Tibicos, or water kefir, is a traditional fermented drink made with water and a symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeasts held in a polysaccharide biofilm matrix created by the bacteria.
It is sometimes consumed as an alternative to milk-based probiotic drinks or tea-cultured products such as kombucha.
Where To Buy Water Kefir Grains In South Africa
The ProHealth Shop
Address: 106 Milfoil Rd, South Africa
Hours: Closed ⋅ Opens 8:30AM Fri
Phone: +27 82 856 9925
The Health Food Emporium
Address: Shop B1, Northlands Deco Park New Market street Northlands, Randburg, 2169, South Africa
Areas served: Northriding and nearby areas
Hours: Closed ⋅ Opens 8AM Fri
Phone: +27 11 704 7711.
Ethical Co-op
Address: Oude Molen Eco Village, Alexandra Rd, Pinelands, Cape Town, South Africa
Hours: Closes soon ⋅ 5PM ⋅ Opens 8:30AM Fri.
What happens if you eat water kefir grains?
Can you eat the kefir grains too? Yes. They are rather bland – flavorless except for the lingering flavor of the kefir (or sugar-water) that they are in (unlike delicious milk kefir grains which are like sour gummy worms).
They are however very benificial for your health because they’re chalk full of probiotics.
Are there kefir grains in store bought kefir?
Store bought kefir is made with a powder and thus will not produce grains. When you are making kefir (milk or water) at home the product is quite different as you actually have to strain the grains out.
I’ve had much better experience with water kefir than milk kefir (with respect to grain reproduction).
Where do water kefir grains come from?
This is what water kefir grains look like. They are soft and gelatinous “grains” from a cactus plant. They grow and multiply when healthy and fed.
They are thought to originate from Mexico where it thrived in the sugary water of the Ountia (prickly pear) cactus