I have some kefir grains that have been with me for a long time, and are always very hardy and reliable.
I recently made a batch of buchu tea kefir (which was lovely by the way) and then decided to go on and make a nettle tea batch.
I made it by brewing some strong nettle tea and, once it was cold, diluting it and adding it to the grains with some sugar.
Over the next few days it seemed to be going as per usual, bubbles rising every-so-often. Didn't notice anything strange.
When I went to get some this morning I found that the whole batch had solidified somewhat, with the consistency of egg whites. Looked like kefir, tasted like kefir, just had the consistency of snot. I rinsed the grains and threw the jelly away as the texture creeped me out a bit.
Has anyone had a similar experience? any ideas why this might have happened? I'm wondering if its a freak accident or something to do with nettle maybe? (which would be a shame as i was specifically trying to make nettle kefir for a friend with gout).