Fermentation Ingredients: Essential Components for Producing Fermented Foods and Beverages
Fermentation ingredients include the microorganisms, enzymes, and nutrient sources used to carry out fermentation—a natural process where microbes convert sugars into useful compounds. These ingredients play a key role in making products such as yogurt, bread, beer, cheese, kombucha, pickles, and various bio-based industrial materials.
Microorganisms at the Core of Fermentation
The most important fermentation ingredients are microorganisms that drive the chemical transformation. These include:
Yeasts – widely used in baking, brewing, and ethanol production
Bacteria – such as lactic acid bacteria for yogurt, kimchi, and cheese
Molds – used in specialty foods like soy sauce and traditional cheeses
