Fermented beverages are one of the simplest and most time-honored ways to support digestion and overall wellness. When enjoyed alongside fermented foods and cultured dairy, they help nourish the gut in a gentle, traditional way.
Be sure to watch the member video below, and then read on for even more seasonal inspiration and practical tips for enjoying fermented drinks throughout the year.
These conversational vodcasts are available to the Kitchen Pioneers who have joined my YouTube membership community—The Traditional Foods Kitchen Academy.
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Table of Contents
- A Quick Glance: Fermented Beverages
- Why Fermented Beverages Matter
- Winter: Warming and Restorative Ferments
- Spring & Summer: Light, Bright, and Refreshing
- Fall: Grounding and Seasonal Ciders
- Bringing It All Together
- The Modern Pioneer Pantry
- The Modern Pioneer Cookbook
- Traditional Foods Kitchen Academy
- Join the Traditional Foods Kitchen Academy
- Kitchen Academy Videos
- Shop for items used in this blog post or video
A Quick Glance: Fermented Beverages
- Fermented beverages offer living nutrition that changes beautifully with the seasons—warming and restorative in winter, light and refreshing in summer, and grounding in the fall.
- When enjoyed regularly alongside fermented foods and cultured dairy, fermented beverages support digestion, balance, and traditional whole-food living.
Why Fermented Beverages Matter
Fermented beverages provide beneficial bacteria, organic acids, and enzymes that support digestion and nutrient absorption. While fermented vegetables and cultured dairy often get the spotlight, fermented drinks are just as important—and often easier to enjoy daily.
These beverages were traditionally made at home, using what was available in each season, creating a natural rhythm between the kitchen, the land, and the body.
Disclaimer
I am not a doctor or medical professional. If you are not feeling well, please seek professional medical attention and medicine. And if you are thinking of supplementing your treatment with home remedies, be sure to talk to your medical professional about them. It’s important that you get the medicine and treatments you need to get back to good health.
Winter: Warming and Restorative Ferments
Rejuvelac
In the colder months, simple grain-based ferments like rejuvelac are especially nourishing. Light, tangy, and easy to digest, rejuvelac has long been used to support gut health when heavier winter meals are common. It’s a gentle daily ferment that fits beautifully into winter routines.
Spring & Summer: Light, Bright, and Refreshing
Fermented Strawberry Soda
As berries come into season, fermented fruit sodas are a joyful way to celebrate warmer days. Strawberry soda offers natural fizz, gentle sweetness, and beneficial fermentation—without commercial additives.
Fermented Floral & Herbal Teas
Spring and summer are perfect for hibiscus ginger tea, mint teas, and other herbal infusions that can be lightly fermented. These drinks are refreshing, supportive, and deeply rooted in the traditional foodways of our ancestors.
Fermented Lemonade
Fermented lemonade is a summertime favorite—cool, tangy, and alive. It’s an ideal introduction for those new to fermentation and a wonderful alternative to sugary drinks.
Fall: Grounding and Seasonal Ciders
Fermented Apple & Pear Ciders
As the weather turns cooler, fermented apple and pear ciders bring us back to the harvest season. These traditional drinks honor fall’s abundance while offering digestive support during heavier meals and celebrations.
And if cider isn’t relatively available for you to ferment, then try your hand at making raw probiotic-rich apple-scrap vinegar. Afterward, you can use your homemade vinegar to make a traditional drink called Switchel.
Bringing It All Together
Fermented beverages are most powerful when enjoyed alongside fermented foods—like sauerkraut and pickles—and cultured dairy, such as yogurt and kefir. Together, they create a balanced, traditional approach to nourishing the gut the way our ancestors did with a variety of beneficial bacteria.
Many of these seasonal fermented beverages—and more—can be found in my new cookbook, The Modern Pioneer Pantry, where I share step-by-step methods to help you confidently make them at home, all year long.
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The Modern Pioneer Pantry
Simple ingredients, timeless techniques, and a well-stocked pantry. Discover over 100 nourishing recipes to preserve food and turn pantry staples into delicious, homemade meals. Build a wholesome, traditional pantry—just like a modern pioneer!
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The Modern Pioneer Cookbook
Seasonal ingredients, traditional techniques, and nourishing recipes. Over 85 traditional, from-scratch recipes! Discover for yourself how you can use simple ingredients and traditional techniques to cook the modern pioneer way.
Traditional Foods Kitchen Academy
My comprehensive vodcasts are exclusively available to members of the Traditional Foods Kitchen Academy, who we call Kitchen Pioneers. You can learn more about my optional YouTube membership community, including members-only videos and exclusive perks.
This membership community is optional. I’m still publishing my detailed instructional cooking videos on my public YouTube channel that you can watch for free. (Thanks so much for being a Sweet Friend and subscriber!)
Join the Traditional Foods Kitchen Academy
As a Kitchen Pioneer member, your YouTube video comments include a special badge next to your YouTube username. You’re always welcome to post questions and comments on my videos, and I’m happy to reply.
Catch up on some of the videos in our membership community that you may not have seen:
- Traditional Foods Kitchen Academy video playlist (Optional Membership Community)
Kitchen Academy Videos
How to Make Oatmeal Higher in Protein (The Old-Fashioned Way)
Turn simple oats into a hearty, protein-rich porridge.
The Only Traditional Recipes You’ll Ever Need!
Focus on traditional recipes with real food. Don’t chase trends.
Let’s Talk Akkermansia: A Tiny Helper for Big Gut Health
Discover how Akkermansia muciniphila supports gut and immune health—and how traditional foods help this mighty microbe thrive.
Stay in Touch with Mary’s Nest
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- Join the Traditional Foods Kitchen Academy - For more detailed videos and exclusive members-only perks, join my YouTube membership community.
- Order The Modern Pioneer Cookbook - Get a hardcover book of Mary's nourishing recipes from a Traditional Foods Kitchen. This bestselling cookbook is published by Penguin Random House with their DK imprint.
- Order The Modern Pioneer Pantry - Get Mary's latest hardcover cookbook about preserving food and making delicious meals from your Four Corners Pantry. Mary's second cookbook is also published by Penguin Random House.
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Disclaimer:I am not a medical doctor, a medical professional, a dietician, or a nutritionist. All content found on the MarysNest.com website, including text, images, videos, eBooks or eGuides, social media, or other formats, were created solely for informational purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or proper nutritional advice. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have watched in a video or read on this website. Use caution when following the recipe in this video. The creator and publisher of this video and website will not be held responsible for any adverse effects that may arise from the use of this recipe and method or any other recipe and method on this website or corresponding video channel.
