FAQs

Got questions? You're in the right place. Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about our company and products. But if what you want to know isn't listed, drop us a line:


INGREDIENTS
Are you organic?
Celtic sea salt - why Celtic?
What water do you use?

FERMENTATION
What is fermentation?
Good bacteria?
How much should I eat?
Is it safe?

KOMBUCHA
What is a SCOBY?
What is kombucha?
What are the health benefits of kombucha?
Is kombucha fermented tea?
How do you drink kombucha?

SAUERKRAUT
What is sauerkraut?
What are the health benefits of sauerkraut?
Is sauerkraut good for gut health?
How much sauerkraut should I eat?
How do you serve sauerkraut?

KIMCHI
What is kimchi?
What are the health benefits of kimchi?
Is kimchi good for gut health?
Is kimchi vegan?
How do you use kimchi?

APPLE CIDER VINEGAR
What is apple cider vinegar? 
What are the health benefits of apple cider vinegar?
Is apple cider vinegar good for weight loss?
What is the mother in apple cider vinegar?
How do you consume apple cider vinegar?

HEALTH AND WELL-BEING
What will fermented food and drink cure?
Are there any side-effects?

LET’S GET PRACTICAL
How should I store my products?
How long do they last?
Do the jars leak?
What's with all the plastic packaging?

INGREDIENTS

Are you organic?

We certainly are. From cabbage, carrots and caraway seeds to black pepper, blueberries and beetroot, all our ingredients are organic. Well not all of them - salt and water cannot achieve organic certification - that’s why they’re not organic.

You can find out more in the About Us section of the site.

Celtic sea salt - why Celtic?

It’s the best in the world. We use Sel de Guérande, which comes from southern Brittany in France. In fact it’s so good that one of France’s oldest food accreditors - Natur et Progrès - has denoted it to be pure, environmentally responsible and sustainable.

The salt is harvested the same way it has always been: with wooden tools and for just five months of the year. It is left to dry out completely naturally - just the sun and the wind do the job. Nothing is added and only the sea is taken away.

That’s why we use it. See how it's harvested here:

What water do you use?

Just water. But it’s double-filtered. Tap water isn’t quite pure enough not to have an effect on the fermentation process and will kill off much of the friendly bacteria during the course of fermentation. We filter twice: through active ceramics and charcoal - this removes 99% of the ‘impurities’ that can be present. ‘Impurities’ such as - wait for it…

Chlorine, Flouride, Organic Contaminants, Heavy Metals, Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), Trihalomethanes (THMs), Pesticides, Industrial Solvents, Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs), Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) and some pathogenic bacteria such as e-coli. We’d rather our products contain the stuff they’re supposed to!

 

FERMENTATION

What is fermentation?

It’s been going forever - we can’t claim to have invented it, just perfected it! It’s the very natural process of storing food in an anaerobic environment (one without oxygen) and allowing the already-present bacterial cultures to flourish and multiply.

Depending on the product, this process is helped along by salt or by a SCOBY - a symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast. It’s clever and natural chemistry. Our fermentation process takes around 21-28 days. And that matters. Less time means less quality.

Good bacteria?

Yup. We humans are pretty much 90% bacteria and yes, some aren’t so good. Most, however, are very friendly and live in perfect harmony with us - in fact, many are absolutely essential to our well-being and general health.

Most of these live in our gut and are sometimes referred to as our microbiome - they help us process our food and boost our immune system. And that’s what our fermented foods and drinks contain: the good bacteria.

How much should I eat?

That’s up to you. However, the more variety the better. Ideally, three or four different types of fermented food should be consumed throughout the day. Different products - even different batches - have diverse cultures and bacterial strains.

Start small though. Just have a little at a time in the beginning and work your way up. You’re consuming billions of bacteria and so you need to let your body get used to this tsunami of goodness.

Is it safe?

Yes it is. We are not aware of any cases of people getting sick from properly prepared and stored fermented food and drink. The nature of the process of fermentation makes it extremely difficult for pathogenic bacteria to survive, unlike ‘normal’ food preparation.

We are also proud to say that we have a five-star food hygiene rating from The Foods Standards Agency and are also SALSA accredited.

 

HEALTH AND WELL-BEING

What will fermented food and drink cure?

Fermented foods are beneficial, but they do not cure anything specific - they cannot be used in isolation as a remedy for any particular ailment. However, as part of a healthy and nutritious diet, they have been shown to provide many benefits to your gut microbiome, your immune system and your overall health. 

Are there any side-effects?

There can be, yes. They’re not really side-effects, though. More ‘inside effects’. When you start consuming fermented food and drink you may notice that you produce more wind and you might go to the loo more often. But this is just your body getting used to things.

If you have Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO) - where the bacteria in your gut are out of balance - fermented food and drink can sometimes be detrimental and it's best to resolve this before using them. And if you have any issues with histamines, it might be wise to avoid fermented foods, as they can contain quite high levels. Our best advice? If you’re unsure how your body will react, speak to a medical professional first.

 

LET’S GET PRACTICAL

How should I store my products?

In the fridge. You don’t have to, but they’ll keep fermenting if you don’t. And we think we’ve fermented them just right.

After about a month, our Kombucha bottles can explode if they have been kept somewhere warm, and the jars of veggies can start leaking. Everything will still be safe to consume, but they are best kept cool where possible. 

How long do they last?

Fermented food and drink is designed to be stored for months on end - even outside the fridge. But we’re quite picky about taste - and so we’d say up to six months in the fridge if you have to. Once opened, only use clean cutlery and always re-seal - and they can last for months.

Do the jars leak?

Sometimes, yes. Especially when they’re being transported. That’s because they’re alive and they keep fermenting. It's fine though and quite normal. Just give anything that has leaked a rinse and then pop them in the fridge.

What's with all the plastic packaging?

It's actually a little known fact that in terms of overall carbon footprint, plastic is often far less polluting for the environment than paper. Our inflatable AirShock packaging is the safest way to transport our heavy glass products, but don't worry, they are made from 100% recyclable materials. Our bubble wrap is made from recycled plastic and is also 100% recyclable. So you can put them in your plastic recycling bin if your Council allows it. Otherwise you can recycle them at any large supermarket where they take plastic bags. They'll get broken down and re-used. Simple.