Kefir Sharing – My Views

395 days ago

Ever since I started making my own Kefir, I have lost count the number of times I have sent out these Kefir grains to interested parties. I am guessing about 100 envelopes or so? It is kind of difficult to keep track since I am juggling work, family, enjoyment and Kefir. I am actually kind of surprised that there are quite a number of Singaporeans who are interested in Kefir and its health benefits.  When I started taking Kefir, I thought I would be the odd one out, especially in conservative little Singapore where we don’t really dare to try out new things. Just check out the most popular fast food restaurants in Singapore – McDonalds, KFC and Burger King. Their quality has significantly dropped yet people flock to their restaurants like bees to honey (or nectar). Singaporeans (or at least those residing in Singapore) are branching out! And most importantly, we are finally taking charge of our own health, instead of letting doctors and their drugs run the show. I am not against doctors or anything, they are extremely important, but we should understand that doctors don’t make us healthy – we have to do it ourselves.

Anyway, several of my readers had asked me why I share my grains(freely). Well, first of all, that is exactly what Kefir is all about – sharing. There is no point in being healthy and not sharing it with others. Yes, I had “bought” the grains from some guy in Germany but with this initial investment, I am estimating about a hundred or more persons have benefited from it. I am no philanthropist or some sort of saint or the like, nor do I wish to be one. It is just that I have gained so much from the Kefir that I feel it is worth it to share it with others. I am also not a rich person – no car, takes the public transport to work and just barely hit outside the no-income-tax bracket. Yes, it does cost me a lot of money to be share the grains -  I did pay for the postage and the envelopes myself. But since I started taking Kefir, I have never been seriously ill and I have not seen a doctor since. Thus, I don’t think the money was “lost” so to speak. I am also hoping that the readers who received the grains from me, would be also willing to share it with their friends and relatives as well. Perhaps one day, Singapore would have a very active Kefir drinking community?

However, the problem with giving out the Kefir grains freely is that we tend not to appreciate things which are “free”. I am sure that a number of those who receive the grains found that it is difficult and time consuming to keep on making Kefir, since you do need to feed the grains daily with milk, strain and clean the equipment. Can be a hassle, even if it takes just 15  minutes at the most. One of my readers suggested that I should charge a small handling fee to prevent such things from happening. Although I admit that I was tempted and it would really help with the postage fees, I decided not to. I don’t want to turn off potential Kefir people away. Hopefully enough of Singaporeans would be able to see and reap the benefits of Kefir to keep on continuing making Kefir. Well, that is my wish anyway. Not sure whether it will come true or not.

Anyway, if you are looking for some Kefir grains and you are living in Singapore, email me. I will send some grains your way. I know that I am asking a lot but please take good care of the grains. And at least try to consume the Kefir for more than a month before giving up. Kefir might be a probiotic beverage with great health benefits but it is not a miracle potion which works with the snap of the fingers.

Kefir