Packaging for Kefir Grains

The box for Chulamski’s Kefir Grains, along with the raw material in it, comes from the “Pod Gwiazdą” [“The Star”] pharmacy in Lwów, which was owned by Piotr Mikolasch. The box contains dry kefir grains (Lat. dispora caucasica), from which one could prepare kefir. The grains, also called kefir mushrooms, are clusters of many species of bacteria, lactic acid, acetic acid and yeast responsible for lactic and alcoholic fermentation, which takes place during the production of kefir. The drink was produced by members of many tribes, including Ossetians, Balkars, Bezhta and Chamalal. ID no.: Teka 10/55 Time of creation: 2nd half of the 19th century Museum: The Museum of Pharmacy at the Jagiellonian University Medical College in Kraków https://muzea.malopolska.pl/en/objects-list/1755 Digitalisation: RDW MIC, Virtual Małopolska project