ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Co-fermentation

Imagine you and your friend want to make lemonade. If you just add lemon juice and water, the lemonade will taste sour. But if you add sugar, the lemonade will taste sweet as well. Co-fermentation is when you add different things, like lemon juice and sugar, together to make something better.

In science, co-fermentation is when you mix different substances, called substrates, to make a new product – like making lemonade. This process is used to create products like beer, wine, and cheese. Each substrate brings a unique taste and texture to the final product.

The science behind co-fermentation is a bit more complex. When two substrates are combined, they create a new environment that allows different types of bacteria and yeast to flourish. These microorganisms break down the substrates and turn them into different chemicals, like alcohol or lactic acid. Over time, the microorganisms work together to create a unique flavor and texture in the final product.

Co-fermentation is used in many industries, including food and beverage, biotechnology, and agriculture. Farmers can use co-fermentation to turn crop waste into biofuel, and food companies can use it to create new flavors and textures for their products.

In short, co-fermentation is when you mix different things together to make something better – like making lemonade taste sweet. It's a process that creates new flavors and textures in products like beer, wine, and cheese.