Microbiology and Health Benefits of Traditional Alcoholic Beverages is an interdisciplinary reference for students, researchers, and academics studying anthropology and food and beverage science, especially those with interest in fermentation. Fermented beverages and alcoholic drinks are culturally and socially accepted products for consumption, drinking, entertainment, as well as for customary practices and religious purposes. Due to variation in substrates, climatic conditions, geographical locations and ethnicity, a colossal diversity of microbial community as well as major domains have been reported in the different varieties of fermented beverages of the world. This book covers the cultural context of these beverages along with their biochemistry, health benefits, and therapeutic uses. Topics include winemaking, malting and brewing of wine and beer, and culturally specific beverages and practices such as fermented palm beverages and agave. - Profiles the microbial community as well as major domains by metagenomics in traditional fermented beverages - Covers the chemical profiles and health benefits of alcoholic products - Presents the latest status of some industrialized alcoholic beverages such as saké of Japan, mackgeolli of Korea, baijiu of China, toddy of India, pulque of Mexico, wine, beer, etc.

In developing countries, traditional fermentation serves many purposes. It can improve the taste of an otherwise bland food, enhance the digestibility of a food that is difficult to assimilate, preserve food from degradation by noxious organisms, and increase nutritional value through the synthesis of essential amino acids and vitamins. Although "fermented food" has a vaguely distasteful ring, bread, wine, cheese, and yogurt are all familiar fermented foods. Less familiar are gari, ogi, idli, ugba, and other relatively unstudied but important foods in some African and Asian countries. This book reports on current research to improve the safety and nutrition of these foods through an elucidation of the microorganisms and mechanisms involved in their production. Also included are recommendations for needed research.

Fermented Beverages, Volume Five, the latest release in the Science of Beverages series, examines emerging trends and applications of different fermented beverages, including alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. The book discusses processing techniques and microbiological methods for each classification, their potential health benefits, and overall functional properties. The book provides an excellent resource to broaden the reader's understanding of different fermented beverages. It is ideal for research and development professionals who are working in the area of new products. Presents research examples to help solve problems and optimize production Provides recent technologies used for quality analysis Includes industry formulations for different beverages to increase productivity and innovation Includes common industry formulations to foster the creation of new products

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

This book provides detailed information on the various ethnic fermented foods and beverages of India. India is home to a diverse food culture comprising fermented and non-fermented ethnic foods and alcoholic beverages. More than 350 different types of familiar, less-familiar and rare ethnic fermented foods and alcoholic beverages are traditionally prepared by the country’s diverse ethnic groups, and include alcoholic, milk, vegetable, bamboo, legume, meat, fish, and cereal based beverages. Most of the Indian ethnic fermented foods are naturally fermented, whereas the majority of the alcoholic beverages have been prepared using dry starter culture and the ‘back-sloping’ method for the past 6,000 years. A broad range of culturable and unculturable microbiomes and mycobiomes are associated with the fermentation and production of ethnic foods and alcoholic drinks in India. The book begins with detailed chapters on various aspects including food habits, dietary culture, and the history, microbiology and health benefits of fermented Indian food and beverages. Subsequent chapters describe unique and region-specific ethnic fermented foods and beverages from all 28 states and 9 union territories. In turn the classification of various ethnic fermented foods and beverages, their traditional methods of preparation, culinary practices and mode of consumption, socio-economy, ethnic values, microbiology, food safety, nutritional value, and process optimization in some foods are discussed in details with original pictures. In closing, the book addresses the medicinal properties of the fermented food products and their health benefits, together with corresponding safety regulations.