Lid / Kefir Grain Bags
These MasonTop brewing lids screw onto wide mouth mason jars easily, allowing you to skip the hassle of paper towels, cheesecloth, and rubber bands, while keeping bugs out of your ferment.
As an added benefit, it comes with a lid that mimics an anaerobic brewer, and includes a built-in strainer that will make it super easy to strain your kefir once it is ready!
Some people like to keep their kefir grains in a little pouch so that it’s easy to fish the grains out instead of straining. It’s a great option for those who prefer to do so. I personally don’t mind the strainging.
Kefir brewing bags are another option. Note that the water kefir grains from Florida Sun Kefir come with kefir brewing bags.
These bags make it easy to enclose the kefir grains, and simply take the bag out. While you wouldn’t have to look for the kefir grains, you’d still want to strain milk kefir to break up the clumps and make a smoother beverage.
8. Strainer
This strainer is perfect for straining kefir! It is a nylon mesh strainer that will last practically forever. I’ve had mine for years and it is still as perfect as the day I received it!
9. Pitchers
The strainer listed in the previous section works perfectly with these pitchers. The pitchers come in handy for straining your kefir, and flavoring it as well. Especially if you will be making big batches!
This is the pitcher I love because it just makes everything so quick and easy. I have several of these, and use them for water kefir, milk kefir, and decanting other ferments!
10. Organic Juices, Concentrates, Herbs, & Spices
Organic juices, concentrates, herbs and spices are perfect for flavoring water kefir. Any of the following will make wonderful gifts for kefir lovers because we tend to LOVE variety!
Juices
Concentrates
Herbs
Spices
I love to mix and match juices, concentrates and herbs. I also make homemade juices from time to time. I pretty much always have pineapple juice and lemon juice on hand, to make some of my favorite homemade sodas such as Ginger Ale and Pineapple Ginger.
11. Funnels
Funnels make it easy to fill swing-top jrs.
I love this funnel because it fit perfectly for swing-top jars, and reduces the foaming that tends to happen with fermented beverages. It’s the dream kefir gift your loved one doesn’t even know they need!
12. Swing-Top Jars & Glass Milk Bottles
I love these Bormioli Rocco Swing-Top Jars (also known as flip-top jars). This is a set of 6 8.5oz jars, which is perfect serving size per person. These jars are very strong and resilient. They do not break or chip easily.
This is one of the best gifts for kefir lovers because we can never have enough swing-top jars. I personally love to keep a variety of flavors on hand and the more swing-top jars I have, the merrier!
These glass milk bottles are my second favorite jars for second fermentation. They are hardy, less expensive than swing-tops, and work well for many different things around the kitchen, such as vinegar, smoothies, homemade juices, etc.
13. Kefir Memorabilia
This mug makes an awesome kefir gift! From tummy aches, to skin issues, to allergies and more, kefir certainly IS the answer!
Do you care for some milk or do you want to kefir some milk? Each day, the receiver of this mug gets to decide!
You might also be interested in the following gift guides for healthy foodies:
Did this gift guide of perfect gifts for kefir lovers help you?
I really hope this helped you find perfect and useful gifts for the kefir lover in your life. If so, please pin this post to help others find this guide as well!
These choices are based on what I use on a regular basis when making kefir week after week after week. Some of these are essential for making kefir, and others make great presents because they are something a kefir brewer may not even think of! Some are also nice to have because they make kefir brewing easier, but might be more of a “splurge.”
These are gifts any kefir and/or ginger bug lover would really appreciate receiving. I know this because any one of them would put a HUGE smile on my face!
