Kefir vs yogurt
Both are fermented dairy — but they're made differently, and they taste different. Here's the honest, factual difference (yes, we'll tackle “is kefir better than yogurt?” too).
| Kefir | Yogurt | |
|---|---|---|
| Fermented with | Kefir grains (bacteria & yeasts) | Bacterial cultures |
| Range of live cultures | Broader | Narrower |
| Texture | Thinner, drinkable | Thicker, spoonable |
| Taste | Tangier, slightly effervescent | Milder |
| Lactose | Naturally lower | Lower than milk |
| Traditionally | A drink | Eaten with a spoon |
What is kefir?
Kefir is a fermented dairy drink made with kefir grains — small, living clusters of bacteria and yeasts. Those grains ferment milk with a broader community of live cultures than yogurt, producing a thinner, pourable dairy with a fresh, tangy, faintly effervescent character. Read the full explainer →
What is yogurt?
Yogurt is milk fermented with a smaller, specific set of bacterial cultures. It sets thicker and spoonable, with a milder tang. It's the more familiar of the two — but it's not the same thing as kefir.
How they're made differently
The key difference is the culture. Yogurt relies on a handful of bacterial strains; kefir is fermented by kefir grains, which carry a wider mix of bacteria and yeasts. That broader fermentation is what gives kefir its distinctive tang and thinner body, and naturally lowers the lactose found in milk.
Taste and texture
If you spooned them side by side: yogurt is thick, creamy and mild; kefir is thinner, brighter and tangier, with a subtle liveliness. Neither is “right” — they're simply different, and suited to different things.
Is kefir better than yogurt?
Honestly? It's the wrong question. Neither is simply “better” — and we don't make health claims either way. Factually, kefir is fermented with a broader range of cultures and is thinner and tangier; yogurt is thicker and milder. Which one suits you comes down to taste, texture and how you want to use it — a tangy drink versus a spoonable pot.
What we can tell you: when you take kefir and freeze it, you get frozen kefir — a light, tangy frozen dessert. Ours is made with no added sugar. See how it stacks up against frozen yogurt →
Frequently asked
What is the difference between kefir and yogurt?
Kefir is fermented with kefir grains (bacteria and yeasts), giving a broader range of cultures, a thinner texture and a tangier taste. Yogurt uses a smaller set of bacterial cultures and is thicker and milder. Both are fermented dairy and naturally lower in lactose than milk.
Is kefir better than yogurt?
Neither is simply “better” — it depends what you're after, and we make no medical or health claims. Kefir is tangier and thinner with a broader range of cultures; yogurt is thicker and milder. Choose on taste, texture and use.
Is kefir the same as yogurt?
No — different cultures and different fermentation. Kefir uses kefir grains; yogurt uses bacterial cultures, which is why kefir is thinner and tangier.
Taste frozen kefir at Snowfall
No added sugar, live cultures, made fresh. Find us at 52a George Street, Marylebone.
Find us in Marylebone