๐ซ Fermented Vocab
Fermentation is what living microbes do to food as they transform it. They can sour milk, raise dough, turn soybeans into savory pastes, and make drinks naturally fizzy. Vinegar pickles are different: their sourness comes from added vinegar, not fermentation. The foods below get their sour, savory, tangy, or lightly alcoholic character from bacteria, yeasts, and other microbes doing their work.
๐ฅ Dairy
๐ฅ Yogurt
milk thickened and soured by bacterial cultures
Example: Plain yogurt is tart; fruit yogurt hides that tartness with sugar.
๐ซ๐ท French: Yaourt
๐ฉ๐ช German: Joghurt
๐ฎ๐น Italian: Yogurt
๐ต๐น Portuguese: Iogurte
๐ก Nuance: Thick. Kefir is the drinkable, often fizzier cousin.
milk thickened and soured by bacterial cultures
Example: Plain yogurt is tart; fruit yogurt hides that tartness with sugar.
Show translations
๐ช๐ธ Spanish: Yogur๐ซ๐ท French: Yaourt
๐ฉ๐ช German: Joghurt
๐ฎ๐น Italian: Yogurt
๐ต๐น Portuguese: Iogurte
๐ก Nuance: Thick. Kefir is the drinkable, often fizzier cousin.
๐ซง Kefir
fermented milk drink - tangy and slightly effervescent
Example: She drank kefir cold, like a thin, sour smoothie.
๐ซ๐ท French: Kรฉfir
๐ฉ๐ช German: Kefir
๐ฎ๐น Italian: Kefir
๐ต๐น Portuguese: Kefir
๐ก Nuance: Made with kefir grains (a mix of bacteria and yeast). Yogurt cultures are different.
fermented milk drink - tangy and slightly effervescent
Example: She drank kefir cold, like a thin, sour smoothie.
Show translations
๐ช๐ธ Spanish: Kรฉfir๐ซ๐ท French: Kรฉfir
๐ฉ๐ช German: Kefir
๐ฎ๐น Italian: Kefir
๐ต๐น Portuguese: Kefir
๐ก Nuance: Made with kefir grains (a mix of bacteria and yeast). Yogurt cultures are different.
๐ง Cheese
milk transformed by cultures - and often by rennet, salt, and time
Example: Fresh cheese is mild; long-aged cheese is a louder ferment.
๐ซ๐ท French: Fromage
๐ฉ๐ช German: Kรคse
๐ฎ๐น Italian: Formaggio
๐ต๐น Portuguese: Queijo
๐ก Nuance: A whole category. Not every cheese is strongly fermented, but cultures are part of how most cheeses get made.
milk transformed by cultures - and often by rennet, salt, and time
Example: Fresh cheese is mild; long-aged cheese is a louder ferment.
Show translations
๐ช๐ธ Spanish: Queso๐ซ๐ท French: Fromage
๐ฉ๐ช German: Kรคse
๐ฎ๐น Italian: Formaggio
๐ต๐น Portuguese: Queijo
๐ก Nuance: A whole category. Not every cheese is strongly fermented, but cultures are part of how most cheeses get made.
๐ถ Buttermilk
today, usually cultured low-fat milk - tangy, drinkable or baked with
Example: The pancakes used buttermilk, not fresh milk, so they rose and tasted slightly sour.
๐ซ๐ท French: Babeurre
๐ฉ๐ช German: Buttermilch
๐ฎ๐น Italian: Latticello
๐ต๐น Portuguese: Leitelho
๐ก Nuance: Old buttermilk was the liquid left after churning butter. Store buttermilk is almost always cultured on purpose.
today, usually cultured low-fat milk - tangy, drinkable or baked with
Example: The pancakes used buttermilk, not fresh milk, so they rose and tasted slightly sour.
Show translations
๐ช๐ธ Spanish: Suero de mantequilla / buttermilk๐ซ๐ท French: Babeurre
๐ฉ๐ช German: Buttermilch
๐ฎ๐น Italian: Latticello
๐ต๐น Portuguese: Leitelho
๐ก Nuance: Old buttermilk was the liquid left after churning butter. Store buttermilk is almost always cultured on purpose.
๐ Breads & Batters
๐ Sourdough
bread raised with a fermented starter of flour and water, not commercial yeast alone
Example: The sourdough loaf had a chewy crust and a light tang.
๐ซ๐ท French: Pain au levain
๐ฉ๐ช German: Sauerteigbrot
๐ฎ๐น Italian: Pane a lievitazione naturale
๐ต๐น Portuguese: Pรฃo de fermentaรงรฃo natural
๐ก Nuance: The starter is the ferment. Injera and dosa also use fermented batter - different grains, same idea.
bread raised with a fermented starter of flour and water, not commercial yeast alone
Example: The sourdough loaf had a chewy crust and a light tang.
Show translations
๐ช๐ธ Spanish: Masa madre / pan de masa madre๐ซ๐ท French: Pain au levain
๐ฉ๐ช German: Sauerteigbrot
๐ฎ๐น Italian: Pane a lievitazione naturale
๐ต๐น Portuguese: Pรฃo de fermentaรงรฃo natural
๐ก Nuance: The starter is the ferment. Injera and dosa also use fermented batter - different grains, same idea.
โช Idli
South Indian steamed cakes from fermented rice-and-lentil batter
Example: Breakfast was idli with coconut chutney.
๐ซ๐ท French: Idli
๐ฉ๐ช German: Idli
๐ฎ๐น Italian: Idli
๐ต๐น Portuguese: Idli
๐ก Nuance: Same batter family as dosa. Idli is steamed and fluffy; dosa is spread thin and cooked on a griddle.
South Indian steamed cakes from fermented rice-and-lentil batter
Example: Breakfast was idli with coconut chutney.
Show translations
๐ช๐ธ Spanish: Idli๐ซ๐ท French: Idli
๐ฉ๐ช German: Idli
๐ฎ๐น Italian: Idli
๐ต๐น Portuguese: Idli
๐ก Nuance: Same batter family as dosa. Idli is steamed and fluffy; dosa is spread thin and cooked on a griddle.
๐ฅ Dosa
South Indian crepe from fermented rice-and-lentil batter
Example: A crisp dosa wrapped around spiced potato.
๐ซ๐ท French: Dosa
๐ฉ๐ช German: Dosa
๐ฎ๐น Italian: Dosa
๐ต๐น Portuguese: Dosa
๐ก Nuance: Fermented batter, cooked like a thin pancake. Injera is the Ethiopian fermented flatbread cousin.
South Indian crepe from fermented rice-and-lentil batter
Example: A crisp dosa wrapped around spiced potato.
Show translations
๐ช๐ธ Spanish: Dosa๐ซ๐ท French: Dosa
๐ฉ๐ช German: Dosa
๐ฎ๐น Italian: Dosa
๐ต๐น Portuguese: Dosa
๐ก Nuance: Fermented batter, cooked like a thin pancake. Injera is the Ethiopian fermented flatbread cousin.
๐ช๐น Injera
Ethiopian flatbread from fermented teff batter - sour, spongy, used as plate and utensil
Example: Stews were spooned onto injera, then torn by hand.
๐ซ๐ท French: Injera
๐ฉ๐ช German: Injera
๐ฎ๐น Italian: Injera
๐ต๐น Portuguese: Injera
๐ก Nuance: Teff, not wheat. Sourdough is a loaf; injera is a sour crepe-like bread.
Ethiopian flatbread from fermented teff batter - sour, spongy, used as plate and utensil
Example: Stews were spooned onto injera, then torn by hand.
Show translations
๐ช๐ธ Spanish: Injera๐ซ๐ท French: Injera
๐ฉ๐ช German: Injera
๐ฎ๐น Italian: Injera
๐ต๐น Portuguese: Injera
๐ก Nuance: Teff, not wheat. Sourdough is a loaf; injera is a sour crepe-like bread.
๐ฅฌ Cabbage, Soy & Seasoning
๐ฅฌ Sauerkraut
shredded cabbage fermented with salt - sour from lactic acid
Example: The sausage came with sauerkraut, not vinegar coleslaw.
๐ซ๐ท French: Choucroute
๐ฉ๐ช German: Sauerkraut
๐ฎ๐น Italian: Crauti
๐ต๐น Portuguese: Chucrute
๐ก Nuance: A ferment. Quick pickled cabbage is not sauerkraut. Kimchi is the seasoned Korean cousin.
shredded cabbage fermented with salt - sour from lactic acid
Example: The sausage came with sauerkraut, not vinegar coleslaw.
Show translations
๐ช๐ธ Spanish: Chucrut๐ซ๐ท French: Choucroute
๐ฉ๐ช German: Sauerkraut
๐ฎ๐น Italian: Crauti
๐ต๐น Portuguese: Chucrute
๐ก Nuance: A ferment. Quick pickled cabbage is not sauerkraut. Kimchi is the seasoned Korean cousin.
๐ฐ๐ท Kimchi
Korean fermented vegetables, most often napa cabbage and radish, with chili and garlic
Example: Kimchi went into the stew and onto the table as a side.
๐ซ๐ท French: Kimchi
๐ฉ๐ช German: Kimchi
๐ฎ๐น Italian: Kimchi
๐ต๐น Portuguese: Kimchi
๐ก Nuance: A family of ferments. Gochujang is the chili paste; kimchi is the vegetable side.
Korean fermented vegetables, most often napa cabbage and radish, with chili and garlic
Example: Kimchi went into the stew and onto the table as a side.
Show translations
๐ช๐ธ Spanish: Kimchi๐ซ๐ท French: Kimchi
๐ฉ๐ช German: Kimchi
๐ฎ๐น Italian: Kimchi
๐ต๐น Portuguese: Kimchi
๐ก Nuance: A family of ferments. Gochujang is the chili paste; kimchi is the vegetable side.
๐ซ Miso
Japanese fermented soybean paste - salty, savory, used in soups and marinades
Example: A spoon of miso turned hot water into breakfast soup.
๐ซ๐ท French: Miso
๐ฉ๐ช German: Miso
๐ฎ๐น Italian: Miso
๐ต๐น Portuguese: Missรด / miso
๐ก Nuance: Doenjang is the Korean soybean-paste cousin. Gochujang adds chili.
Japanese fermented soybean paste - salty, savory, used in soups and marinades
Example: A spoon of miso turned hot water into breakfast soup.
Show translations
๐ช๐ธ Spanish: Miso๐ซ๐ท French: Miso
๐ฉ๐ช German: Miso
๐ฎ๐น Italian: Miso
๐ต๐น Portuguese: Missรด / miso
๐ก Nuance: Doenjang is the Korean soybean-paste cousin. Gochujang adds chili.
๐ฐ๐ท Doenjang
Korean fermented soybean paste - deeper and funkier than most miso
Example: Doenjang stew is built on the paste, not on a stock cube.
๐ซ๐ท French: Doenjang
๐ฉ๐ช German: Doenjang
๐ฎ๐น Italian: Doenjang
๐ต๐น Portuguese: Doenjang
๐ก Nuance: Soy paste, little or no chili. Gochujang is the red hot one.
Korean fermented soybean paste - deeper and funkier than most miso
Example: Doenjang stew is built on the paste, not on a stock cube.
Show translations
๐ช๐ธ Spanish: Doenjang๐ซ๐ท French: Doenjang
๐ฉ๐ช German: Doenjang
๐ฎ๐น Italian: Doenjang
๐ต๐น Portuguese: Doenjang
๐ก Nuance: Soy paste, little or no chili. Gochujang is the red hot one.
๐ถ๏ธ Gochujang
Korean fermented chili paste - hot, sweet-savory, sticky
Example: A little gochujang in the marinade did more than raw chili flakes.
๐ซ๐ท French: Gochujang
๐ฉ๐ช German: Gochujang
๐ฎ๐น Italian: Gochujang
๐ต๐น Portuguese: Gochujang
๐ก Nuance: Fermented chili paste, not fresh salsa. Related kitchen, different job from kimchi.
Korean fermented chili paste - hot, sweet-savory, sticky
Example: A little gochujang in the marinade did more than raw chili flakes.
Show translations
๐ช๐ธ Spanish: Gochujang๐ซ๐ท French: Gochujang
๐ฉ๐ช German: Gochujang
๐ฎ๐น Italian: Gochujang
๐ต๐น Portuguese: Gochujang
๐ก Nuance: Fermented chili paste, not fresh salsa. Related kitchen, different job from kimchi.
๐ฅข Soy Sauce
fermented soybean-and-grain seasoning - thin, salty, brown
Example: Real soy sauce is brewed; some cheap bottles are caramel coloring plus salt.
๐ซ๐ท French: Sauce soja
๐ฉ๐ช German: Sojasauce
๐ฎ๐น Italian: Salsa di soia
๐ต๐น Portuguese: Molho de soja
๐ก Nuance: Liquid cousin of miso. Fish sauce is the same idea from fish, not soy.
fermented soybean-and-grain seasoning - thin, salty, brown
Example: Real soy sauce is brewed; some cheap bottles are caramel coloring plus salt.
Show translations
๐ช๐ธ Spanish: Salsa de soja๐ซ๐ท French: Sauce soja
๐ฉ๐ช German: Sojasauce
๐ฎ๐น Italian: Salsa di soia
๐ต๐น Portuguese: Molho de soja
๐ก Nuance: Liquid cousin of miso. Fish sauce is the same idea from fish, not soy.
๐ Fish Sauce
liquid seasoning from salted, fermented fish
Example: A splash of fish sauce did the savory work salt alone could not.
๐ซ๐ท French: Nuoc-mรขm / sauce de poisson
๐ฉ๐ช German: Fischsauce
๐ฎ๐น Italian: Salsa di pesce
๐ต๐น Portuguese: Molho de peixe
๐ก Nuance: Replaced tofu on this list. Tofu is usually not fermented; this is.
liquid seasoning from salted, fermented fish
Example: A splash of fish sauce did the savory work salt alone could not.
Show translations
๐ช๐ธ Spanish: Salsa de pescado๐ซ๐ท French: Nuoc-mรขm / sauce de poisson
๐ฉ๐ช German: Fischsauce
๐ฎ๐น Italian: Salsa di pesce
๐ต๐น Portuguese: Molho de peixe
๐ก Nuance: Replaced tofu on this list. Tofu is usually not fermented; this is.
๐งฑ Tempeh
Indonesian fermented soybean cake - firm, nutty, sliceable
Example: Tempeh holds a pan better than soft tofu.
๐ซ๐ท French: Tempeh
๐ฉ๐ช German: Tempeh
๐ฎ๐น Italian: Tempeh
๐ต๐น Portuguese: Tempeh
๐ก Nuance: Whole beans bound by mold. Natto is sticky Japanese fermented soybeans - same crop, different texture and culture.
Indonesian fermented soybean cake - firm, nutty, sliceable
Example: Tempeh holds a pan better than soft tofu.
Show translations
๐ช๐ธ Spanish: Tรฉmpel / tempeh๐ซ๐ท French: Tempeh
๐ฉ๐ช German: Tempeh
๐ฎ๐น Italian: Tempeh
๐ต๐น Portuguese: Tempeh
๐ก Nuance: Whole beans bound by mold. Natto is sticky Japanese fermented soybeans - same crop, different texture and culture.
๐ฏ๐ต Natto
fermented soybeans with a sticky web and a strong smell
Example: Natto over rice is a common Japanese breakfast - and an acquired taste.
๐ซ๐ท French: Nattล
๐ฉ๐ช German: Natto
๐ฎ๐น Italian: Natto
๐ต๐น Portuguese: Natto
๐ก Nuance: Once on this page, not twice. Sticky on purpose. Tempeh is the firm cake.
fermented soybeans with a sticky web and a strong smell
Example: Natto over rice is a common Japanese breakfast - and an acquired taste.
Show translations
๐ช๐ธ Spanish: Natto๐ซ๐ท French: Nattล
๐ฉ๐ช German: Natto
๐ฎ๐น Italian: Natto
๐ต๐น Portuguese: Natto
๐ก Nuance: Once on this page, not twice. Sticky on purpose. Tempeh is the firm cake.
๐ฅค Fermented Drinks
๐ต Kombucha
fermented sweet tea - tart and lightly fizzy
Example: Homemade kombucha can be barely sweet and quite sour.
๐ซ๐ท French: Kombucha
๐ฉ๐ช German: Kombucha
๐ฎ๐น Italian: Kombucha
๐ต๐น Portuguese: Kombucha
๐ก Nuance: Tea + a SCOBY. Water kefir is fizzy too, but starts from sugar water, not tea.
fermented sweet tea - tart and lightly fizzy
Example: Homemade kombucha can be barely sweet and quite sour.
Show translations
๐ช๐ธ Spanish: Kombucha๐ซ๐ท French: Kombucha
๐ฉ๐ช German: Kombucha
๐ฎ๐น Italian: Kombucha
๐ต๐น Portuguese: Kombucha
๐ก Nuance: Tea + a SCOBY. Water kefir is fizzy too, but starts from sugar water, not tea.
๐ง Water Kefir
fermented drink made with water kefir grains and sugar water
Example: Water kefir is dairy-free; milk kefir is not.
๐ซ๐ท French: Kรฉfir dโeau
๐ฉ๐ช German: Wasserkefir
๐ฎ๐น Italian: Kefir dโacqua
๐ต๐น Portuguese: Kefir de รกgua
๐ก Nuance: Same โkefirโ word, different grains and no milk.
fermented drink made with water kefir grains and sugar water
Example: Water kefir is dairy-free; milk kefir is not.
Show translations
๐ช๐ธ Spanish: Kรฉfir de agua๐ซ๐ท French: Kรฉfir dโeau
๐ฉ๐ช German: Wasserkefir
๐ฎ๐น Italian: Kefir dโacqua
๐ต๐น Portuguese: Kefir de รกgua
๐ก Nuance: Same โkefirโ word, different grains and no milk.
๐ Tepache
Mexican drink from fermented pineapple peel and brown sugar
Example: Street tepache is lightly sour and not as strong as beer.
๐ซ๐ท French: Tepache
๐ฉ๐ช German: Tepache
๐ฎ๐น Italian: Tepache
๐ต๐น Portuguese: Tepache
๐ก Nuance: Fruit peel ferment. Kvass is the bread-or-grain cousin from Eastern Europe.
Mexican drink from fermented pineapple peel and brown sugar
Example: Street tepache is lightly sour and not as strong as beer.
Show translations
๐ช๐ธ Spanish: Tepache๐ซ๐ท French: Tepache
๐ฉ๐ช German: Tepache
๐ฎ๐น Italian: Tepache
๐ต๐น Portuguese: Tepache
๐ก Nuance: Fruit peel ferment. Kvass is the bread-or-grain cousin from Eastern Europe.
๐ Kvass
traditional low-alcohol drink from fermented bread or grain
Example: Dark rye kvass tastes like liquid bread, slightly sweet and sour.
๐ซ๐ท French: Kvass
๐ฉ๐ช German: Kwass
๐ฎ๐น Italian: Kvass
๐ต๐น Portuguese: Kvass
๐ก Nuance: Bread beer, more or less. Boza is thicker and made from millet or other grain.
traditional low-alcohol drink from fermented bread or grain
Example: Dark rye kvass tastes like liquid bread, slightly sweet and sour.
Show translations
๐ช๐ธ Spanish: Kvas๐ซ๐ท French: Kvass
๐ฉ๐ช German: Kwass
๐ฎ๐น Italian: Kvass
๐ต๐น Portuguese: Kvass
๐ก Nuance: Bread beer, more or less. Boza is thicker and made from millet or other grain.
๐พ Boza
thick, mildly fermented grain drink from the Balkans and Turkey
Example: Boza is spoonable compared with kombucha.
๐ซ๐ท French: Boza
๐ฉ๐ช German: Boza
๐ฎ๐น Italian: Boza
๐ต๐น Portuguese: Boza
๐ก Nuance: Dense and mild. Amazake is the Japanese thick rice cousin.
thick, mildly fermented grain drink from the Balkans and Turkey
Example: Boza is spoonable compared with kombucha.
Show translations
๐ช๐ธ Spanish: Boza๐ซ๐ท French: Boza
๐ฉ๐ช German: Boza
๐ฎ๐น Italian: Boza
๐ต๐น Portuguese: Boza
๐ก Nuance: Dense and mild. Amazake is the Japanese thick rice cousin.
๐ Amazake
Japanese fermented rice drink or porridge - often sweet, sometimes barely alcoholic
Example: Warm amazake in winter is closer to pudding than to sake.
๐ซ๐ท French: Amazake
๐ฉ๐ช German: Amazake
๐ฎ๐น Italian: Amazake
๐ต๐น Portuguese: Amazake
๐ก Nuance: Related to sake-making, but you drink it as a sweet mash, not as clear wine.
Japanese fermented rice drink or porridge - often sweet, sometimes barely alcoholic
Example: Warm amazake in winter is closer to pudding than to sake.
Show translations
๐ช๐ธ Spanish: Amazake๐ซ๐ท French: Amazake
๐ฉ๐ช German: Amazake
๐ฎ๐น Italian: Amazake
๐ต๐น Portuguese: Amazake
๐ก Nuance: Related to sake-making, but you drink it as a sweet mash, not as clear wine.
๐ถ Sake
Japanese rice brew - alcoholic, filtered, served warm or cold
Example: Sake is brewed, not distilled.
๐ซ๐ท French: Sakรฉ
๐ฉ๐ช German: Sake
๐ฎ๐น Italian: Sake
๐ต๐น Portuguese: Saquรช
๐ก Nuance: Clear rice wine by job. Makgeolli is the cloudy Korean rice cousin.
Japanese rice brew - alcoholic, filtered, served warm or cold
Example: Sake is brewed, not distilled.
Show translations
๐ช๐ธ Spanish: Sake๐ซ๐ท French: Sakรฉ
๐ฉ๐ช German: Sake
๐ฎ๐น Italian: Sake
๐ต๐น Portuguese: Saquรช
๐ก Nuance: Clear rice wine by job. Makgeolli is the cloudy Korean rice cousin.
๐ฐ๐ท Makgeolli
Korean milky rice wine - lightly sweet, fizzy, unfiltered
Example: Makgeolli is shaken before you pour; the sediment is part of it.
๐ซ๐ท French: Makgeolli
๐ฉ๐ช German: Makgeolli
๐ฎ๐น Italian: Makgeolli
๐ต๐น Portuguese: Makgeolli
๐ก Nuance: Cloudy on purpose. Sake is usually filtered clear.
Korean milky rice wine - lightly sweet, fizzy, unfiltered
Example: Makgeolli is shaken before you pour; the sediment is part of it.
Show translations
๐ช๐ธ Spanish: Makgeolli๐ซ๐ท French: Makgeolli
๐ฉ๐ช German: Makgeolli
๐ฎ๐น Italian: Makgeolli
๐ต๐น Portuguese: Makgeolli
๐ก Nuance: Cloudy on purpose. Sake is usually filtered clear.
๐ช๐น Tella
Ethiopian home-brewed beer, often made with gesho and grains such as teff or barley
Example: Tella is the beer; injera is the bread - same grain culture, different job.
๐ซ๐ท French: Tella
๐ฉ๐ช German: Tella
๐ฎ๐น Italian: Tella
๐ต๐น Portuguese: Tella
๐ก Nuance: Your list said โEthiopian teff beer.โ Tella is the usual name.
Ethiopian home-brewed beer, often made with gesho and grains such as teff or barley
Example: Tella is the beer; injera is the bread - same grain culture, different job.
Show translations
๐ช๐ธ Spanish: Tella๐ซ๐ท French: Tella
๐ฉ๐ช German: Tella
๐ฎ๐น Italian: Tella
๐ต๐น Portuguese: Tella
๐ก Nuance: Your list said โEthiopian teff beer.โ Tella is the usual name.
๐ Staples
๐บ Poi
Hawaiian pounded taro, often left to ferment until it sours
Example: Fresh poi is mild; day-old poi is tangier on purpose.
๐ซ๐ท French: Poi
๐ฉ๐ช German: Poi
๐ฎ๐น Italian: Poi
๐ต๐น Portuguese: Poi
๐ก Nuance: Taro paste. Fermentation is optional time, not a separate product name.
Hawaiian pounded taro, often left to ferment until it sours
Example: Fresh poi is mild; day-old poi is tangier on purpose.
Show translations
๐ช๐ธ Spanish: Poi๐ซ๐ท French: Poi
๐ฉ๐ช German: Poi
๐ฎ๐น Italian: Poi
๐ต๐น Portuguese: Poi
๐ก Nuance: Taro paste. Fermentation is optional time, not a separate product name.
๐ฟ Garri
West African cassava granules - fermented, then dried and toasted
Example: Cold garri with water and groundnuts is a fast meal.
๐ซ๐ท French: Gari
๐ฉ๐ช German: Garri
๐ฎ๐น Italian: Garri
๐ต๐น Portuguese: Garri
๐ก Nuance: Not Japanese gari (pickled ginger). Different food, same roman letters.
West African cassava granules - fermented, then dried and toasted
Example: Cold garri with water and groundnuts is a fast meal.
Show translations
๐ช๐ธ Spanish: Garri๐ซ๐ท French: Gari
๐ฉ๐ช German: Garri
๐ฎ๐น Italian: Garri
๐ต๐น Portuguese: Garri
๐ก Nuance: Not Japanese gari (pickled ginger). Different food, same roman letters.
๐ฌ๐ญ Kenkey
Ghanaian fermented corn dough, steamed in wrapping
Example: Kenkey is served with pepper sauce and fish.
๐ซ๐ท French: Kenkey
๐ฉ๐ช German: Kenkey
๐ฎ๐น Italian: Kenkey
๐ต๐น Portuguese: Kenkey
๐ก Nuance: Corn dough, fermented then cooked. Ogi is the smoother West African porridge.
Ghanaian fermented corn dough, steamed in wrapping
Example: Kenkey is served with pepper sauce and fish.
Show translations
๐ช๐ธ Spanish: Kenkey๐ซ๐ท French: Kenkey
๐ฉ๐ช German: Kenkey
๐ฎ๐น Italian: Kenkey
๐ต๐น Portuguese: Kenkey
๐ก Nuance: Corn dough, fermented then cooked. Ogi is the smoother West African porridge.
๐ฅฃ Ogi
West African fermented cereal porridge, often from maize, sorghum, or millet
Example: Warm ogi for breakfast has a clean sour note.
๐ซ๐ท French: Ogi
๐ฉ๐ช German: Ogi
๐ฎ๐น Italian: Ogi
๐ต๐น Portuguese: Ogi
๐ก Nuance: Porridge. Kenkey is a wrapped dumpling from a related idea.
West African fermented cereal porridge, often from maize, sorghum, or millet
Example: Warm ogi for breakfast has a clean sour note.
Show translations
๐ช๐ธ Spanish: Ogi๐ซ๐ท French: Ogi
๐ฉ๐ช German: Ogi
๐ฎ๐น Italian: Ogi
๐ต๐น Portuguese: Ogi
๐ก Nuance: Porridge. Kenkey is a wrapped dumpling from a related idea.
๐ง Useful Distinctions
๐ฅ Yogurt vs. ๐ซง Kefir vs. ๐ง Water kefir
Yogurt is thick cultured milk. Kefir is drinkable milk with grains (bacteria and yeast). Water kefir uses different grains and no dairy.
Yogurt is thick cultured milk. Kefir is drinkable milk with grains (bacteria and yeast). Water kefir uses different grains and no dairy.
๐ฅฌ Sauerkraut vs. ๐ฐ๐ท Kimchi
Both ferment cabbage. Kimchi usually adds chili, garlic, and often radish. Sauerkraut is cabbage, salt, and time.
Both ferment cabbage. Kimchi usually adds chili, garlic, and often radish. Sauerkraut is cabbage, salt, and time.
๐ซ Miso vs. ๐ฐ๐ท Doenjang vs. ๐ถ๏ธ Gochujang
All are fermented pastes. Miso and doenjang are soybean pastes. Gochujang is the chili paste.
All are fermented pastes. Miso and doenjang are soybean pastes. Gochujang is the chili paste.
๐งฑ Tempeh vs. ๐ฏ๐ต Natto vs. tofu
Tempeh is a firm fermented cake. Natto is sticky fermented beans. Tofu is usually not fermented - that is why it is not on this page.
Tempeh is a firm fermented cake. Natto is sticky fermented beans. Tofu is usually not fermented - that is why it is not on this page.
โช Idli vs. ๐ฅ Dosa vs. ๐ช๐น Injera
All start as fermented batter. Idli is steamed. Dosa is griddled thin. Injera is teff, sour, and used as the plate.
All start as fermented batter. Idli is steamed. Dosa is griddled thin. Injera is teff, sour, and used as the plate.
๐ต Kombucha vs. ๐ Tepache vs. ๐ Kvass
Kombucha is tea. Tepache is pineapple peel. Kvass is bread or grain.
Kombucha is tea. Tepache is pineapple peel. Kvass is bread or grain.
๐ถ Sake vs. ๐ฐ๐ท Makgeolli vs. ๐ Amazake
All start with rice. Sake is clear and alcoholic. Makgeolli is cloudy and milky. Amazake is a sweet mash, often barely alcoholic.
All start with rice. Sake is clear and alcoholic. Makgeolli is cloudy and milky. Amazake is a sweet mash, often barely alcoholic.
๐ฃ Gari vs. ๐ฟ Garri
Same letters, different foods. Sushi gari is pickled ginger (pickle page). West African garri is fermented cassava.
Same letters, different foods. Sushi gari is pickled ginger (pickle page). West African garri is fermented cassava.
๐ฌ Everyday Ferment Phrases
๐ซง Thatโs kefir, not thin yogurt.
drinkable ferment, often a little fizzy
๐ซ๐ท Cโest du kรฉfir, pas du yaourt trop liquide.
๐ฉ๐ช Das ist Kefir, kein dรผnner Joghurt.
๐ฎ๐น ร kefir, non yogurt allungato.
๐ต๐น Isso รฉ kefir, nรฃo iogurte ralo.
drinkable ferment, often a little fizzy
Show translations
๐ช๐ธ Eso es kรฉfir, no yogur lรญquido.๐ซ๐ท Cโest du kรฉfir, pas du yaourt trop liquide.
๐ฉ๐ช Das ist Kefir, kein dรผnner Joghurt.
๐ฎ๐น ร kefir, non yogurt allungato.
๐ต๐น Isso รฉ kefir, nรฃo iogurte ralo.
๐ฅฌ Sauerkraut is fermented. Coleslaw is not.
salt and time vs. a vinegar dressing
๐ซ๐ท La choucroute est fermentรฉe. La coleslaw non.
๐ฉ๐ช Sauerkraut ist fermentiert. Krautsalat nicht.
๐ฎ๐น I crauti sono fermentati. La coleslaw no.
๐ต๐น O chucrute รฉ fermentado. A salada de repolho nรฃo.
salt and time vs. a vinegar dressing
Show translations
๐ช๐ธ El chucrut estรก fermentado. La ensalada de col no.๐ซ๐ท La choucroute est fermentรฉe. La coleslaw non.
๐ฉ๐ช Sauerkraut ist fermentiert. Krautsalat nicht.
๐ฎ๐น I crauti sono fermentati. La coleslaw no.
๐ต๐น O chucrute รฉ fermentado. A salada de repolho nรฃo.
๐งฑ Tempeh is fermented. Most tofu is not.
why tofu did not make this list
๐ซ๐ท Le tempeh est fermentรฉ. La plupart des tofu non.
๐ฉ๐ช Tempeh ist fermentiert. Die meiste Tofu nicht.
๐ฎ๐น Il tempeh รจ fermentato. Quasi tutto il tofu no.
๐ต๐น O tempeh รฉ fermentado. Quase todo tofu nรฃo.
why tofu did not make this list
Show translations
๐ช๐ธ El tempeh estรก fermentado. Casi todo el tofu no.๐ซ๐ท Le tempeh est fermentรฉ. La plupart des tofu non.
๐ฉ๐ช Tempeh ist fermentiert. Die meiste Tofu nicht.
๐ฎ๐น Il tempeh รจ fermentato. Quasi tutto il tofu no.
๐ต๐น O tempeh รฉ fermentado. Quase todo tofu nรฃo.
๐ง Water kefir has no milk in it.
same word, different drink
๐ซ๐ท Le kรฉfir dโeau ne contient pas de lait.
๐ฉ๐ช Im Wasserkefir ist keine Milch.
๐ฎ๐น Il kefir dโacqua non ha latte.
๐ต๐น O kefir de รกgua nรฃo tem leite.
same word, different drink
Show translations
๐ช๐ธ El kรฉfir de agua no lleva leche.๐ซ๐ท Le kรฉfir dโeau ne contient pas de lait.
๐ฉ๐ช Im Wasserkefir ist keine Milch.
๐ฎ๐น Il kefir dโacqua non ha latte.
๐ต๐น O kefir de รกgua nรฃo tem leite.
๐ Final Practice
English in the Real World:
Read the situation. Choose the more precise ferment word.
Read the situation. Choose the more precise ferment word.
Question 1 of 8
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