Fermenting Agent: *Yeast **Bacteria ***Mold
Favorite Fermented Foods
Many of the world's greatest foods and drinks involve fermentation: beer, wine, coffee, bread, cheese, and chocolate. Life would be a lot less fun without the miracles that yeasts, bacteria, and mold perform in transforming grapes into wine, hops into beer, and cocoa seeds into chocolate. What are your favorite fermented foods?
| Beer * Yeast converts grain sugars into alcohol |
Wine * Yeasts convert grape sugars into alcohol |
Saké * *** Saké is brewed, not distilled, rice "beer" |
Apple Cider Vinegar * ** Made using a "mother" of yeast and bacteria |
| Miso * ** *** Soybeans and grains transformed by yeasts, bacteria, and koji mold |
Soy Sauce *** Soybeans and wheat undergo two stages of fermentation |
Tempeh *** Soybeans inoculated with the mold, Rhizopus sp. |
Sourdough * Flour and water fermented by cultivated wild yeast- "starter" |
| Coffee * ** Bacteria and yeast act on coffee cherries |
Chocolate * ** Cacao beans undergo anaerobic and aerobic fermentations |
Bleu Cheese ** *** This multi-stage fermentation involves bacteria and mold |
Kimchi * ** Probiotic bacteria convert cabbage, carrot, onion, garlic, and spices |
| Yogurt ** Rich in bacteria known as probiotics that can help improve digestion |
Kombucha * ** A SCOBY mother converts juice or sweet tea to "bootch" |
Sauerkraut ** Raw cabbage submerged in a salt brine |
Kefir * ** Milk converted using moth kefir grains |
| Rice Bran (nuka) Pickle * ** Rice bran "bed" where vegetables ferment into pickles |
Cottage Cheese ** Enzymes and bacteria added to milk to separate curds and whey |
Parmesan ** Thermophilic LAB is added to milk, then brined, then aged |
Kvass * Considered a bread-soda or beer, a mash of rye bread and water |