Frequently Asked Questions
Do you recycle?
We currently recycle the half-gallon jugs. Simply take your jars back to the store where you bought them.
My kraut bubbled up when I opened it. Is it safe to eat?
Yes, it is perfectly safe. Naturally fermented sauerkraut is a living food and will continue to ferment in the sealed jars if they are left for a time at above-refrigeration temperatures. Carbon dioxide can be created that will escape when opened. Don't worry, the kraut is fermented for three weeks at room temperature. A little more fermentation won't hurt it at all.
Are your products organic?
We have chosen not to go through the US Department of Agriculture (which is required in order to be Certified Organic), and therefore, the use of the "o" word is forbidden on our label. However, we choose vegetables and ingredients that are responsibly and sustainably grown, without harmful chemicals or pesticides. We will not produce or sell anything that we won't eat ourselves.
My kraut tastes slightly different than the last time I bought it. Why?
This is due to our use of fresh vegetables, especially carrots. If a few of the carrots in the batch are slightly bitter, as carrots can be, it will slightly change the taste of the whole batch. We don't taste each carrot as it goes into the batch, but we do taste each batch when it is finished. Other vegetables can vary in taste depending on time of year, moisture content, etc. The salt, herbs, and spices that we use are carefully measured and don't change from batch to batch. We won't knowingly sell a bad-tasting batch. But know that slight variations in taste from jar to jar are not only possible, but likely. Sort of like dye lots, to all you knitters and crocheters out there!
Also, some batches are crunchier than others, and some are softer. When dealing with living organisms like we are, it is impossible for every single batch to turn out exactly the same. Many factors affect the final texture, including temperatures and bacterial action. We have had batches turn out very soft and we normally eat those batches ourselves.
Why do you use Celtic sea salt?
Celtic Sea Salt® Brand - The Original Brand - is authentic, unprocessed whole salt from one of the most pristine coastal regions of France. Since 1976, Celtic Sea Salt® Brand has been harvested by the paludiers (salt farmers) of Brittany using a farming method that preserves the purity and balance of ocean minerals.
Celtic Sea Salt® Brand is doctor recommended, more nutritious than table salt, quality certified and has exquisite taste. We use it to enrich the taste of our krauts while adding vital nutrients to your diet.
Agh! There is something floating in my kombucha! What is it??
This is a good thing! It means your beverage is alive and well. Kombucha will continue to ferment after bottling, especially at room temperature but also in the refrigerator. If you are not brave enough to drink the cultures that form, simply strain them out.
Do you ship your products?
We can and we have. But know that they are packaged in glass and are very heavy (thus expensive) to ship. And no matter how well they are packaged, something seems to break in transit. We are proponents of buying locally, so we would rather encourage you to seek a local purveyor, or take up these artisan crafts on your own. Or encourage a friend to do it if you don't have time.