MY MILK KEFIR-GRAINS ARE GROWING FLAT, OR LIKE A DEFLATED RUBBER BALLON. ARE THEY DAMAGED?
The shape of grains to come! No, your grains are not damaged, and you do NOT have special, rare grains, as some folks on the net are suggesting. All milk kefir-grains shall, and do go through phases of variable growth in regards to shape, size and texture or make up of the grain. This is because the organisms adapt to culture-conditions, the result of which is a variable grain shape, size, and texture of each grain. There’s lots happening among the micro-community of organisms. How these are forced to build their abode [the grain], is quite fascinating to observe under so many culture-conditions. In the case with flat sheathed grains this is usually a result of self-enclosed grains being popped open by physical means, such as excessive squeezing or pushing on the grain, or tearing or cutting the grain into smaller pieces. The opening of such grains lets in milk, and over time those grains will be forced to grow as large, flat sheaths, instead of self-enclosed bodies. However, if future
