Did you know that Karma is the only store in the GTA to stock Alchemy Pickles’ products in bulk?
Author: Andrea Most
Alchemy Pickle Company has been making locally sourced organic ferments since 2012 and my family has been enjoying them since then. For many years, you could only find Rebekka Hutton’s delicious fermented products at a few farmers markets and one or two local grocery stores, but that was often hit or miss. So when I discovered that Karma is the only store in the GTA to stock Alchemy sauerkraut and kimchi in bulk, I was overjoyed: a reliable source of delicious flavor and gut-friendly nutrients that I could take home in my own earth-friendly refillable container!
These amazing spicy, sour, salty condiments – along with Alchemy’s seasonal pickles – are a part of almost every meal in my home. The kimchi, with its spicy-sour umami vibe, pairs perfectly with stir-fries of all sorts, lifting a simple mix of vegetables and tofu to the next level, perking up noodle bowls and frittatas and elevating grilled cheese sandwiches to a pan-Asian taste explosion.
The sauerkraut is also incredibly versatile. I serve it as a side with our traditional roast chicken and potatoes on Friday nights, as well as with all kinds of stews, sausages and bean dishes. It is the absolute best topping for fish tacos, along with a little guacamole and hot sauce (available at Karma from Alchemy of course!). In the summer, I toss some sauerkraut into a salad for a fresh crunch and in the winter, when greens are more scarce, I add sauerkraut to my lunch for an extra hit of flavor along with a full day’s worth of vitamin C. And not just vitamin C! Kimchi and sauerkraut are nutritional powerhouses as well as the queens of the gut-healing ferments, delivering large doses of microbiome-friendly bacteria in a most flavorful package.
So bring a jar or two to Karma and try out these fantastic fermented foods – kimchi and sauerkraut from Alchemy Pickle Company! This is the first in an ongoing series of short articles on “My Favourite Karma Food”, where members select a favourite item from Karma and describe how they use it in their kitchens. The Food Issues Committee welcomes suggestions from members for future articles. Please send them to foodissues@karmacoop.org.
