After finishing a course of strong antibiotics, my stomach was anything but happy. A friend suggested trying kefir, a cultured fermented milk drink rich in ‘billions of live probiotic bacteria’ that can help restore balance in the gut.
Intrigued, I looked deeper into kefir’s benefits. Aside from promoting digestive health, it can support strong bones, protect against bacterial infections, and even lower blood pressure and the risk of heart disease.
But with so many options available, which kefir drink should I choose? To find out, I purchased kefir drinks from seven popular UK supermarkets—Asda, Tesco, M&S, Aldi, Lidl, Sainsbury’s, and Morrisons—and compared them based on price, flavour, nutritional value, and overall appeal.
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My kids love yoghurt but weren’t fans of kefir’s tart and sour taste, so this was a solo taste test.
Yeo Valley Mango and Passionfruit Kefir Drink (Morrisons): £2.50 for 500ml (50p/100ml)
Made with organic milk and fruit purees, this drink boasts 66 calories per 100ml, 3.5g protein, calcium, phosphorus, and vitamin B2. The vibrant mango and passionfruit made it taste fresh and invigorating without being too sweet. Its creamy yet light texture was delightful. I awarded it 5 out of 5 stars.
Biotiful Gut Health Strawberry Kefir Drink (Tesco): £2.60 for 500ml (52p/100ml)
Containing pasteurised cow’s milk and 2.8% strawberry puree, this drink has 63 calories per 100ml with 3.1g protein and vitamin B12. However, it lacked strong flavour—neither noticeably sweet nor sour—and wasn’t very enjoyable to drink. I gave it 2 out of 5 stars.
Sainsbury’s Strawberry Kefir Drink: £1.95 for 500ml (39p/100ml)
This naturally sweetened drink contains over five billion live cultures from 14 strains. With 66 calories, 3g protein, and calcium per 100ml, the flavour was subtle and bland, with barely a hint of strawberry and a thin texture. Score: 2 out of 5.
Tesco Gut Sense Kefir Raspberry: £2.90 for 750ml (39p/100ml)
Featuring 14 culture strains and a simple ingredient list, it offers 71 calories and 3.5g protein per 100ml. The sharpness of sour kefir paired with tart raspberry wasn’t to my liking—too intense and unbalanced. I gave it 2 out of 5 stars.
Beautiful Everyday Mixed Berries Kefir Drink (Lidl): £2.09 for 750ml (28p/100ml)
With billions of live cultures and a mix of strawberry, cherry, and redcurrant, it delivers 56 calories and 3g protein per 100ml. This drink’s tangy, sweet, and piquant berry flavour was irresistibly delicious with a satisfyingly creamy texture. My top pick—5 out of 5 stars.
Aldi Brooklea Mixed Berries Kefir Drink: £2.09 for 750ml (28p/100ml)
Containing 14 strains of live cultures and a berry blend, this drink has 69 calories and 3.5g protein per 100ml. It had a pleasant texture and mild berry taste, though less intense in flavour than Lidl’s. I rated it 4 out of 5 stars.
M&S Plain Kefir Drink: £2.90 for 500ml (58p/100ml)
A simple product with just kefir, chicory fibre, and cultures, it contains 61 calories and 3.7g protein per 100ml. The flavour was sharp but not bitter, making it a good no-frills option for lower sugar content. However, it felt pricey and less exciting. I gave it 3.5 out of 5.
Between all, I had two favourites. Yeo Valley’s mango and passionfruit kefir felt fresh, clean, and incredibly healthy. But its price was nearly double that of the Lidl Mixed Berries drink, which was both delicious and budget-friendly.
Lidl’s drink had slightly more sugar but the lowest calories and saturated fat among all tested, plus extra vitamins and minerals. It kept my tummy settled and was a great value treat lasting three days at just 70p per day.
Kefir truly helped soothe my grumbly gut, and I plan to keep it in my diet moving forward.