Flavorful + Innovative Fermented Foods
Food fuels us from the inside out. Every bite brings bursts of flavors to your palate, energizing your senses. And with the right amount of fresh ingredients and strategic seasoning, you give yourself the gift of a revitalizing recipe that is not only aromatic but also nourishing.
The fermentation process does just this: fostering flavor and functional health benefits. Fermentation is a metabolic process where a microorganism breaks down a substance and converts it into a different substance. These said microorganisms convert sugars into acids and gases. This chemical reaction has not only been used for thousands of years to preserve food, but also to enhance a dish’s textures and nutritional content.
“The probiotics in the fermentation process support a healthy gut microbiome, which is important for digestion and extracting nutrition from food,” says Ryan Gannaway, co-owner and operator of Elk Mountain Farmacy in Paonia. “Studies have shown that a healthy microbiota boosts serotonin and influences mood. A healthy microbiome is also important for the health of our immune systems.”
This specific microbiota is the collection of microorganisms that live in the human gut. There are a variety of foods that fulfill this criteria, whether you are snacking, adding them to a plate or enjoying them as your main dish. Lucky for you, there are many Colorado made businesses that can help you along your fermented journey.
ELK MOUNTAIN FARMACY
Gannaway solely utilizes and supports North Fork Valley farmers to “repopulate humanity with healthy bacteria,” as she puts it. Elk Mountain Farmacy curates six varieties of kimchi and kraut, as well as a fermented hot sauce. The brand takes their own creative licenses to the timeless Korean kimchi and German sauerkraut, expanding and combining archetypes to make their products deliciously unprecedented. For example, the Purple Haze is red cabbage based with garlic, ginger and pepper.
Hand-chosen vegetables go through the fermentation process, where Gannaway mixes chopped vegetables with high quality sea salt. She says the sea salt serves to suppress harmful bacteria.
Salted, cut vegetables are then packed into traditional air-locked ceramic crocks, where they marinate for three to six months depending on the season. Unlike generic fermented veggies, Elk Mountain Farmacy is unwilling to compromise the traditional, long-term process for high production levels.
“The taste is really incoomparable to store bought, short-term ferments,” Gannaway says. “Not only do our ferments stay crunchy, but they have extremely complex and rich flavor profiles.”
Gannaway recommends Purple Haze on pesto pasta dishes. Top the Powerkraut on curries or a bratwurst. And, to spice things up, add the Live Probiotic Hot Sauce to burritos and tacos. Purchase these powerful probiotics products from elkmountianfarmacy.com, out of their homestead in Paonia and at the Crested Butte and Aspen farmers markets.
FULL STOP. SOURDOUGH CRACKERS
Fermented foods can also be crispy and understated. For this trusted snack, each bag is “an invitation to slow down, savor the present and make time for yourself and those around you,” shares Sadie Stutzman, Full Stop. founder and chief.
The Boulder-based brand crafts artisanal sourdough crackers that are brimming with wholesome goodness. Wild yeasts and beneficial bacteria break down the flour’s carbohydrates, creating carbon dioxide bubbles that leaven the dough and produce enzymes that ease gluten digestion. Each batch undergoes a long, overnight fermentation in the fridge, ensuring consistent quality with every crunch. Her sourdough crackers are easy for the human body to digest, aiding toward a more robust microbiome.
Each cracker is delicious right out of the bag, but Stutzman’s favorite way to enjoy them is with a brick of cream cheese. The lineup includes five flavors, from Salted Sourdough to Sriracha & Cheddar to Tahini & Garlic. These crackers are universally versatile, complementing everything from charcuterie boards and hummus to dips, soups, salads and tinned fish.
“We offer a more robust cracker that is hardy when you are trying to pair it but delicate in flavor and aesthetic,” Stutzman explains.
Head over to Blaine’s Farm Store in Grand Junction, All The Good Stuff in Edwards, The Lettuce Head Food Company in Buena Vista and fullstopbakery.com to begin dipping and snacking.
YO-BUCHA
This iconic kombucha tea-infused yogurt is layered over fresh fruit puree and chia seeds. Each spoonful is full of live cultures, probiotics, omega-3s and antioxidants; available at Whole Foods, Sprouts and Pine Melon. Learn more at yobucha.com.
“Our yogurt is a nutritional powerhouse,” Denver-based founder and CEO Anna Postek emphasizes. “Packed with probiotics, it’s a digestive health booster, effectively reducing issues like bloating, diarrhea and constipation. Our chia seeds, with more omega-3 fatty acids per gram than salmon, are a standout feature. And our fruits, including blueberries, strawberries, raspberries and peaches, are a treasure trove of antioxidants, vitamins and minerals, effectively supporting your body’s cardiovascular and immune health.”
Yo-Bucha can be an effective addition to your breakfast, snack, smoothie, protein shake or baked good. The flavors are energy rich and creatively untraditional: Strawberry Hibiscus, Blueberry Lemon, Vanilla Peach and Raspberry Lime. Each cup contains its own bold flavors with the same satisfying and consistent sweet, creamy and simple texture kids and adults love.
The time-tested recipe not only reaps the benefits of the yogurt’s fermentation process, but also the tea in the kombucha. No other yogurt company infuses kombucha tea into yogurt, a standout in the dairy aisle and your refrigerator.