The Gut Health Girls Are Obsessed With Kefir—Here’s the Vegan Version

Whether it’s during a grocery store trip or while social media scrolling, it’s likely you’ve come across fermented foods and beverages before. Things like kombucha, kimchi, sauerkraut, and miso have risen in popularity in recent years, and the overall market has shot to more than $575 billion. By 2032, it could hit more than $989 billion.

Many fermented foods and beverages are made from dairy—like kefir. The thick yogurt-like drink was one of the first known fermented beverages in the world. But, while it’s usually made from cow’s milk, kefir can be made without dairy so those avoiding dairy don’t have to miss out on its potential health benefits. Intrigued? Here’s what you need to know.

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What is kefir?

Kefir, which originates from the Caucasus Mountains that lie between Asia and Europe and the nomadic Ossetians, is a mix between a yogurt and a milky drink. 

It’s made with a mix of fermented milk and kefir grains, and, while you might think of things like barley and rice when you see the word “grain,” kefir grains are actually a little different. In fact, they are living symbiotic colonies of yeast and bacteria. This means that kefir is a good source of probiotics, which may help with gut health.

“The fermentation process gives kefir its rich probiotic content which is the primary reason kefir has immune boosting benefits,” Tricia Best, RD, told All Recipes.

“Probiotics actively repopulate your gut with healthy bacteria which are needed for proper immune function,” she continued. “It has been said that the immune system is housed in the gut, and this is relatively true. The gut’s microbiome plays many vital roles in the body and when it is out of balance nearly every body system is impacted.”

RELATED: What Wellness Experts Say About Vegan Probiotics and Gut Health

Is kefir vegan?

Because kefir contains fermented cow’s milk, in its original form, it’s not vegan. That said, it is possible to use plant-based milks instead. This recipe from the blog Light Orange Bean, for example, guides you through how to make vegan kefir using soy milk and water kefir. The latter is a kind of sparkling, probiotic drink, which is made with, you guessed it, water.

“After 24 hours of fermentation, soy milk in the jar with water kefir became slightly thicker and has a hint of sour taste,” notes the blog post. “This is the best time to enjoy the soy milk kefir as a beverage.”

You can also use a combination of coconut milk, date paste, and water kefir to make vegan kefir, as this recipe from The Coconut Mama blog demonstrates. “It contains powerful anti-bacterial, antifungal, and anti-inflammatory properties, making it a superior food to keep in your kitchen,” notes the blog.

You can also use other alternative milks, like almond milk and oat milk, too.

Where to buy vegan kefir: 6 brands to try

If you’re not interested in making your own kefir, or you simply don’t have the time (we get it), then it is also possible to buy vegan versions. Below, we’ve listed a few of the best brands to try.

Forager Project

1 Forager Project

Already a staple in the plant-based yogurt aisle, Forager Project has officially entered the kefir chat. Its new organic kefir-style drinks in unsweetened plain, blueberry, mango, and strawberry are creamy, tangy, and cultured the traditional way, with a blend of cashews and coconuts. Packed with live probiotics and subtly sweet flavor, it’s an easy, drinkable upgrade for your daily gut routine.
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Fermenteria

2Fermenteria

If kombucha feels a little too intense, Fermenteria offers a lighter, fizzier alternative. These zero-sugar fermented drinks are crisp and refreshing—more like sparkling water than vinegar—with 10 to 12 billion CFUs per can. Made with just a handful of organic ingredients, flavors like Pineapple Coconut and Strawberry Lime keep things bright without any added sweeteners.
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Inner-Eco

3 Inner-Eco

Made with coconut water and kefir cultures, Inner-Eco’s range of You Gut This probiotic coconut waters are as tasty as they are good for you. They’re sparkling, bubbly, and deliciously fruity, especially if you choose flavors like Blueberry Blackberry and Mango Pineapple.
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KefirLab

4 KefirLab

For a more classic kefir experience—minus the dairy—KefirLab’s coconut milk-based drinks bring serious probiotic power. Each bottle contains an impressive range of live cultures alongside naturally occurring electrolytes and MCTs from coconut. With flavors like Strawberry and Vanilla, it’s rich, lightly tangy, and designed to do more than just taste good.
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Agua de Kefir

5 Agua de Kefir

Rooted in traditional water kefir practices, Agua de Kefir delivers a lightly sparkling, ultra-refreshing take on probiotics. Made using kefir cultures grown from prickly pear cactus, each bottle leans into hydration as much as gut health, with desert-inspired flavors like Guava Paloma and Peach Piña. Think of it as kombucha’s breezier, more thirst-quenching cousin.
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Gourmanity

6 Gourmanity

Shelf-stable and effortlessly portable, Gourmanity’s water kefir is made for sipping anywhere, no fridge required. Brewed in small batches in Belgium, each can is fully fermented and packed with live probiotics for a crisp, lightly effervescent finish. Distinctive flavors like Grapefruit & Cardamom, Orange & English Breakfast, and Elderflower set it apart from the usual fruity lineup.
Get it here