Herbal Fermentation

One of the things that sold me on the Ultimate Healthy Living Bundle was the inclusion of Herbal Academy’s The Craft of Herbal Fermentation Course normally retailed at $129 USD. Just like the previous course I enrolled in at Herbal Academy, the Herbal Materia Medica Course, it was jampacked with information. I’ll share a few highlights so you can see for yourself.

Unit 1 was all about brewing herbal beer. Not only is it good for you, but the act of making your own beer allows you to become a part of a centuries-old brewing tradition. The course talked about the history of beer brewing as a medicinal tonic, provided a brewing video tutorial, and even expounded on the experience of herbal beer tasting. Included were all sorts of downloadable handouts to simplify your beer brewing efforts.

Unit 2 dealt with herbal mead. This time there were two video tutorials as well as an entire lesson dedicated to herbal mead brewing philosophy. Again, lots of handouts and fascinating tidbits. Did you know that the Maya made a mead called balché from tree bark and another mead from the nectar of the Morning Glory plant called xtabentún?

Unit 3 focused on kombucha and water kefir. I’d heard these two beverages mentioned time and time again as probiotic drinks and was extremely curious about the material in this unit. There was a video tutorial for each type of fermented drink along with a lesson about sugar, caffeine, and alcohol safety concerns.

Unit 4 was devoted to lacto-fermented vegetables like pickles and sauerkraut. Again there was a video tutorial and plenty of downloadable resources. If you are interested in just getting these handouts without enrolling in the course, Herbal Academy has made them available here.

So there you have it–a brief overview of the course. Sadly, for me, this course was for informational purposes only. Just like with canning, the supplies I would need to successfully ferment herbally are not available locally. I did get a nifty badge to display proudly.

I am looking forward to my next class with Herbal Academy, the Herbal Self-Care for Stress Management Course, that begins October 30. There’s a discount if you register before then. Here’s a link to a sneak preview of the course: 3 Nervine Herbs to Help Soothe Stress.