Question 1

What is kefir, and why is it good for me?

Accepted Answer

Kefir is one of the world's oldest fermented foods, with roots going back thousands of years to the Caucasus Mountains, where families passed their kefir grains down through generations like a treasured heirloom. It's made by culturing fresh milk with live kefir grains, which slowly transform it into a tangy, creamy, probiotic-rich drink. What makes kefir special is how alive it is: a single serving carries a broad community of beneficial bacteria and yeasts, along with protein, calcium, and B vitamins. People reach for it to support gut health, digestion, and everyday immunity — and because it's genuinely delicious, it's easy to make part of your daily routine.

Question 2

What products does Mama's Kefir offer?

Accepted Answer

We have two ranges, both built around the same living kefir culture. Our edible range is our signature drinkable kefir — perfect on its own, in smoothies, or stirred through your favourite dishes. Our skincare and haircare range puts kefir's live cultures to work on the outside, and includes our Kefir Hair Mask, Mocha Scrub, Avocado + Almond Facemask, and Raw Oatmeal Facemask. Everything is made in small batches, fresh to order, and kept cold from our kitchen to your door.

Question 3

How does kefir support gut health?

Accepted Answer

Your gut is home to trillions of microbes that influence everything from digestion to immunity to how energetic you feel. Unlike most fermented foods, kefir is a true symbiotic culture, carrying a remarkably broad mix of beneficial bacteria and yeasts — often ten or more strains, where yogurt typically has only two to four. Many of kefir's probiotics are also hardy enough to survive the journey through your stomach, so they arrive in the gut where they can do their best work.

Question 4

How does kefir benefit skin and hair?

Accepted Answer

Your skin and scalp have their own microbiome — a living barrier that keeps them calm, hydrated, and resilient — and kefir supports it on two fronts. Enjoyed as a drink, kefir nourishes your skin from within, part of the gut-skin connection. Applied topically in our masks and scrubs, its live cultures, lactic acid, and nutrients help gently exfoliate, support the skin barrier, and calm blemish-prone or irritated skin. On the scalp, that same balancing effect helps with dryness, flakiness, and dull hair.

Question 5

Do Mama's Kefir products need to be refrigerated?

Accepted Answer

Yes — always. Everything we make is alive and completely free of preservatives and chemicals, so refrigeration is what keeps the probiotic cultures active and the product fresh and safe. This applies to both our edible kefir and our skincare and haircare items. Keep them cold at all times, seal them when not in use, and enjoy them within their recommended window.

Question 6

How is Mama's Kefir made?

Accepted Answer

Every batch begins the traditional way: live kefir grains are added to quality milk and left to ferment slowly, until the culture transforms it into a tangy, probiotic-rich kefir. Our edible kefir is gently prepared for drinking, while our skincare and haircare blends fold that same living culture together with carefully chosen natural ingredients. The exact grains we use, the timings we follow, and the way we balance each blend are our family craft — refined over many, many small batches until they were just right.

Question 7

How long does kefir take to ferment?

Accepted Answer

Fermentation typically takes around 24 hours, though the exact time shifts with temperature and the character of each batch. We never rush it — we let every batch develop until it reaches the flavour, texture, and live-culture richness we're after. Because we work entirely on pre-orders, your kefir is fermented fresh for you rather than made in advance, so it reaches you at its liveliest.

Question 8

Is kefir vegan?

Accepted Answer

Our traditional kefir is cultured with dairy milk, so it isn't vegan. That said, several of our skincare recipes are plant-forward and centred on ingredients like avocado, oats, coffee, and botanicals, and we're always exploring new ideas as our range grows.

Question 9

Can lactose-intolerant people drink kefir?

Accepted Answer

Often, yes. During fermentation, kefir's live cultures break much of the milk's lactose down into simpler, easier-to-digest sugars, and those cultures keep working in your gut even after you drink it. Many people who find regular milk uncomfortable can enjoy kefir with little or no trouble. If you're highly sensitive, start with a small amount and see how your body responds.

Question 10

Is kefir safe for children and pets?

Accepted Answer

Kefir is a wholesome, natural food that families have enjoyed for generations, and children often love it blended into smoothies or frozen into pops. If you're introducing kefir to a very young child, or you're pregnant or nursing, we'd always recommend a quick word with your doctor first. Plain kefir is enjoyed by many dogs and cats in small amounts, but our range is formulated for people and some ingredients (like cacao in the Mocha Scrub) are not pet-safe — please check with your vet, and never give pets our skincare products.

Question 11

What's the shelf life of Mama's Kefir?

Accepted Answer

Our kefir keeps for around 15 to 20 days from the day of your order, when stored properly in the fridge. That window is shorter than shop-bought alternatives for the best possible reason: we use no preservatives, no stabilisers, and no chemicals — nothing but real, living ingredients. A limited shelf life is the honest signature of a genuinely fresh, handcrafted product.

Question 12

How do I place an order?

Accepted Answer

Simply order through our website or reach out to us on social media, and we'll confirm your batch. Because everything is handcrafted fresh to order, we'll let you know your preparation and delivery timeline when you order — so your kefir arrives at peak freshness.

Question 13

How else can I enjoy kefir?

Accepted Answer

Kefir is far more versatile than most people expect. Beyond drinking it straight, it shines in smoothies, overnight oats, salad dressings, marinades, dips, and even baked treats. We've gathered plenty of ideas on our Recipes pages — from a Golden Kefir Latte to a no-bake cheesecake.

Question 14

How do I use skincare and haircare products?

Accepted Answer

Each product comes with a small booklet tucked into the packaging, with clear usage directions and tips. Full guidance also lives on our How to Use page. As a general rule, our masks and scrubs are made for fresh, cool application and should go back in the fridge between uses — just like the rest of our range.

Question 15

Does Mama's Kefir have a physical store?

Accepted Answer

Not at the moment — we're a proudly online-based brand in Kathmandu, working entirely on pre-orders. It means every batch is handcrafted fresh for your specific order, rather than sitting on a shelf losing its vitality.

Question 16

Do you ship internationally?

Accepted Answer

Not yet — but it's firmly on our roadmap. Because kefir is a fresh, living product, shipping it well takes careful planning to make sure it arrives cold and at its best. Follow us so you're the first to know when Mama's Kefir goes international.

Question 17

Do you deliver outside the Kathmandu Valley?

Accepted Answer

Not yet, though we're actively working on expanding our reach. For now, we deliver within the Kathmandu Valley so we can guarantee your kefir arrives cold, fresh, and full of life.

Question 18

How much kefir should I have each day?

Accepted Answer

A glass a day is a lovely place to start. If you're new to fermented foods, begin with a smaller amount and build up gradually as your gut gets used to the extra probiotics. Little and often is the happiest habit.

Question 19

Can I enjoy Mama's Kefir during pregnancy or breastfeeding?

Accepted Answer

Kefir is a wholesome, nutrient-rich food that many people enjoy throughout pregnancy and while breastfeeding. Made from pasteurised milk and packed with protein, calcium, B vitamins, and gut-friendly probiotics, it's a naturally nourishing choice. Our skincare range is crafted from natural, food-grade ingredients. As every pregnancy is unique, we always recommend a quick word with your doctor or midwife before adding anything new.

Questions, answered gently.