43: Is That Skunk in Your Ferment?

Fermentation can be a little stinky sometimes, but some ferments are so stinky that all but the well initiated will gag. This week we discuss some of the smelliest ferments in the world and a bit of the science behind them.

Show notes:

[18 Stinky Foods From Around the World - surstromming, kiviak, stinky tofu, hakarl, hongeo…
Open Journey](https://www.openjourney.com/article/18-stinky-foods-around-the-world-41.html)

This link appears to cover most of the popular stinky ferments throughout the world. We’re certain there are more, but this is nice coverage with videos.

[Episode 16: Fish Sauce was The Original Ketchup
FermUp](https://fermup.com/podcast/16/)

In the last third, Danijela and Branden talk about surstromming.

[PopSci’s Friday Lunch: a Can of Surstromming With Harold McGee
Popular Science](https://www.popsci.com/science/article/2012-04/popscis-friday-lunch-can-putrid-surströmming)

Watch Harold McGee eat surstromming.

Casu marzu - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Maggot cheese anyone? Just watch for jumping maggots that can achieve up to 6 inches of air.

[This Inuit Delicacy Is the Turducken from Hell
Gizmodo](https://gizmodo.com/5885202/this-inuit-delicacy-is-the-turducken-from-hell)

Love the title on this post. How do they catch so many tiny birds?

[Greenlandic Food: Kiviaq
YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3OPRJL9UFuA)

Traditionally, this ferment is done with feathers and beak and all. But here is someone in Greenland skinning the bird.

[Auk
Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auk)

If you don’t know what an auk looks like, here you go.

[How to get your stinky tofu fix: 4 great joints in LA
LA Times](https://www.latimes.com/features/food/dailydish/la-four-great-stinky-tofu-joints-in-los-angeles-20130816,0,5431911.story#axzz2mw91dEiO)

Stinky tofu is not as common in the U.S. due to health code regulations. Even restaurants allowed to serve it in LA are only allowed to ferment it for three days as opposed to weeks or months.

[Home Of Limburger, The World’s Stinkiest Cheese
Huffington Post](https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/08/visit-monroe-wisconsin-stinky-cheese-limburger_n_3239545.html)

Branden can almost smell this cheese factory that is 45 minutes away. Got to love foot odor bacteria in our cheese.

[Natto - Fermented Soy Beans - Whatcha Eating?
YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bf4egUzD2ZQ&feature=youtu.be&t=4m7s)

Natto seems best enjoyed with plenty of condiments.

[For One Year, I Will Eat Only Fermented Foods, Then Publish a Book About It
Bear Flavored
Homebrew and Beer Blog](https://www.bear-flavored.com/2013/12/for-one-year-i-will-eat-only-fermented.html)

Check out this guy’s adventure as he prepares to eat only fermented foods in 2014.

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