Frequently Asked Questions
Fermentation:
What is fermentation?
Fermentation is a natural process using good bacteria to preserve fruit and vegetables. It has been rooted in the traditions of many cultures globally. We produce traditional ferments like sauerkraut and kimchi, which use the process of lacto-fermentation to create a brine; encouraging the good bacteria to ferment the veggies. If you want to know more, why not book onto one of our workshops.
My ferment is hissing/leaking/bubbling?
As fermentation takes place, small amounts of carbon dioxide (CO2) gas are produced which gives our ferments a little life and can lead to hissing, bubbling and in some extreme cases leaking. Please open gently and carefully, wipe clean leakages which have occurred and refrigerate as soon as possible.
Check out our Gut-Loving Guide to get the best out of your ferments.
How long will the ferments last?
If you follow our Gut-Loving Guide and look after your ferments well, then they can last much longer than the recommended best before date. Once opened we recommend keeping in the fridge and eating within 3-4 weeks.
Kombucha and Kefir are best enjoyed fresh so once open keep in the fridge and drink within 3 days.
What should I eat with my ferments and can I cook with them?
Ferments can be used in a wide variety of dishes and cuisines. Use them on sandwiches, mixed into salads, on top of stews and soups. You can cook with our ferments, but the high temperature will kill off any of the good bacteria and their probiotic benefits with them, so we don’t recommend it. If you need a little inspiration our "Pickles on a Plate" series is a good source of ideas and can be found on our social media channels.
How much should I eat?
Start small as with anything too much can be a bad thing. We find that as fermented foods address the balance of good vs bad bacteria in your gut this can lead to an increase in gut activity with windy results.
Workshops:
What should I wear to a workshop?
We recommend casual comfortable clothes; we supply aprons for each workshop to protect your clothing and in case of spillages. We would suggest comfortable shoes also as we tend to stand for periods of the workshop. We would additionally suggest short sleeves so as not get food on your clothes.
We firmly believe in making our workshops as inclusive as possible, please get in touch with any accessibility requirements and we will do our utmost to accommodate.
Are the workshops suitable for children?
Most of our workshops are aimed at adults (15+). We do believe that it's as equally important to engage and educate young people on sustainability and fermentation, so please keep an eye on our social media and workshop page as we will run child friendly workshops in the future.
How long are the workshops?
We always aim to be done in two hours but we are a chatty bunch especially when it comes to ferments and with questions popping up this can run over sometimes.
Post and packaging:
How can I track my package?
You can track your package with our delivery partners APC and with their Expect notification system. By supplying an email address or phone number with your order, you can receive a detailed message on the morning of your delivery day with a time window for the delivery. Allowing you to plan your day around the delivery time.
My package is lost/broken items?
Please inspect your order upon reception and contact us immediately if the item is defective, damaged or if you receive the wrong item, so that we can evaluate the issue and make it right.
Please contact us either via email at info@thefermentation-station.co.uk or using our Get in Touch form within 24 hours of delivery. Please provide photographs of the product/s, however do not open your ferments.
We will replace any products damaged before receipt to you, providing we are notified upon receipt and, in the case of external damage to the product, before the item is opened.
My Merch doesn't fit, how do I get a refund?
If you order an item of merchandise from us and the item does not fit, you can choose to exchange or refund the item. You will have 45 days maximum for the item to be returned to us in order to receive a refund, anything past this date we will unfortunately be unable to process a return and refund.
Please contact us via email to info@thefermentation-station.co.uk, as soon as possible. We will then send the relevant information and a free of charge return label. Your refund will be processed once we have the merchandise returned and are happy that it has been unworn.