Originating in the mountainous region that divides Asia and Europe, kefir looks like regular yogurt but is actually quite distinct from the Yoplait you grew up eating. Kefir made its way to the United States, by first appearing in niche supermarkets and health food stores, and once more people realized its health benefits, it appeared in general supermarkets like Trader Joe’s. But even though kefir has become super popular now, people pronounce kefir in more than one way. It’s time for someone to tell the people how to really pronounce kefir.
But before we get down to how it’s pronounced, we should probably understand what kefir is made up of. Basically, it’s fermented milk made with beneficial yeast and bacteria. This combination of ingredients gives the drink its light carbonation and tangy flavor. Since kefir contains probiotics, it aids digestion and the bacteria in your gut, as well as your immune system.
Without further adieu, let’s hop right into the correct way to pronounce kefir so the next time you try to pronounce it in front of your friends, you can say it with 100% confidence.
How to Pronounce Kefir
Most Americans either pronounce it “kee-fur” or “keff-er.” However, Russians pronounce it as “kuh-fear.” Since they’re the ones who invented it, I’d suggest saying “kuh-fear” as well.
What Can I Do With Kefir?
Once you go to your local grocery store and pick up this ~trendy~ fermented drink, you could just drink it straight. If you’re not into that or you don’t like the taste of kefir, you can always hide it in smoothies, açaí bowls, smoothie bowls, chia pudding, or overnight oats.
Besides using it in a healthy manner, you can use kefir to power your ranch addiction by making homemade kefir ranch dressing. Another clever way you can use kefir is in baked goods (you can use kefir if you don’t have any buttermilk). So if you’re suddenly craving buttermilk pancakes but don’t have the buttermilk and have kefir instead, you can still make those pancakes. Just make sure the kefir isn’t flavored, unless you want your pancakes to have a specific flavor to them. You can even try to make kefir at home if you’re curious and want to see the whole process behind making it.
Seeing how far kefir has come, literally, from Eastern Europe to the niche supermarkets and into our regular grocery stores, it’s amazing how foreign drinks can become so popular. And it’s mainly because of its many health benefits that people are raving about this drink. Now that you know how to pronounce kefir and what the heck it is, you can finish brushing up on the other foods you might be pronouncing wrong (Gruyere cheese or herbs, anyone?).