I am very new to fermentation. I wanted to start with making Kefir, it seemed easy enough to do from all the things I saw on Youtube. I bought some grains via Amazon.com but Amazon obviously doesn't grow grains, it is private concessions on Amazon. Not only did it take forever to get them, I have been trying to grow the 1/2 tablespoon(measured) that I received, knowing that the small amount I have won't do much. It is now day 4 and they have done nothing, they are still 1/2 tablespoon, I was under the impressions that these would grow like crazy. I used pure Maple syrup 1/4 cup per quart jar, I saw that it is suppose to be the best for growing grains and I could almost see them grow that is how fast it is suppose to happen. The seller says due to the shock of travel, it could take two weeks to start to grow. That doesn't make sense to me, it isn't a 7 year old kid on his first bus ride alone, they were packaged pretty well I thought and they didn't look damaged at all, actually they looked healthy to my untrained eye.
Does anyone know what is going on? Is the seller right and because of shippment it could take a long time? Do they sell these in health food stores? I am not in good health and I really thought that Kefir and other fermented foods could help me, I am really dissappointed at this point.
Thanks,
Barry