All articles tagged with #fermentation
Archaeologists in China’s Ningxia region recovered about 3.74 liters of a cereal-based alcoholic beverage sealed in a bronze vessel from a Warring States tomb, dating to around 475–221 B.C. The clear, light blue-green liquid showed exceptional preservation and was analyzed as a non-distilled millet beer, brewed mainly from broomcorn millet with some wheat/barley, offering rare insight into ancient Chinese brewing and storage.
In St. Mary’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, 900,000 liters of fish sauce sit in 110 vats at a defunct plant, triggering a $2 million cleanup to remove the sludge and seal it in a lined landfill. The piece blends local history with science, as a food chemist explains how salt and gut enzymes drive umami and preservation, while long-term fermentation could produce rancid aromas and new compounds over years—making the stinky saga both hazardous and oddly intriguing.
Sourdough bread can offer digestive and nutritional benefits—fiber-rich, with fermentation that may enhance mineral absorption and lower some FODMAPs—especially when made with whole grains. However, it still contains calories and gluten, so portions matter and some store-bought loaves may include added sugars or additives; choosing artisan or homemade, whole-grain sourdough fits best in a balanced diet.
Sourdough’s health claims aren’t universal: true sourdough uses a long fermentation with a wild starter that pre-digests gluten and FODMAPs, lowers phytic acid, and may modestly reduce glycemic impact while boosting mineral availability; but benefits vary by loaf, many store versions skip long fermentation, and sourdough is not gluten-free, so it isn’t suitable for celiac disease—its popularity also reflects a broader move toward slower, more intentional eating.
New research shows that the tea type used to brew kombucha dramatically shapes its fermentation dynamics, producing highly distinct chemical and aroma profiles; green and oolong teas yielded kombuchas with stronger antioxidant activity, while aroma shifts included floral/fruity compounds—though clinical health benefits in humans still require further study.
Scientists extracted yeast from Ötzi the Iceman and used it to bake a sourdough loaf that rose within 24 hours; they aim to pursue beer brewing with the same yeast, collaborating with experts from Weihenstephan. The cold-loving yeast likely entered the mummy after death, offering new insights into prehistoric life and fermentation.
A bronze bottle found in tomb M39 near the Shanjiabao cemetery, about 1.5 km from the Great Wall of Qin, preserved residues of a 2,300-year-old beer. Molecular analysis detected malted grains and yeasts, suggesting a fermented beverage used in funerary rituals; the liquid contained more than 2,400 compounds and was thicker than modern beer, akin to a fermented porridge, offering insights into Qin-era fermentation techniques and cereal use.
Brazilian researchers show that fermentation and careful cocoa variety selection can enhance both flavor and nutrition in Amazonian cocoa; blending fermented and unfermented beans could balance taste with antioxidants and minerals, while newly identified compounds glycine betaine and proline suggest added health benefits, and clone differences indicate tailored blends to maximize value in global markets.
A 24-year-old Phoenix wedding planner developed life-threatening botulism after she and friends ate a homemade fermented swordfish. She required hospitalization, a ventilator, and an antitoxin; two friends also contracted botulism. The illness is extremely rare in the U.S., with about two dozen cases annually, and her recovery is expected to be lengthy.
A 12-week trial led by Dr. Wooje Lee at the World Institute of Kimchi found that daily kimchi powder can subtly tune the immune system, boosting antigen presentation and regulated CD4+ T-cell activation without causing broad immune stimulation. Effects were observed in overweight adults using single-cell RNA sequencing, with fermentation method (traditional vs. starter-culture Leuconostoc mesenteroides) influencing strength of signals. B cells and cytotoxic T cells were largely unchanged, and illness outcomes were not measured. Further international research is planned.
Researchers from Vrije Universiteit Brussel show that sourdough fermentation activates wheat enzymes to convert water-extractable arabinoxylans into water-unextractable forms, shrinking fibers and potentially altering bread texture and digestibility. The process also yields distinct flavor compounds from lactic acid bacteria, with Lactococcus lactis contributing buttery aromas and Limosilactobacillus fermentum producing sugar alcohols. Experiments with high-AX flour baked into real bread demonstrated improved nutrition and novel flavors, indicating sourdough reshapes wheat fibers more than previously thought.
Anthropologists and food scientists recreated 'ant yogurt' using a centuries-old Balkan recipe involving live wood ants and warm milk, discovering that the fermentation process involves bacteria similar to those used in sourdough bread, and showcasing traditional food practices with modern culinary applications.
Researchers explore the traditional and scientific aspects of making ant yoghurt, a fermented treat from Bulgaria and Turkey, revealing that ants contribute microbes and formic acid to ferment milk into yoghurt. While promising for food innovation, ethical and sustainability concerns prevent DIY attempts, but the research opens possibilities for novel flavors and plant-based alternatives.
Scientists have identified key microbes involved in cocoa fermentation that influence chocolate flavor, potentially enabling the production of more flavorful and diverse chocolates through targeted fermentation strategies, dubbed the 'secret sauce' for fine chocolate.
Research from Hiroshima University shows that fermented stevia extract, specifically with Lactobacillus plantarum, can kill pancreatic cancer cells while sparing healthy kidney cells, with the active compound chlorogenic acid methyl ester (CAME) playing a key role, suggesting potential for natural cancer therapies.