Ferment Your Way to a Supercharged Gut Must-Try Foods for Ultimate Microbiome Health

25. Amba: The Tangy Middle Eastern Mango Pickle

Spice up your meals with Amba, a vibrant, tangy condiment popular across the Middle East, originating from Iraqi Jewish cuisine. Made from pickled green mangoes fermented with spices like fenugreek, turmeric, and chili, Amba delivers a complex sweet, sour, and savory punch. The fermentation process not only preserves the mango but also cultivates beneficial bacteria, adding probiotic value. It's commonly drizzled over falafel, sabich sandwiches, grilled meats, or used as a flavorful dip, offering a unique way to introduce fermented fruit into your diet.

26. Amazake: The Sweet Japanese Fermented Rice Drink

Indulge your sweet tooth healthily with Amazake, a traditional Japanese drink made from fermented rice. Koji mold spores are added to cooked rice, breaking down starches into simple sugars, resulting in a naturally sweet, creamy, and often non-alcoholic beverage (though some versions contain alcohol). Packed with enzymes, B vitamins, and beneficial bacteria from the koji fermentation, Amazake aids digestion and provides gentle energy. Enjoy it warm or cold, drink it straight, use it as a natural sweetener in smoothies, or even as a base for desserts.)