The 21 Best Fermentation Gifts {In 2024}

1. Jar(s) of Homemade Sauerkraut or Kimchi

If you already make sauerkraut or other ferments, you could share a few sample jars of your stash.

If your friend could taste some of your homemade sauerkraut or kimchi, you know they would be hooked. Fermented foods really do taste spectacular! 

The small 4-ounce (125 ml) jelly jar I recommend as a weight for first-time fermenters works great for sharing ferments. Pack a few jars with some sauerkraut or kimchi you already have stashed in your refrigerator.

2. Fermentation Weight

One of the key factors for successful fermentation is keeping everything below the brine and away from airborne molds and yeast.

Over the past fifteen years, I’ve tried every weight on the market.

The one I reach for each and every time I ferment something is a fermentation spring.

Here’s what it looks like in a jar of honey-fermented garlic cloves.

The spring is a coil of stainless steel that exerts downward pressure on what’s packed in your jar to keep your ferment safely under the brine.

It takes up very little space in your jar, leaving plenty of room for brine, and works like a charm, as demonstrated in my month-long experiment to find the best fermentation weight.

The springs by Trellis & Co. were the first kids on the block. Ball followed with a “copy-cat” version. They both work splendidly.

The Trellis lids are stainless steel, but the silicone airlock valve easily pops out and can get lost if you don’t watch things carefully when washing them.

Ball uses BPA-free plastic for its lids; the airlock stays secure in the lid. No worrying about it getting lost.

3. Super-Slick Fermentation Kit for Care-Free Fermentation

I’ve highlighted three fermentation kits for you.

The first kit by Ball has my favorite fermentation spring and includes jars, a nice perk for someone brand new to fermentation.

The airlocks in the second kit by MasonTops give nice visual feedback as they puff up to indicate the fermentation gases are being produced. It includes a glass weight.

Some enjoy using the vacuum extractor pump in the last kit to remove air from the jars during the later stages of fermentation. It includes a glass weight.

REVIEW: PickleHelix Fermentation Kit by Trellis Review [INNOVATIVE]

REVIEW: Pickle Pipe Pickle Pebble [MasonTops] REVIEW: Delightfully Simple

For my Canadian readers who get frustrated trying to find many of the items I’ve shared, please be aware that you can purchase some of the MasonTops products and Ball Fermentation Springs online at Walmart.

4. Fermentation Course(s)

If you can’t join your friend in the kitchen to share the joys of making sauerkraut or pickles, why not give them the gift of discovery through one of my online courses?

Mouthwatering Sauerkraut

With my Ferment Like a Pro! course, they will learn to transform cabbage into probiotic gold.

They will master my proven Surefire Sauerkraut Method, gaining the confidence to create unique, flavorful sauerkraut bursting with gut-healing goodness. Imagine their pride as they stock their fridge with delicious, handcrafted ferments!

In A Pickle!

With my In A Pickle! course, they will unlock the art of pickling and transform ordinary vegetables into crunchy, tangy masterpieces.

Through my Perfect Pickle Process, they’ll gain the confidence to master brine fermentation and fill their fridge with vibrant creations like Giardiniera, Jalapeño Slices, and Dilly Bean Pickles. Imagine the delight of savoring their own perfectly pickled vegetables and sharing them with loved ones!

5. Fermentation Salt

Just about any salt can be used for fermentation, but I have the greatest success when using a mineral-rich salt, such as Redmonds Real Salt or Himalayan pink salt.

I love the depth of flavor that a mineral-rich salt imparts to a batch of sauerkraut. This is the only salt I use in my home and is what was used for all my recipes on my website and in my book.

6. Digital Scale

The best sauerkraut is made when you can weigh your ingredients and add in just the right amount of salt.

Not everyone has a digital scale. Help your friend get started on the right foot by gifting them a scale.

A simple, inexpensive scale, like the Ozeri shown below, does the trick.

However, they will really appreciate the KD8000 shown next. This gem is the Cadillac (Tesla?) of scales. I love that it doesn’t automatically shut off and has a percent key to make calculating salt concentration easy peasy. I reviewed the MyWeigh KD8000 scale here.

For the Love of Kimchi

These next few gifts are perfect for someone who is into kimchi.

7. Gochugaru—Korean Red Pepper Powder—for Kimchi-Making

The key to kimchi success is using the correct red pepper powder. I recommend using gochugaru, Korean red pepper powder.

This much-coveted, flavor-enhancing pepper powder is traditionally used to flavor and add some heat to Kimchi as in my Kimchi-Style Sauerkraut Recipe [A SPICY DEPTH OF FLAVOR!] or Traditional Square-Cut Napa Cabbage Kimchi.

When I made my first batch of Kimchi-style Sauerkraut over ten years ago, Korean Gochugaru red pepper powder wasn’t readily available, so I substituted red pepper flakes which worked fine. Now that gochugaru is available in Asian stores and on the internet, I’ve started using it instead of the red pepper flakes, and there is no going back.

Gochugaru is a coarsely ground red pepper with a texture between flakes and powder that disperses throughout your sauerkraut, coloring it beautifully and adding a complex flavor not found with red pepper flakes. The highest quality Gochugaru is made from sun-dried chili peppers.

I don’t think buying 1 pound (454 g) is too much. Some recipes call for ¼ cup (30 g).

Here are some popular, high-quality Gochugarus, or Korean red pepper powders. Supply for these peppers comes and goes on Amazon, so if the selections below aren’t currently available, search for “gochugaru flakes.”

8. The Kimchi Cookbook

The kimchi lover on your gift list would appreciate a book detailing the traditional kimchi process.

This bold, colorful cookbook walks you through how to make robust and lighter kimchi. Lauryn Chun explores various flavors and techniques for creating various kimchis.

9. Kimchi container

I bought some of these containers a few years ago while learning to make kimchi. They have an inner lid that does a great job of keeping the ferment safely below the brine. They come in a wide variety of sizes.

Perhaps a Fermentation Book? My Top 8 Picks

I love to learn from a book I can hold in my hands. Here is a handful that I have put to good use.

10. Fermentation Made Easy! Mouthwatering Sauerkraut

My book, Fermentation Made Easy! Mouthwatering Sauerkraut is a great gift for someone just starting out with fermentation or for someone who has never made sauerkraut.

Not only is it fun to learn how to make sauerkraut, but this probiotic-rich ferment tastes fantastic with any dish or meal, and there are endless ways in which you can vary the flavor.

11. Of Cabbages and Kimchi: A Practical Guide to the World of Fermented Food

A playful and accessible guide to fermenting at home, Of Cabbages and Kimchi: A Practical Guide to the World of Fermented Food takes the ten greatest ‘living’ ferments – fermented foods that are neither cooked nor pasteurized – and places them under the microscope, before cooking with them in all their delicious versatility.

Author James Read describes the microbial process and then shares his recipes for recreating these wonders in your kitchen. It is a delightful read with easy-to-implement recipes.

12. Fermented Foods: A Practical Guide

I have been enjoying Fermented Foods for the past couple of years.

Fermentation specialist Caroline Gilmartin delves into the processes and mechanisms involved in wild and cultured fermentation, examining the microbes involved and sharing parameters for optimal fermentation.

13. Fermenting Made Simple: Delicious Recipes to Improve Your Gut Health

In this down-to-earth, no-fuss primer on fermented foods, Emillie Parrish introduces home cooks to deliciously easy DIY cultured foods and the principles of probiotics for health and well-being with well-researched and thoroughly tested recipes.

The book is entirely vegetarian and includes a number of recipes specifically for gluten-free or vegan diets. From kimchi, pickles, and salsa to ginger bug, yogurt, and spreads, you’ll soon have a kitchen full of tasty fermented foods.

14. The Big Book of Kombucha

The Big Book of Kombucha by Hannah Crum is a great choice for a friend who may already enjoy kombucha. Learning to make their own would be a fun and money-saving project.

15. Fermented Vegetables, Updated in 2024

Fermented Vegetables by Kirsten & Christopher Shockey is the book I reach for when I get a question from a reader wanting to know if they can ferment beans, cauliflower, basil, okra, or whatnot. It is especially great for a gardener or that foodie who makes regular trips to the farmer’s market and wants to know how to ferment what is currently in season.

Their Fermenting Vegetables A to Z chapter comes in really handy. Just harvested a bunch of beets? After sharing their knowledge of beets, recipes for Simple Beet Kraut, Curtido Rojo, Curried Golden Beets, Beet Kvass, and Golden Ginger Beet Kvass with Meyer Lemon follow. Endless inspiration with recipes that work for any vegetable under the sun. Review here.

16. Fiery Ferments

Fiery Ferments by Kirsten & Christopher Shockey is a great choice for someone who is into hot sauces or other spicy ferments.

The book contains recipes for hot sauces, mustards, pickles, chutneys, relishes, and kimchis from around the globe.

17. WECK Small-Batch Preserving

WECK Small-Batch Preserving by Stephanie Thurow covers preserving not only by fermentation but also by canning and pickling.

I love her set of fermentation recipes, and I just finished a lunch salad topped with Brussels sprouts kimchi. Delicious! And, would you believe this was the first time in my life that I’ve ever tasted Brussels sprouts? I can’t wait to try her set of fruit-infused Kvass recipes.

In addition, I’m honored to have my recipe for fermented Thyme and Leek Paste included in her book.

18. A Water-Sealed Fermentation Crock

A water-sealed fermentation crock is a perfect gift for someone who has already learned to ferment and is ready to take it to the next level. For thorough instructions on how to make the best use of their new fermentation crock, be sure to point them to my recipe, How to Make Sauerkraut In a Crock in 7 Simple Steps [Healthy, Flavorful, Easy]. Here are a few choices.

Here are my top recommendations for fermentation crocks.

Stone Creek Trading

This Water-Sealed Ceramic Fermentation Crock direct from Stone Creek Trading is handcrafted with the rich, abundant clay by local artisans in the Boleslawiec region of Poland; those with 60 years of experience craft this crock.

In addition, these crocks come with lead-free glass weights—heavier than any other weights I’ve seen—and recipes for pickles and sauerkraut. Impeccable customer service as evidenced in this message just from one of my readers:

“Well, you were right about Stone Creek. They are the best people I’ve had the pleasure of crossing paths with in a long time. I sent Emily 2 photos of the salt line circling my crock, and that was enough for her to send me a new pot with no other questions asked. I can’t really say enough good things about them.“

Read my in-depth review of the Stone Creek Crocks here.

To purchase it, buy directly from Stone Creek Trading, where they hand inspect each crock before shipping.

Mark Campbell Ceramics

The crocks from Mark Campbell Ceramics are wheel-thrown and made to order with your choice of glaze colors.

Design one to sit on your kitchen counter to daily add beauty to your home and inspire you to make sauerkraut! More about Mark Campbell Ceramics here. Be sure to check out his beautiful bowls.

LISTEN HERE to Mark discussing his business and journey into the fermentation world on The Fermentation Podcast. Show notes include a video of him making a 1-gallon crock and his Taco Kraut recipe.

He totally gets how flavor-packed sauerkraut can dramatically and effortlessly shift the flavor of a meal which is why I’m always creating new recipes.

Humble House

Available in three sizes and four colors, this Humble House crock is a good pick. A 5-liter crock can be packed with 10 pounds of cabbage to make 5 quarts (liters) of sauerkraut.

19. Mandoline

A mandoline is a plastic or stainless steel device for slicing vegetables and fruit. It has interchangeable blades, the best one being made of surgical steel. I have never had to sharpen or replace the blade on the Benriner mandoline I received as a gift 45 years ago! It’s a workhorse and far easier to set up and clean than a food processor.

A mandoline is a great way to slice cabbage, especially when filling a crock efficiently. Learn the many ways to slice cabbage here.

My favorite mandoline is the Benriner mandoline super slicer, or “wide” (5+ inches in width.)

And it doesn’t hurt to throw in a pair of protective gloves to ensure extra safety when using a super-sharp slicing device like the mandoline.

Stocking Stuffers

20. Thermometer

Fermentation ideally takes place within a set temperature range. It’s nice to monitor temperatures in case you need to adjust fermentation length, especially warm or cold temperatures.

21. pH Test Strips

Some new to fermentation want to know for sure that their ferment is safe to eat. You might not trust your nose, especially if you’ve never smelled or eaten sauerkraut before. Enter one little fermentation tool to add to your arsenal:

Head to My Fermenting Supplies Page for More Gift Ideas

If you still don’t know what you want to gift, I have a comprehensive list of fermenting supplies, which is complete with product reviews and shopping tips:

Fermenting Supplies for Sauerkraut & Vegetables [The Classics, The Latest, The Greatest]

That’s it for this Fermentation Gift Guide. Do you have a favorite to add? 

Last update on 2025-04-18 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API