Adventures in Fermentation

Adventures in Fermentation

From Ancient Origins to Culinary Frontiers, an Exploration of the Microbes That Shape the World We Live In

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Summary

A tantalising journey into the weird and wonderful world of fermentation, from its role in our evolution to the foods we love and everything in between.

Imagine a world without bread, butter or wine. Without soy sauce or chocolate. What if we also take away cheese, coffee and even antibiotics? This is what life without fermentation would be like.

Fermentation is so much more than a current health trend, it has shaped the world we live in, the bodies we inhabit, the staple foods we eat and the even has the potential to shape our future. The truth is, when we ferment, we’re tapping into a collaboration thousands of years in the making between humans and a hidden microbial cosmos, one which we’re only just beginning to understand.

Adventures in Fermentation is the first book to lift the lid on the power of this ancient practice, exploring how it has been utilised in different cultures across the globe and how we can do the same. With irresistible wit and verve, chef and scientist Dr Johnny Drain illuminates the vast and unsung possibilities that microbes bring to the table, sharing stories and recipes that will entertain and delight readers as they embark on their own journey of discovery.

About the author

Johnny Drain

Dr Johnny Drain works at the cutting edge of food, fermentation and sustainability, exploring how we can feed the world in a more healthy, equitable and ecologically-friendly way. Part-cook, part-designer and part-scientist (having earned his PhD in Materials Science from the University of Oxford), his collaborators include Noma's Nordic Food Lab, top French restaurant Mirazur, and the Argentinian Ministry of Agriculture. Johnny co-founded MOLD Magazine, and as an occasional TV presenter his work has garnered millions of views online. Most recently he set up WNWN Food Labs, which became the world's first company to bring a cocoa-free chocolate to market in 2022.
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