Best kefir in Australia reviewed
Here we will give a hands-on, taste-tested review of some of Australia’s most popular kefir, including ones from Table of Plenty, Babushka’s, Tarago Valley, Blue Bay, Living Coconut and The Collective. We’ll also include other very similar products like Rokeby filmjölk yoghurt which aren’t technically kefir.
We’ll look into the benefits, ingredients, nutrition and flavour of these popular kefir and drinkable yoghurts and see where each stands above the competition.
What is kefir?
The most common type of kefir is a fermented dairy drink made from milk (either cow or goat milk). However, there are other versions of kefir like coconut kefir and water kefir.
The result is a tangy drink with great microbial diversity.
In terms of dairy kefir, it is similar to yoghurt but more runny and sometimes a little fizzy from the yeast fermentation. It also has a lot more bacterial diversity than yoghurt does which makes it better for our gut.
Because of this diversity and increased microbial activity, dairy kefir can sometimes taste a bit more ‘funky’ than yoghurt.
Dairy kefir is a nice drink on its own or you can add it to cereal, smoothies or dressings to increase your probiotic intake.
As we will see below, some brands straddle the boundary between dairy kefir and yoghurt (and market themselves as both) and it can sometimes be difficult to tell whether the product is technically a kefir or a drinking yoghurt.
Read more about the benefits of kefir and how dairy kefir differs from yoghurt.
Best overall kefir in Australia
Table of Plenty kefir
This is an authentic, simple kefir which only contains fresh milk and cultures. Surprisingly, this is uncommon in many commercial kefir.
The main benefit of this kefir is the live cultures it contains. It is fermented with 10 different strains of live cultures and around half of these are considered probiotic - which means they have been proven to be beneficial to our health.
In terms of the amount of bacteria present, there’s over 37 billion colony forming units per 100g of this kefir - which is far more than competitors.
Flavour
This kefir appears like a lumpy milk. It is quite lumpy and thick, even by kefir standards.
The aroma is like a clean, soured milk - with no funky notes.
The taste is a very clean milkiness with a relatively subtle sourness. There’s a nice creaminess to it too.
Overall the flavour is great - and it does come across as authentic, clean and natural. Aside from the lumpy texture which will trouble you if you haven’t had kefir before, the taste is actually very approachable and moreish.
Cost and availability
You can buy a 1l bottle from Coles for $8.90. At first this may seem expensive, but on a per ml basis it’s only a little more expensive than other kefir.
Summary
5 stars out of 5.
A delicious, natural, authentic kefir made from fresh milk with good microbial diversity.
Pros
clean ingredients
good microbial diversity
approachable, clean and creamy flavour
made from fresh milk (not milk powders)
Cons
a little more expensive than some other brands
Best goat kefir in Australia
Blue Bay goat kefir
This is the choice of kefir if you want to avoid cow’s milk.
Blue Bay goat kefir is an authentic and simple kefir which only contains non-homogenised goat milk and live cultures.
Blue Bay claim this kefir is fermented with ‘10 probiotic strains’. Unfortunately, they give no information on the exact strains included apart from saying that they use ‘live ABC and kefir cultures’, so we don’t know whether the strains are strictly considered probiotic or not. (More on this in our full review.)
In terms of the actual amount of live cultures present (ie colony forming units), Blue Bay goat kefir has 12 billion CFU per 100g.
Flavour
The texture is very lumpy and thick.
The aroma is surprisingly neutral and smells mostly like a normal yoghurt.
The taste is quite acidic and of fresh milk. Again, it is not as goaty as I was expecting. Some goat flavour comes through at the end of the palate and lingers on the tongue though.
Overall, the taste is very good. It has a lovely, vibrant and fresh milk taste. And the acidity makes it refreshing. I was worried the goat flavour would be too strong, but it definitely is not.
Cost and availability
We bought a 500ml bottle from a wholefoods store for $7. This makes it among the most expensive kefir we have reviewed so far.
Summary
Rating: 4.75 stars out of 5.
Verdict: Blue Bay goat kefir is a delicious kefir with some probiotics and a taste which isn’t overly goaty.
Pros
clean, simple ingredients
great refreshing taste
made from fresh goat milk (not milk powders)
contains only A2 milk proteins
seems to have good microbial diversity…
Cons
….but more information is needed on whether all the microbial stains are actually probiotic
expensive
Best filmjölk in Australia
Rokeby filmjölk yoghurt
As we mentioned above, this filmjölk isn’t technically a kefir, but it is so similar that it is worth including in this article. (Read more about this in our full review.)
The ingredients are very clean and simple, just whole milk, live cultures (which include probiotics) and lactase.
It includes 15 different strains of live cultures and 9 of these strains are considered probiotic.
In terms of the amount of bacteria present, there’s a minimum of 20 billion colony forming units per 100g. However, this is below the 37 billion in Table of Plenty kefir.
This filmjölk has a slightly more protein and calcium than Table of Plenty, but both of these measures are significantly below those of The Collective protein kefir.
Rokeby filmjölk also claims to be low in lactose.
Flavour
It has a fairly thick mouthfeel like you would expect of a runny yoghurt.
The aroma is quite clean - just of slightly soured milk.
In terms of taste, it has a fairly low level of sourness and it is generally like milk. However, it does have a soft effervescence (similar to some kefir) which gives it some sparkling mineral water characteristics.
Overall, the taste is good, clean, milky and natural - but I’d prefer more sourness.
Cost and availability
You can buy a 750ml bottle from Coles or Woolworths for $5.15 - which I think compares well to kefir in supermarkets.
Summary
4.75 stars out of 5.
A nice tasting filmjölk made from whole milk with clean ingredients and great bacterial diversity.
Pros
15 strains of live cultures
natural ingredients
good value
Cons
while the taste is generally nice, I would really like it to be more sour personally
not as much actual amount of probiotics (ie colony forming units) compared to Table of Plenty kefir (but plenty more than other kefir)
Best organic kefir
Tarago Valley organic kefir
Tarago Valley is a great choice for those looking for a very clean and natural kefir.
This is an authentic, simple kefir which only contains pasteurised organic milk and cultures.
Tarago Valley claim this kefir is fermented with 12 probiotic strains. Unfortunately, they give no information on the exact strains included which is a shame because the term ‘probiotic’ is often used loosely to refer to live cultures which aren’t sufficiently beneficial to our health to be considered actually probiotic. It would probably be more accurate to say it is fermented with 12 different strains of live cultures.
Tarago Valley also gives no information on the amount of live cultures present (ie colony forming units). They only state on their label that there is 10 times more probiotics in this kefir than most yoghurts.
This kefir has moderate levels of fat, protein and calcium.
Flavour
It pours very lumpy into the glass which will shock first-time kefir drinkers!
The texture is lumpy and reasonably thick. And it slides out of the glass like one big gooey clump.
The aroma is clean like a yoghurt with no funky notes you sometimes get with kefir.
The taste is interesting in that there’s not a huge amount going on. The sourness is also quite low. I can only really describe it as a slightly soured milk.
Overall, the taste is fine and approachable, but I was expecting more.
Cost and availability
A 1l bottle from a wholefoods store usually sells for around $8 - which I think is reasonable value for an organic product.
Summary
4.5 stars out of 5.
An organic, authentic kefir which would be a great choice for those looking for an ultra clean product.
Pros
clean, simple ingredients
made from fresh milk (not milk powders)
approachable flavour - which would be good for newcomers
seems to have good microbial diversity…
Cons
….but more information is needed on whether the microbial stains are actually probiotic
more information needed on the actual amount of live cultures present (ie colony forming units)
the flavour might be a bit underwhelming for those used to kefir
Best high-protein kefir
The Collective Protein Kefir
On the bottle this drink is labelled as an “active probiotic protein kefir yoghurt” - which leaves you wondering whether it is actually a kefir or a yoghurt!
Given that it makes no mention of kefir grains on the bottle or website, and that it pours very thick and tastes like a yoghurt, I’m inclined to view it more as a yoghurt which is fermented with more strains of bacteria than usual.
This kefir isn’t made from fresh milk - it is made from milk powders and milk solids. This makes it lack a sense of authenticity in my opinion.
The specific ingredients are: Water, Whole Milk Powder, Skim Milk Powder, Milk Solids, Stabiliser (Pectin), Live Cultures (Milk).
The main benefit of this kefir is the 13 different strains of live cultures it contains. And around half of these can be considered probiotic.
In terms of the amount of bacteria present, there’s a minimum of 10 billion colony forming units per 100g.
Unsurprisingly given its name, this kefir has a high protein content at 7.3% - which is more than double that of Table of Plenty.
Flavour
It has the appearance (and texture) of a thick yoghurt - not the liquid appearance typical of a kefir.
The aroma is like a sour yoghurt with some funky notes coming through.
It has a fairly high level of sourness and otherwise tastes like a natural yoghurt. And it doesn’t come across like it is made from milk powders (unlike Babushka’s kefir below).
Overall, the taste is nice and clean - but more like a yoghurt than a kefir.
Cost and availability
You can buy a 700ml bottle from Woolworths for $6.
Summary
3.75 stars out of 5.
A kefir (or yoghurt?) made from milk powders with a nice taste and good bacterial diversity.
Pros
13 strains of live cultures
high in protein
Cons
made from milk powders, not fresh milk
low actual amount of probiotics (ie colony forming units) compared to some leading brands
Best coconut kefir
Living Coconut kefir
This is a great choice if you want a dairy-free kefir while still get a milky taste.
Living Coconut kefir is a very simple and natural kefir which only contains organic coconut milk, organic cane sugar and vegan kefir cultures.
Unfortunately there is no information on the strains of live cultures it contains or the actual amount of them.
And aside from having lower sugar, this coconut kefir generally doesn’t have as good health measures as most dairy kefir - with higher fat, and lower protein and calcium.
Flavour
The texture is lovely through the high fat content and its effervescence from the fermentation.
The aroma is just like coconut milk without any funky characteristics from the fermentation.
The taste is quite sour and of clean coconut milk. Again, it doesn’t have any kefir funky farmhouse vibes which you sometimes get.
Overall, the taste is very nice. The sourness and effervescence make it super refreshing.
Cost and availability
We bought a 500ml bottle from a health store for $11.35. This makes it very expensive compared to other kefir.
Summary
Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5.
Verdict: Living Coconut kefir is a great tasting, refreshing and plant-based kefir. It is expensive though and some health measures don’t match those of dairy kefir.
Pros
clean, simple ingredients
refreshing taste
plant based, lactose free
low sugar (compared to dairy kefir)
Cons
more information is needed on the strains of live cultures included and the amount of them
high in fat, and low in protein and calcium (compared to dairy kefir)
very expensive
Other kefir in Australian supermarkets
Babushka’s kefir
Like The Collective Protein Kefir, this kefir isn’t made from fresh milk - it is made from milk and cream powders. And it has a few more ingredients than you might be expecting, however it is organic.
It includes whey protein, as well as three types of fibre which are beneficial to gut health - inulin, citrus fibre and pectin.
Unfortunately, there is no mention of the number of different bacterial strains present and how many can be considered probiotic.
In terms of the amount of bacteria present, there’s 10 billion colony forming units per 100g.
Flavour
This kefir appears like a thick milk and is also ‘bit-y’ - and by this I mean little bits of the kefir stick to the side of the glass after you drink it. Perhaps because it is made from milk powders.
To me it has the taste of powdered milk with a bit of citrus coming though also. And for kefir it has a low to moderate sourness.
Overall, the taste is a weak point and doesn’t taste quite like a fresh-milk, authentic kefir does.
Cost and availability
You can buy a 750ml bottle from Woolworths for $6.
Summary
3 stars out of 5.
A kefir made from milk powders - and the taste reflects this. The added fibres do give extra health benefits though.
Pros
organic
added prebiotic fibres
Cons
made from milk powders
taste is underwhelming
no information on the different bacterial strains present
low actual amount of probiotics (ie colony forming units) compared to other leading brands
Health benefits of dairy kefir
Vitamins and minerals
Kefir is a source of various vitamins and minerals including:
calcium
B vitamins (B12 and riboflavin)
magnesium
potassium
phosphorous
These vitamins collectively support bone health, energy production, muscle function, immune function and cardiovascular health.
Probiotics
These are the beneficial living microbes you are ingesting when you drink kefir. And kefir in general usually has a lot more different strains of probiotics than yoghurt or kombucha does.
Probiotics offer many health benefits including:
better digestive health
better immune function
reduced inflammation
reduced allergies
better nutrient absorption
Postbiotics
In simple terms, postbiotics are essentially things probiotics produce. These include short-chain fatty acids which nourish our gut lining and may help reduce symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome.
Prebiotics
Not traditionally in kefir, but some brands (like Babuska’s) add prebiotics for extra health benefits.
Prebiotics are essentially fibres which feed the good bacteria in your gut and help them multiply.
Reduced lactose
Because of the strong fermentation of milk sugars by a diverse range of bacteria and yeasts, kefir is better for people with some degree of lactose intolerance compared to milk or yoghurt.
Factors we consider in our ratings
The factors we consider when doing a review (and the weightings of each of these) may vary depending on the product we are testing, but here are the key general factors we consider when we settle on a rating for a product.
Health benefits
We find out how the product will be good for your health and outline the benefits for you in simple language. This often involves doing research so you don’t have to. We often link to scientific studies or articles summarising scientific findings so you can dig deeper if you want to.
Things detrimental to health
We want to highlight where a product might include something bad for your health - even if it might be good for you in another way. This could include such things as pointing out certain additives it contains or high sugar levels.
How its made
This will vary depending on the product, but we want to see a quality process for making it and quality ingredients. For example, we want to see a kombucha traditionally fermented with lots of different microbial strains and we want to see a yoghurt made with fresh milk and not milk powders.
Price
While we expect quality products to be more expensive, they still have to be priced within reason. On the other side of things, a product which is priced very competitively will get a ratings boost based on the value it provides.
Flavour
For some products flavour won’t be a factor (eg probiotic tablets), but for others, like yoghurt or kimchi, flavour is a key aspect because these products are made to be enjoyed as well as being healthy! We will try to be as subjective as possible and describe the flavour in detail so you can get an idea of whether you would like it or not.
Your reviewer
This article was reviewed by Travis, the founder of this website, long-time gut-health enthusiast, science nerd and passionate kombucha maker of over 10 years!
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