So what exactly are kefir grains? We’re happy you asked! Traditionally called tibicos, water kefir grains originally appeared growing on the opuntia cactus plant in Mexico. Tibicos are cultures that are shaped like little salt granules, and are composed of mutually beneficial bacteria and yeast. When these bacteria and yeast are nourished with sugar, they produce the healthy acids and beneficial microorganisms that populate raw kefir soda. They also multiply rapidly when properly fed!

The health of our tibicos grains is a top priority at Buchi. Once our water kefir ferments long enough to attain an optimal balance of taste and probiotic vitality, we strain out the kefir grains to ensure a pleasant drinking experience. No matter how important they are to the fermentation process, we don’t want you getting a mouthful of grains! Even without any grains in the bottle, our water kefir soda is packed with enough probiotic goodness and beneficial bacteria that you can start your own batch from a bottle of Buchi. We even put the directions on our labels!