I was so excited to try the Mad Millie Kefir Starter Kit. I have heard about kefir through the grapevine, and knew it was some sort of healthy probiotic drink, but that was the extent of my knowledge until now. So, everyone is talking about gut health these days. And it turns out gut health isn’t solely about the gut. Keeping our intestines clean and full of the right kind of bacteria forms a balanced ecosystem which supports our whole immune system and has been linked to good mental health, relaxation and better sleep, too. Kefir is a fermented drink which provides several strains of this good bacteria – many it turns out that aren’t available in live yogurt. Kefir is loaded with many valuable vitamins and minerals and amino acids which help our bodies heal and also process the carbohydrates, proteins and fats we eat. And as well as helping keep our immune system strong, Kefir contains tryptophan which has a relaxing effect on the nervous system - Sign me up! It turns out the Mad Millie Kefir Kit couldn’t be easier to use. I was pleasantly surprised at just how little I needed to do to make my own kefir drink. Everything is provided for you in the kit except the liquid you need: you can make kefir with milk, coconut water, coconut milk, or soy milk. I chose soy, but when I re-culture I am going to try coconut milk. The kit comes with instructions, a 1L storage jar, cheese cloth, stainless steel mixing ball, and 2 packets of culture which makes 6L total of kefir drink.

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How to Make Kefir Using the Kit

1. Soak the jar, ball and cloth in just boiled water for a few minutes to clean.
2. Add the contents of one sachet to the clean jar, then pour in the milk, soy, or coconut milk or coconut water.
3. Add in the stainless steel ball for easier and clump free mixing
4. Cut one square of the cheese cloth and secure over the jar with a rubber band.
5. Let the jar sit at room temperature for 24 hours, then store in the fridge.
6. When ready to use, shake it up!
7. To re-culture, simply add more liquid of choice to about ¼ cup of remaining kefir. Each sachet can be re-cultured 2 times.

I love the refreshing sour taste of the kefir. It tastes a lot like yogurt. It can be poured over cereal or granola, added to smoothies or used in baking, too. I made a delicious mango smoothie with my soy kefir. The kefir I made was actually quite thick so I thinned it down a little with some extra soy milk while in the fridge. Mad Millie is a New Zealand based company who are passionate about making quality DIY kits, such as Greek yoghurt, cheeses, sausage, sourdough and brewing cider and beer. They feel that people want to know exactly what goes into their food and avoid nasty preservatives and other hidden additives. Plus, hand crafting great products like these is fun and rewarding. These sets would make great gifts for anyone who loves good homemade food and a bit of a project. These kits are great to do with kids, too – helps them to understand how food is made and gives them a chance to get creative with making food, too. To view Mad Millie's range of DIY kits click here About the Author: Becky Gilhespie is a food writer and former Masterchef semi-finalist. Her blog, www.eatwhatweeat.com provides inspiration for meals that both kids and adults love. They are elegant yet simple, easy to follow recipes that are fast to get on the table and use every day ingredients. Becky is originally from the US but lived in London for 15 years and now resides in Sydney with her husband and two little boys. Her food is inspired a lot by her travels (and desire to travel more).