Culture club: Sauerkraut

Get to know your sauerkraut – that shredded, pickled and cured cabbage with a rich and colourful history.

Unbeknown to many, sauerkraut is partly to thank for the Great Wall of China – well, for fuelling its hungry labourers at least.

According to the history books, this cured, pickled and shredded digestive superfood was also favoured among Dutch sailors, due its self-preservation and medicinal properties. Nowadays, sauerkraut is better attributed to the Reuben sandwich or the trendy Sunday brunch crowd.

But while many of us are well-aware of its digestive health benefits, what is it that makes this pickled cabbage so incredibly beneficial?

Today's sauerkraut is made by combining shredded cabbage, salt and spices, a formula that is then fermented. Rich in Vitamin C, probiotics and 'good bacteria', sauerkraut is widely believed to possess the properties needed to act as a detoxifying agent within the digestive tract, while preventing nasty infections and combating hidden toxins.

After preparation the kraut or cabbage, is then left to de-oxygenate for a period of six weeks, while the salt aids to pull the water out of the cabbage and form a potent brine.

The enzymes actively break down the cabbage into smaller, digestible molecules, while the lactic acid kills any unwanted organisms. While fermenting your own cabbage is a long-favoured pastime by many, it can prove a timely and costly exercise without the right methodology or ingredients.

Fortunately, pre-packed varieties like Be Nourished Sauerkraut are readily available over the counter, created using age-old fermentation techniques and organic New Zealand cabbage. Be Nourished prepare their sauerkraut in small batches using organic ingredients from Kiwi growers in Kumeu, Whangarei, Hawkes Bay and the Wairarapa, before adding a potent probiotic culture-starter to kick-start the health benefits of fermentation.

So, the next time you reach for a jar of sauerkraut to liven up your Reuben, remember that there's a lot more to that pickled little probiotic than meets the eye.

To learn more about Be Nourished's range of Sauerkraut, Sauerkraut Juices and Kimchi simply visit their website right here.