Haruru business aims to revive traditional fermented foods

Master fermenter Pete Lindgren holds a batch of cultured turmeric paste in the making while K4 Cultured Foods co-owner Kaye van der Straten shows off the company's kombucha drinks. Photo/Peter de Graaf

A new Bay of Islands business aims to revive traditional fermentation techniques and bring forgotten tastes to Northland palates.

K4 Cultured Foods, in Haruru Falls, opened its doors in June with a range of non-alcoholic fermented beverages known as kombucha.

The company plans to add lacto-fermented garlic cloves, ginger slices, turmeric paste and kombucha vinegar to its offerings.

Kaye van der Straten, a marine biologist who started the business with partner Freddy Loov, a ship's captain from Sweden, said their products were based on foods with well-researched health benefits, using traditional fermentation techniques applied to make the nutrients more bioavailable.

Living, fermented foods - such as sauerkraut, sourdough breads, non-pasteurised cheese and yoghurt - had disappeared from modern diets but were common 50 years ago before refrigerators replaced fermentation as a means of preserving food, she said.

Kombucha was made by adding sugar and a culture to a green tea base, then allowing it to ferment for 14 days. The sugar fed the culture, a symbiotic colony of bacteria and yeasts.

The result was a slightly fizzy, cider-like drink. Its low sugar and less than 1 per cent alcohol made it a good alternative to soft drinks, beer or wine. The company was making 150 litres per batch but had ordered a 4000-litre fermenter from the US.

Fermenter Pete Lindgren is K4's sole employee.

"There's not a lot of awareness about kombucha in New Zealand at the moment. We're bringing new flavours to people's palates and a new healthfood into their lives," he said.

K4 kombucha is made in three flavours and is sold online, at the company's base on Haruru Falls Rd, Kerikeri's Packhouse Market and Alongside in Paihia, as well as outlets in Waipapa, Paihia and Whangarei.