Glass jar of yellow fermenting mixture covered with cloth on wooden table
Articles

Ginger Beer Plant: Can You Make It From Scratch?

The ginger beer plant (GBP), a symbiotic culture of yeast and bacteria, nearly vanished due to the rise of commercial sodas. This unique culture, crucial for brewing traditional ginger beer, has been preserved through careful cultivation efforts. While recreating it from scratch is difficult, communities now share living cultures, ensuring its continuity and diversity.

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Rustic kitchen with fermentation jars, bottles, herbs, and a person preparing food
Articles

Before Soda Was Soda: The History of Naturally Fermented Drinks

Soda today differs significantly from its historical roots, which involved naturally fermented drinks rich in beneficial cultures. Traditional beverages, like ginger beer and root beer, offered nutritional value and safety in contaminated water contexts. The shift to commercial sodas eliminated these qualities, emphasizing mass production over cultural heritage and health benefits.

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