Cultured Cherries, Berries & Figs

Cultured_Cherries_Berries_and_Figs_Landscape_by_Jordan_Pie_Nutritionist_Photographer-1.jpg

Cherries are one of my favourite summer fruits and my latest obsession is fermented cherries. Did you know that cherries are a well known brain food and can help to strengthen cognitive function by helping to improve memory, focus, and concentration and help to reduce brain fog? They’re also an excellent source of melatonin which is known to calm the nervous system, decrease irritability, ease headaches and promote a solid nights sleep with a balanced sleep-wake cycle.

Berries are one of my favourite foods because they're an incredible brain food! They help to protect against brain disease and disorders as well as migraines. They’re anti-inflammatory, they help balance the endocrine system, cleanse toxins and mucous from the body, they’re easy to digest and are particularly good for those with autoimmune diseases. They also have high levels of magnesium, zinc, potassium, calcium and B12 enhancing properties. But one of the coolest things about berries is that they contain compounds that stop excess adrenaline from causing organ damage, sooo cool! See why I love them so much.

Figs are rich in minerals such as calcium, iron, copper, potassium, selenium, and zinc. They also work as a natural laxative and their high mucin content helps to eliminate toxic wastes and mucus from the colon. Similarly, they also also very beneficial for people who suffer from asthma as they can help to drain phlegm from the body. Figs have the ability to kill off bad bacteria while promoting the buildup of good bacteria such as acidophilus in the bowel.

So let’s get into how-to-ferment cherries, berries and figs!

INGREDIENTS

Cherries (pipped or whole)
Fresh figs, halved
Berries such as; blackberries, blueberries, raspberries or strawberries
Coconut water kefir to cover the fruit

METHOD

1. Add the fruit to clean glass jars.
2. Pour just enough coconut water kefir over the top of fruits so they're completely covered.
3. Close the lid and place them onto a shelf in your pantry, or leave on your kitchen bench. Allow the berries to ferment overnight or up to 12 hours. Ferment the cherries and figs for roughly 24 hours. Please note in winter they may need slightly longer and in Summer they may ferment quicker, so always taste along the way so you know when they are ready.
4. When the fruit has fermented to your liking, either store them in the fridge to add to your smoothie, coconut yoghurt or chia pudding through out the week. Or add the fermented fruits into a container and freeze. The you can add them frozen to smoothies or smoothy bowls.