My jar of Che Gourmet Kimchi exploded/leaked or bubbled out of the jar! Is it still safe to eat?

All of our Kimchi jars are hand packed and are raw/unpasteurised , therefore they continue to actively ferment inside the jar. Sometimes, you may open a Kimchi jar and no reaction will occur. Other times, the Kimchi may pop and overflow similarly to a bottle of champagne. Either way, your Kimchi is still safe to eat! What has happened is that extra fermentation in the jar has caused a gas build up which then forces the liquid and Kimchi out of the jar. That just means there is extra Probiotic goodness inside!

Why must I store my Fermented Food products in the fridge?

If you leave a jar of our Kimchi/Krauts or Kimchi Tonic at room temperature, it accelerates the ripening process while refrigeration slows the fermentation of Kimchi. Similar to the way a fine cheese ages, it is a handcrafted food that is brimming with naturally occurring bacteria cultures in an active fermentation state. These products need to be stored below 5 degrees Celsius to slow the fermentation almost completely while keeping the Probiotics very much alive.

What is the shelf life of Che Gourmets Fermented Food Range? How long will it last in the refrigerator?

Kimchi; Kraut are alive and will continue to change over time. Temperature and exposure to oxygen impact the flavour and fermentation of these products much like wine or cheese. As they mature, they will take on unique and distinct taste profiles of tangy notes while the spices mellow and develop into deeper, earthier characteristics. Your Fermented Foods will continue to age in your refrigerator and will be delicious for up to 12 months or even longer as long as you keep in cool temperature and away from oxygen.

Why is my Kimchi Tonic separating?

Kimchi Tonic is compromised of raw concentrated cold pressed Kimchi. As the vegetables age and ripen so lactic acid and juices develop. These juices are filled with Probiotic goodness and due to there being no preservatives, stabilisers or suspension additives this natural liquid will separate. Give it a gently shake to mix everything back together and drink.

I have yellow almost luminous speckles on my Korean Pickled Onions? Are they ok?

Yes! Completely normal! We use Raw Apple Cider Vinegar and Organic Tamari to pickle our delicious onions. Due to the chemical reaction between the 2 as well as the onions you will sometimes find some luminous spots on the outer skin. If the onions are soft and mushy then they are not good but little yellow spots is a completely normal occurrence.

For a more scientific explanation

“ The yellow spots that appear on pickled onions are crystals of quercetin that precipitates as water is displaced. Flavonols are responsible for yellow spots”

Why is Xylitol Dangerous for Animals and Why do you still use it?

Xylitol is a sugar alcohol that we currently add to a few of our products as our sweetener. While xylitol doesn’t stimulate the release of insulin from the pancreas in humans, it certainly does in dogs.

When a dog eats something containing xylitol, it’s quickly absorbed into the bloodstream, resulting in a potent release of insulin from the pancreas. This rapid release of insulin results in a profound decrease in the level of blood sugar (hypoglycemia) – an effect that occurs within 10 to 60 minutes of ingestion. Untreated, this hypoglycemia is often life threatening. There‘s no antidote for xylitol toxicity.

It’s is extremely important that you do not feed your animals ANY of our products containing Xylitol to prevent this. We do put a cautionary warning on our labels as well as our website..

We still use Xylitol at this moment as we have found it is the only sugar substitute that allows us to recreate the flavours we require in order to maintain our authentically flavoured products. We are continually searching for better alternatives.

Do you use Animal Products in your factory?

No we do not. We do not process, manufacture with or utilise any animal products whatsoever in our factory (including Honey). All of our products at this stage are 100% Vegan.