Fermentation Basics
Overview
Master gut-friendly ferments with expert Rachel de Thample at River Cottage. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned fermenter, this course will inspire you with creative ways to make fermented foods using top-quality, seasonal ingredients.
We’ll start with the basics of how to ferment vegetables, including sauerkraut and fermented pickles. You’ll also learn about fermented batters like dosas, blinis, and farinata, plus explore delicious fermented dairy and sparkling, healthy drinks like kombucha.
This hands-on course covers key techniques to preserve food and gives you everything you need to start fermenting at home. You’ll leave with jars of future ferments, a recipe pack full of wisdom, and a range of tasters. Discover how to apply your new skills as the seasons change.
Want to go deeper? Check out our Global Ferments or Gut Health: How to Rewild Your Microbiome courses to build on what you’ve learned.
Highlights
- Create your own kraut and pickles with local, seasonal ingredients
- Explore fermented batters and dairy
- Enjoy a delicious two-course lunch featuring fermented foods
- Take the opportunity to explore the farm
- Learn about fermenting drinks like kombucha
- Master the skills to make apple cider vinegar and other homemade vinegars from foraged finds and fruit scraps
- Discover how fermentation enhances sweet and savoury dishes
- Adapt recipes to highlight the best seasonal produce
- Take home a complimentary recipe pack with all the day’s recipes
Your day
10:00 - 17:00
Make yourself at home
Meet your host and settle in with a tea or coffee and a welcome snack prepared by our chefs, featuring delicious treats from our garden.
SESSION ONE
We’ll dive straight into fermenting grains and dairy, making them more digestible. Together, we'll whip up a delicious batch of fermented Russian blinis.
SESSION TWO
Next, we’ll explore the world of lacto-fermentation as Rachel shows you how to make your own sauerkraut, such as a vibrant wild garlic kraut for spring, an elderflower and rhubarb kraut for summer, or a curried parsnip kraut with orchard pears and garden herbs for autumn. You’ll also learn how to use brine instead of vinegar to create lacto-fermented pickles—quick to make and even healthier than raw vegetables.
LUNCH
Lunch will showcase some of Rachel’s favorite ferments, such as fermented mushroom pâté or oat-crumbed mackerel with honey-fermented rhubarb and thyme.
SESSION THREE
The afternoon will be dedicated to healthy fruit ferments and drinks. There are so many fun ways to ferment fruit, and Rachel will guide you through her favorite techniques. Using honey from local bees, we’ll also make a delicious honey-fermented jam.
SESSION FOUR
We’ll then cook the blinis we’ve been fermenting throughout the day and enjoy them with a selection of Rachel’s matured ferments.
SESSION FIVE
As you enjoy your final treats, Rachel will guide you through making her favorite homemade drink. She’ll share her passion for fermented tea—also known as kombucha—and provide you with a starter kit to take home, along with key instructions on how to brew and transform your kombucha into seasonal masterpieces. You’ll also get to sample Rachel’s seasonal creations, like Marmalade & Toast or Gorse kombucha.
DEPARTURE
You’ll have time to chat with your fellow participants and the River Cottage team before wrapping up at 5pm. You'll head home with copies of the recipes, jars of kraut, kimchi, and pickles you’ve made, along with a honey-fermented jam and a kombucha SCOBY, so you can continue brewing at home.
Further Information
Directions
This course is run from River Cottage HQ on the Dorset/Devon borders. Full address details of HQ will be provided once you have booked.
Licensed Venue
We are a licensed venue. We have a wide selection of the finest organic wines available to purchase.
Accommodation
If you would like to stay at the heart of River Cottage, we offer overnight accommodation at River Cottage HQ in our beautiful 17th century farmhouse. We have three stylishly refurbished bedrooms for B&B plus the 2-bedroom Gardener’s Cottage. These get booked quickly so for more information go to rivercottage.net/stay to book. Alternatively, we have put together a list of our local accommodation which includes B&Bs, self-catering, hotels and camping.
Suitability
We would advise that this course is only really suitable for 12 years of age and upwards. Under 16s must be accompanied by a paying adult. We put these guidelines in place for the safety, comfort and enjoyment of all our guests.
Allergy Advice
Please let us know if you have any dietary requirements or allergies when booking.
