Fermentation starter

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Pain poolish--a type of fermentation starter for bread Pain-poolish1.JPG#file
Pain poolish—a type of fermentation starter for bread
Nuruk, a fermentation starter for alcoholic beverages Nuruk.jpg
Nuruk , a fermentation starter for alcoholic beverages

A fermentation starter (called simply starter within the corresponding context, sometimes called a mother [1] ) is a preparation to assist the beginning of the fermentation process in preparation of various foods and alcoholic drinks. Food groups where they are used include breads, especially sourdough bread, and cheese. A starter culture is a microbiological culture which actually performs fermentation. These starters usually consist of a cultivation medium, such as grains, seeds, or nutrient liquids that have been well colonized by the microorganisms used for the fermentation.

Contents

These starters are formed using a specific cultivation medium and a specific mix of fungal and bacterial strains. [2] [3]

Typical microorganisms used in starters include various bacteria and fungi (yeasts and molds): Rhizopus , Aspergillus , Mucor , Amylomyces , Endomycopsis , Saccharomyces , Hansenula anomala , Lactobacillus , Acetobacter , etc. Various national cultures have various active ingredients in starters, and often involve mixed microflora. [2]

Industrial starters include various enzymes, in addition to microflora. [2]

National names

In descriptions of national cuisines, fermentation starters may be referred to by their national names:

See also

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Salt-rising bread is a dense white bread that is traditional in the Appalachian Mountains, leavened by naturally occurring wild bacteria rather than by yeast. Salt-rising bread is made from wheat flour; a starter consisting of either water or milk and corn, potatoes or wheat; and minor ingredients such as salt and sugar.[1] Some common ways of eating salt-rising bread include a slice with sugared coffee poured over it, a grilled cheese sandwich, and the most popular preference, buttered toast.[1]

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<i>Jiuqu</i> East Asian fermentation starter

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<i>Nuruk</i> Korean fermentation starter

Nuruk (Korean: 누룩) is a traditional Korean fermentation starter. It is used to make various types of Korean alcoholic beverages including takju, cheongju, and soju. It is an essential ingredient in Shindari and is mixed with rice. Historically, it was used in a variety of provinces of Korea, including Jeju Island.

Jyoti Prakash Tamang is an Indian food microbiologist, working on fermented foods and alcoholic beverages of the Himalayan regions of India, Nepal and Bhutan and South East Asia for last 36 years and the Senior Professor in Microbiology of the Sikkim Central University. Known for his studies on fermented food, Prof. Tamang is an elected fellow of the Indian National Science Academy (FNA), National Academy of Science, India (NASI),National Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Indian Academy of Microbiological Sciences and the Biotech Research Society of India. The Department of Biotechnology of the Government of India awarded him the National Bioscience Award for Career Development, one of the highest Indian science awards, for his contributions to biosciences in 2004, and International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD)-Mountain Chair (2019-2022). Prof. Tamang was nominated as Global Kimchi Ambassador by World Institute of Kimchi of Government of South Korea.

References

  1. Alton Brown (September 21, 2005). "Good Wine Gone Bad". Good Eats. Season 9. Episode 8. Food Network.
  2. 1 2 3 Norman F. Haard, S.A. Odunfa, Cherl-Ho Lee, R. Quintero-Ramírez, Argelia Lorence-Quiñones, Carmen Wacher-Radarte, Fermented Cereals: A Global Perspective, Food and Agriculture Organization, Rome, 1999, ISBN   92-5-104296-9.
  3. Dilip K. Arora, Libero Ajello, K. G. Mukerji, Handbook of Applied Mycology: Foods and Feeds, Volume 3, CRC Press, 1991, ISBN   0-8247-8491-X.
  4. "椒盐筋饼", 天天饮食, food.cntv.cn
  5. Jyoti Prakash Tamang, ed. (2016). "Ethnic Fermented Foods and Beverages of Cambodia". Ethnic Fermented Foods and Alcoholic Beverages of Asia. Springer Publishing. p. 237. ISBN   978-81-322-2798-4.
  6. 1 2 Lee, Cherl-Ho (1999). "Cereal Fermentations in Countries of the Asia-Pacific Region". In Haard, Norman F.; Odunfa, S.A.; Lee, Cherl-Ho; Quintero-Ramírez, R.; Lorence-Quiñones, Argelia; Wacher-Radarte, Carmen (eds.). Fermented cereals. A global perspective. FAO Agricultural Services Bulletin. Rome: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. p. 91. ISBN   92-5-104296-9. ISSN   1010-1365.
  7. Jyoti Prakash Tamang, ed. (2016). "Ethnic Fermented Foods and Beverages of Thailand". Ethnic Fermented Foods and Alcoholic Beverages of Asia. Springer Publishing. p. 154. ISBN   978-81-322-2798-4.