(no subject)

[cotya]

Искала для коллеги как называется кефирный гриб на английском.
Как-то не много информации совсем, в основном на разных форумах. О чайном грибе намного больше и подробнее.

Kombucha

In Germany Kombucha is called the miracle mushroom (Heldenpilz), in France it has the name of Fungo. In China it is known as Kam-bu-ha.
It is in Russia where it is the most known and studied, more exactly in the Russian empire before the revolution and in the Soviet Union after the revolution.

Tibetan milk mushroom

Tibetan milk mushroom has several names, for example, in Belarus it is known as the mushroom of Indian yogis.
Its draw helps to restore an organism in the postoperative period promoting healing of wounds.
It treats such diseases of gastrointestinal tract, as gastritis, pancreatitis and also exacerbation of ulcer.

http://onibasu.com/archives/km/7936.html

I was so confused with these names - kefir grains, Tibetan mushroom, Snow Lotus that I carried out a small research to find out the truth. Do these names refer to the same entity or they are different organisms? From searching English based sites I was able to find only the same questions and no answers, so I tried to search for information on Russian servers.
Below is what I've found.
There are four types of DIFFERENT cultures (at least):

1. Kombucha (or tea mushroom, tea kvass and so on).
There is a lot of information regarding Kombucha on the net and it is almost impossible to mix it up with something else (besides mother of vinegar may be).

2. Kefir grains (or Kefir mushroom). It is also well known culture. Originated from Caucasus. It usually lives in milk, looks like separate grains, which could be as big as 1 inch in diameter. Dom's site  has very good pictures of kefir grains. The grains can be dried. Nothing was mentioned about freezing.

3. Tibetan mushroom (or Tibetan milk mushroom).
Originated from Tibet. Lives in milk. Accompanied with a long list of diseases that can be treated with the mushroom. Looks like monolith piece of white substance similar to tvorog (kind of cottage cheese).

4. Indian sea rice (this is direct translation from Russian, it is also called Japanese rice or alive rice). Originated from Tibet also. The substance looks like boiled rice grains that are stuck together. It is also claimed as a remedy from a lot of diseases. All recipes I encountered so far are water based; i.e. the culture lives in sweet water. Such additions as dried fruits are usually required.

Comments

[alikr.livejournal.com]

Я не очень понимаю что такое кефирный гриб. Вроде как сбраживание молока вызывается бактериями а не фунгусами всякими. При этом в кефире работает не один вид бактерии а несколько (как я понимаю, как и в других кисломолочных продуктах). В интернете их названия легко найти.

[cotya.livejournal.com]

Это точно не гриб, а колония бактерий, просто в такой форме.
Дело в том, что продукт очень похож по вкусу на хороший кефир, не слишком кислый и густой, но говорят, что набор микроорганизмов там сильно отличается от стандартных кефиров и йогуртов.
Поэтому я и ищу как оно точно называется - его даже в вики пока найти не удалось.