Can I make kefir with packaged coconut water?
The kefir cultures in our Kefir Starter mainly rely on the sugars in the coconut water for fermentation, and these will be present in packaged, pasteurized coconut water as well as raw coconut water straight from young green coconuts. The main benefit of using raw coconut water is that it will retain many of the beneficial nutrients and enzymes that are lost in the pasteurization process, and it also may ferment more effectively. However, either one will culture just fine, as long as you ensure that the packaged coconut water is 100% coconut water with no preservatives or additives, as these may inhibit the fermentation process. It is also best to avoid packaged coconut water with unnecessary added sugars. If you are looking for a good packaged alternative, you might consider coconut water from www.exoticsuperfoods.com. Their coconut water is raw and unpasteurized unlike most store-bought brands. It is the closest you will get to young Thai coconut water straight from the coconuts. It would also be best to purchase any brand of packaged coconut water that is labeled raw and unpasteurized if possible.
How much kefir will I be able to make with your starter packets?
A box of six packets of Kefir Starter should make up to 48 batches in total, as you can make up to seven additional batches from each packet by transferring kefir from one batch to the next. This means that you can get a total of eight batches out of each packet of Kefir Starter. You can transfer a cup of Kefir from each batch to the next to make a gallon at a time. You can also make just a quart or half gallon at a time if you don't want that much kefir, by transferring six tablespoons (for a quart) or a half cup (for a half gallon) at a time rather than a cup. This means that in total, you can make up to six quarts plus 42 gallons of kefir from each box.