Best kefir in the UK reviewed
Here we will give a hands-on, taste-tested review of some of the UK’s most popular kefirs, including ones from M&S, Biotiful and Yeo Valley.
We’ll look into the benefits, ingredients, nutrition and flavour of these popular kefirs.
About kefir
Kefir is a fermented dairy drink which is made by adding kefir grains - full of different strains of bacteria - to milk. (There’s also non-dairy kefir, but we won’t get into that here.)
The result is a tangy dairy drink which is similar to yoghurt but more runny. 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, kefir can sometimes taste a bit more ‘funky’ than yoghurt.
Kefir is a refreshing drink on its own or you can add it to cereal, yoghurt or dressings to increase your probiotic intake.
And because of the strong fermentation of the milk sugars, it is better for people with some degree of lactose intolerance.
Read more about the benefits of kefir and how it differs to yoghurt.
M&S x ZOE gut shot kefir
This is the best kefir in the UK in our opinion.
This kefir is unique in that it comes in the form of a gut shot, rather than a 500ml bottle or similar. This means it doesn’t provide that value of others but its ingredients and benefits are superb.
This gut shot of kefir contains over 5 billion live cultures from 14 different strains.
It also contains ginger and lemon, as well as prebiotics to feed the good bacteria in your gut.
Flavour
The aroma is sweet banana and mixed fruit.
The taste is similar to yoghurt but with a slight vinegary, gingery acidic tang finish which lingers a bit. It also has an indistinct berry and mixed fruit taste with some banana coming through.
Typical of kefir, it is a bit funkier than yoghurt, with a finish that is not as clean. I would say the taste is still pleasant, but if it’s your first time drinking kefir then you will notice the difference initially.
Cost and availability
I bought it for just over £2 in a small M&S store. It is generally available in most M&S stores in my experience.
Summary
4.75 stars out of 5.
It’s hard to want much more from a kefir. It has probiotics, prebiotics, fruits, ginger and lemon - all which have been shown to be good for the gut.
Pros
huge amount of live cultures
large diversity of bacterial strains
contains prebiotics
contains ginger and lemon
Cons
taste of kefir takes a little getting used to initially
a small shot doesn’t provide the value of other kefirs
Yeo Valley kefir
This natural and unflavoured kefir only contains milk, and yoghurt and kefir cultures.
Yeo Valley kefir has an impressive 14 strains of bacteria in it. This will provide your gut with a fantastic dose of bacterial diversity.
This kefir is also a good source of:
calcium
protein - it is 4% protein
phosphorus
vitamin B2
Flavour
Being unflavoured, the natural kefir taste really shines.
The aroma is very similar to that of yoghurt - slightly acidic and milky.
The taste is quite similar to yoghurt also and doesn’t have the funky notes which some kefirs do. There’s not too much else to say about the taste; essentially it is a nice, refreshing and slightly acidic milky drink which is very approachable.
Cost and availability
I bought a 500ml bottle from a big Sainsbury’s for £2.25 (or £1.75 with a Nectar card).
Summary
4.75 stars out of 5.
A natural, organic kefir with fantastic microbial diversity and great taste for a good price.
Pros
natural and organic
14 strains of bacteria
refreshing taste
very approachable to people new to kefir
high in protein, calcium and other minerals and vitamins
Cons
more information on the bacterial strains present would be good
Biotiful kefir
This flavoured kefir includes milk, cherry puree, fruit extracts, pectin, lemon, natural flavourings and various cultures.
Biotiful lists various bacteria as being present such as Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus casei and Lactobacillus rhamnosus. It’s not possible to say exactly how many strains of Bifidobacterium are present as they only list the genus.
This kefir is also a good source of:
calcium (which helps digestion)
protein - it is 3.3% protein
phosphorus
vitamins B2 and B12 (which supports immunity)
Flavour
The flavour is brilliant.
The aroma is like a cherry yoghurt - with none of the funky vibes you can get with kefir.
The taste is fruity with cherry being dominant. Interestingly I would say it tastes more like a clean yoghurt than a kefir given the absence of any kefir funky flavours. This may make it appealing to a lot of people and it certainly makes it very approachable.
Cost and availability
I bought a 500ml bottle from a small Coop for £2.85. Personally I think this is a reasonable price, but not as good value as others.
Summary
4.5 stars out of 5.
A delicious kefir which is more akin to yoghurt in taste with decent microbial diversity for a reasonable price.
Pros
clean ingredients (but not organic)
fairly good microbial diversity (at least four strains)
great cherry taste
very approachable, clean flavour
good source of vitamins and minerals
Cons
more specifics on the number of bacterial strains present would be helpful (as would a colony forming unit count)
not the cheapest
Health benefits of kefir
Probiotics
These are the beneficial living microbes you are ingesting when you drink kefir. As mentioned above, kefir has a greater diversity of microbes than most fermented foods.
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 add prebiotics for extra health benefits.
Prebiotics are essentially fibres which feed the good bacteria in your gut and help them multiply.
Your reviewer
This article was reviewed by Travis, the founder of this website, long-time gut enthusiast and passionate kombucha maker!
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