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Adventures in Fermentation

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What to expect

Embark on a tantalising journey into the weird and wonderful world of fermentation.

Dr Johnny Drain has spent his career exploring how fermentation has shaped the bodies we inhabit, the foods we eat and the world we live in. From making live yoghurt in his grandma’s kitchen, to fermenting butter at the world’s best restaurant, Noma, Dr Drain’s fascination with the magic of fermentation has led him around the globe. Adventures in Fermentation charts his culinary escapades and his scientific discoveries to create an unprecedented depiction of the power of the microbial world.
With irresistible wit and verve, chef and scientist Dr Drain illuminates the vast and unsung possibilities that fermentation brings to the table – from sweet enzyme syrups made from red mangos in Brazil to perfecting the fine art of fuzzy koji and umami-rich miso in Japan – and shares recipes for his culinary delights along the way.

Whether you are an aspiring fermenter, interested in how fermented food can improve your gut health, or simply curious about the wonders of microbial life, this book will transform the way you see – and taste – the world.

'Entertaining, illuminating and insightful' Sandor Katz
'A gripping story full of glorious gems' Fergus Henderson
'Johnny Drain is a kind of microbial poet - this book is wild, funny, well researched, and full of flavor' René Redzepi, founder of Noma

© Johnny Drain 2025 (P) Penguin Audio 2025

Critics Review

Clever, clear and insightful, this book is an indispensable guide to the new scientific and gastronomic frontier of fermentation
Heston Blumenthal
Johnny Drain is a kind of microbial poet - this book is wild, funny, well researched, and full of flavor. With the mind of a scientist and the soul of a chef, Johnny takes fermentation beyond the obvious... This is a book about microbes, yes, but it's also about survival, sustainability, human evolution, and the future of food. Just read it!
René Redzepi, Danish chef and co-owner of the three-Michelin star restaurant Noma
Dr Johnny Drain's Adventures in Fermentation is accessible, entertaining, and illuminating. He is a great storyteller, using lively prose to deliver solid scientific explanations, broad biological context, and insightful fermentation guidance
Sandor Katz, author of The Art of Fermentation
Johnny manages to demystify fermentation and make it fun. Not an easy task, but with his energy, knowledge and enthusiasm I guarantee you will never look at a pickle in the same way again!
Michel Roux Jr
A gripping story full of glorious gems. This book reveals the joy of fermentation, of embracing its force and letting the magic happen
Fergus Henderson, founder of St John
This book is feast of science, storytelling, and flavour. If you thought fermentation was just about pickles and sourdough, think again - Johnny Drain will blow your mind!
The Happy Pear Brothers
A delightfully personal guide to our tiny but talented companion microbes, how they can make our lives more delicious and healthful, and how to welcome them with ease into our daily routines
Harold McGee, author of Nose Dive
The funniest, most enjoyable book on fermentation I've ever read
Richard Bainbridge
Hiding in plain sight, fermentation may just be the most important preservation process we need and there's no-one I'd rather hear from on it than Dr Johnny Drain!
Ben Branson, founder of Seedlip
I love how Johnny brings the world of fermentation to life with his effervescent stories that bubble and fizz throughout this book
Brad Leone
Author Dr Johnny Drain
Narrator Johnny Drain
Duration 7 hours and 26 minutes
Release Date
ISBN 9781405985321
Format Audiobook
Publisher Penguin Books Ltd
Genre Cookery: preserving and freezing, Cultural studies: food and society, History: specific events and topics, Self-sufficiency and ‘green’ lifestyle
Availability AU, GB, IE, US

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