Wild Fermentation: Why Our Sauerkraut Is a True Natural Product
From day one, we have entrusted flavor to a very special force: nature itself. At Schöni, we have relied on traditional wild fermentation for generations. That makes our sauerkraut a genuine and honest natural product that turns every meal into a delightful adventure.
What is wild fermentation? The subtle difference
There are various ways to ferment. In food production, carefully selected starter cultures are often added. This provides control and ensures a high level of consistency in taste.
Wild fermentation is the original opposite approach, where no cultures are added. Instead, we rely entirely on the natural lactic acid bacteria that are already present on the fresh cabbage straight from the field. Through gentle salting and removing oxygen in the silo, these tiny helpers can multiply unhindered. That is fermentation in its purest and most alive form.
Craftsmanship in harmony with nature
Of course, wild fermentation requires a great deal of sensitivity, experience, and patience. You give up a certain amount of control and work hand in hand with the seasons. Depending on the weather the vegetables were exposed to in summer, their characteristics and composition change, and the bacteria react accordingly during fermentation in autumn. The result is that every silo and every jar tastes a little different and has its own character. To us, that is not a flaw, but the finest quality mark there is.
When you bite into a fresh apple, it tastes a little different every time too. It’s exactly the same with our sauerkraut. It never tastes quite the same. But always just as good.
Tradition at Schöni for good reason
For us, this craft is not a new trend, but lived family history. We have always done it this way because we don’t want to breed away those fine nuances of nature—we want to celebrate them proudly. The interplay of the various wild bacterial strains gives the vegetables unmatched depth and a particularly complex flavor profile.
In addition, the vegetables preserve themselves completely through natural lactic acid fermentation, without any artificial additives. When the product remains raw, the jar contains many active cultures that contribute to an all-around good feeling in the gut with every meal. That is how every Schöni product remains an honest and authentic piece of Swiss nature.