Hi folks, I live in northern Africa and it is quite common to find ladies on the side of the street selling bottles of fermented milk. I thought this is some kind of yogurt or kefir, but I’m not sure. I bought a bottle of what basically seems to be milk. Also, I’m not sure about those little yellow grains floating around. The smell is quite tangy. What is this in your opinion?

  • Sadbutdru@sopuli.xyz
    2·
    11 months ago

    What are the floaty lumps like? It looks a bit like milk with kefir grains floating in it, ie future kefir. If the lumps are kind of gelatinous mucus-y wrinkled things, that would increase the likelihood that this is the right answer. Also if you keep it for a while and it thickens and goes more acidic.

    • semperpeppe@feddit.itOP
      2·
      11 months ago

      They look yellow and not very mucus-y. Should I just leave them there and wait for it to evolve? If so, how would I know if this is going to kill me? lol

      • Sadbutdru@sopuli.xyz
        2·
        11 months ago

        The thing is kefir is a symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast (SCOBY), so in different places with different temperatures, and milk from different breeds of cow with different diets, it will be a bit different depending on what exactly is dominating.

        I’m not an expert, but i would leave it in there a bit, then look and smell carefully, and decide whether or not to taste. If it seems safe enough to taste, only have a bit at first. Then monitor the results.

        Unlikely to kill you stone dead just from a sip. I’m willing to risk it 😁.

        • semperpeppe@feddit.itOP
          1·
          11 months ago

          Thsnk you for your reply! I 100% agree. I’m getting to the conclusion those lumps are just some degraded milk proteins and that it won’t become drinkable any time soon lol BUT let’s see what happens, thank you!