Piqi: Goat-Friendly Water Kefir Drinks

If you suffer from bloating, cramps or irregular bowel movements, fermented foods could help. The most common one of course is live yoghurt (Sojade is a good organic plant-based brand sold in health stores). Other common fermented foods are tempeh, sauerkraut, sourdough bread, miso and kimchi.

PiQi is a Devon-based brand that makes organic kefirs (with water, rather than goat milk). Kefir is a fermented drink made with organic sugar and kefir culture (a mix of bacteria and yeast that creates a gentle fizz and clean tang, with a dose of natural probiotics). Not dissimilar to kombucha (which is more like a fizzy tea, and contains caffeine).

A few people should avoid fermented foods:

Very young or old people or pregnant/nursing women (never eat unpasteurised cheeses)
People with poor immunity (or transplant recipients).
People with histamine intolerance (fermented foods are high in histamine)
People on low-salt diets (most fermented foods use salt)
A few digestion issues (although fermented foods usually help digestion), a few people may get temporary gas and bloating from probiotics).
People with FODMAP sensitivity (IBS, leaky gut etc). This word stands for Fermentable Oligosaccharides, Disaccharides, Monosaccharides, and Polyols (short-chain carbs that are poorly absorbed by the small intestine, then fermented by bacteria in the large intestine).

Read more on food safety for people and pets (check medication before eating/drinking grapefruit or rhubarb).

Avoid kombucha and water kefir (or any unpasteurised food and drink) for pregnancy/nursing and weak immunity (including children and older people). Kombucha also contains a little fermented alcohol and caffeine.

Buy commercial versions of both, as home brewing could risk bacteria and mould. Leave it to the experts!

These have a shorter shelf life than soft drinks, so keep them in the fridge, and treat as fresh food. The range includes: