Did you know? It's estimated that fermentation practices have been around since as early as 6000 BC, when wine was first being made in Caucasus and Mesopotamia. Today, there are roughly 5000 varieties of fermented foods and beverages prepared and consumed worldwide, which accounts for between five and forty percent of daily meals. Fermented Foods and Beverages of the World is an up-to-date review on fermentation practices, covering its storied past, cultural aspects, microbiology, biochemistry, nutrition, and functionality.

With contributions from 24 seasoned fermentation authorities, this book begins with a concise introduction to food fermentation - one of the oldest biotechnological processes - including its history and global varieties. After covering the various preparation techniques and culinary methods, the book addresses the microbiology-phenotypic and genotypic characterizations, the identifications of functional microorganisms, the functional and technological properties, and issues related to food safety.

The book also explores the functional properties of fermentation, how it improves product shelf life, ensures food safety, enriches nutritional supplements, and increases the probiotic functions in some foods. The rising popularity of probiotic and prebiotic foods and the health benefits they are known for are also discussed. Covering many undocumented minor or lesser-known ethnic fermented products, Fermented Foods and Beverages of the World is an all-in-one guide to global fermentation practices and consumption behaviors.

The magnificent Himalayan Mountains, the highest in the world and home to the famed Mount Everest and K2, are also imbued with a rich diversity of ethnic fermented foods. Dr. Jyoti Prakash Tamang, one of the leading authorities on food microbiology, has studied Himalayan fermented foods and beverages for the last twenty-two years. His comprehensive volume, Himalayan Fermented Foods: Microbiology, Nutrition, and Ethnic Values catalogs the great variety of common as well as lesser-known fermented foods and beverages in the Himalayan region. This volume begins with an introduction to the Himalayas and the Himalayan food culture. Using a consistent format throughout the book, Dr. Tamang discusses fermented vegetables, legumes, milk, cereals, fish and meat products, and alcoholic beverages. Each chapter explores indigenous knowledge of preparation, culinary practices, and microorganisms for each product. Additional information on microbiology and nutritive value supplements each section, and discussions on ethnic food history and values as well as future prospects for these foods complete the coverage. Dr. Tamang demonstrates that fermentation remains an effective, inexpensive method for extending the shelf life of foods and increasing their nutritional content through probiotic function, and therefore remains a valuable practice for developing countries and rural communities with limited facilities.

The magnificent Himalayan Mountains, the highest in the world and home to the famed Mount Everest and K2, are also imbued with a rich diversity of ethnic fermented foods. Dr. Jyoti Prakash Tamang, one of the leading authorities on food microbiology, has studied Himalayan fermented foods and beverages for the last twenty-two years. His comprehensive volume, Himalayan Fermented Foods: Microbiology, Nutrition, and Ethnic Values catalogs the great variety of common as well as lesser-known fermented foods and beverages in the Himalayan region.

This volume begins with an introduction to the Himalayas and the Himalayan food culture. Using a consistent format throughout the book, Dr. Tamang discusses fermented vegetables, legumes, milk, cereals, fish and meat products, and alcoholic beverages. Each chapter explores indigenous knowledge of preparation, culinary practices, and microorganisms for each product. Additional information on microbiology and nutritive value supplements each section, and discussions on ethnic food history and values as well as future prospects for these foods complete the coverage.

Dr. Tamang demonstrates that fermentation remains an effective, inexpensive method for extending the shelf life of foods and increasing their nutritional content through probiotic function, and therefore remains a valuable practice for developing countries and rural communities with limited facilities.

Health Benefits of Fermented Foods and Beverages discusses the functionality and myriad health benefits of fermented foods and beverages of the world. It examines health-promoting and therapeutic properties, covering the molecular process of fermentation and the resulting benefit to nutritional value and long-term health. Exploring a range of fermented food products from yogurt to tempeh to wine, the book details probiotic activity, degradation of anti-nutritive compounds, and the conversion of substrates into consumable products with enhanced flavor and aroma. The diversity of functional microorganisms in fermented foods and beverages consists of bacteria, yeasts, and fungi. The most remarkable aspect is the biological functions and the enhanced health benefits due to functional microorganisms associated with them. Written by a host of international experts, the book highlights the microorganisms in fermented foods and beverages of the world. It collates information based on research articles and review papers investigating the different health-promoting benefits such as antioxidant functions, allergic reactions suppression, and overall digestion improvement. Possible health benefits of fermented foods and beverages include prevention of cardiovascular disease, cancer, hepatic disease, gastrointestinal disorders and inflammatory bowel disease, hypertension, thrombosis, osteoporosis, allergic reactions, and diabetes. In addition, fermented foods list increasing the synthesis of nutrient, reducing obesity, increasing immunity, and alleviating lactose intolerance as well as anti-aging and therapeutic values/medicinal values among its health-related effects. The list grows the more we know about their molecular processes and their biological functions. The book helps you overcome the challenge of large-scale production and bring to consumers fermented foods without losing the unique flavor and other traits associated with the traditional products from which they are derived.