Course curriculum

    1. The History of Sowans

    2. The Health Benefits of Sowans and Swats

    1. Equipment Options to Prepare Sowans

    2. Full Equipment List

    1. Preparing Sowans with a Roller Mill

    2. Written Instructions for Preparing Sowans with a Roller Mill

    3. Preparing Sowans with a High-Powered Blender

    4. Written Instructions for Preparing Sowans with a High-Powered Blender

    5. Preparing Sowans with Purchased Oat Flour

    6. Written Instructions for Preparing Sowans with Purchased Oat Flour

    1. Fermenting Sowans

    2. Post-Fermentation Processing

    1. How to Prepare, Eat and Cook with Sowans

    2. How to enjoy Swats and also use it in your Kitchen.

    3. Sowans Scones!

About this course

  • $40.00
  • 18 lessons
  • 1 hour of video content

Sowans

The Scottish Oat Ferment

Oats are synonomous with Scottish cuisine and so many people worldwide love the oat grain for the sustenance and health benefits that it provides. But how many of us know that, in Scotland, oats were traditionally wild-fermented, creating a soft, tangy porridge called sowans, and a hearty probiotic drink called swats? In Sowans - The Scottish Oat Ferment, Alison will show you how to prepare oats like the Scots historically did for centuries. You’ll make sowans, a morning porridge that’s creamy, tangy and smooth (Alison describes it as ‘eating clouds’) and can be sweetened or taken savoury. In the process, you’ll also create Swats, a probiotic-packed drink that is super-refreshing cold, but can also be spiced and drunk warm - perfect for a cold day. In addition, Alison will share with you many more unusual ways the porridge and drink can be used in your recipes, dishes and kitchen.

You will learn

  • All about Sowans, the Scottish Oat Ferment, including its history, practical uses and health benefits

  • Step-by-step, how to create the fermented porridge Sowans and the probiotic drink Swats in your own home, whatever equipment you have

  • How to know when your fermentation is done, and then how to process and store the porridge and drink.

  • Many delicious options for bringing Sowans and Swats to your table and incorporating them into your recipes/kitchen

  • Over 55 minutes of video instruction

Student Reviews

Nelson Mills

5 star rating

“Very informative and entertaining course. Videos easy to follow, but love that can review the course as needed. Allison presents as knowledgeable and creative. Eager to begin the process of sowans fermentation. Plan to enroll in other courses fro...”

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“Very informative and entertaining course. Videos easy to follow, but love that can review the course as needed. Allison presents as knowledgeable and creative. Eager to begin the process of sowans fermentation. Plan to enroll in other courses from the Fermentation School.”

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Gemma Archer

5 star rating

“Based in Scotland, I've looked for but struggled to find traditional fermentation recipes - for a cold country, I assumed fermentation to preserve what little vegetables we grew would be a given. So thank you for introducing me to this part of our...”

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“Based in Scotland, I've looked for but struggled to find traditional fermentation recipes - for a cold country, I assumed fermentation to preserve what little vegetables we grew would be a given. So thank you for introducing me to this part of our heritage that is no longer so well known. The course is very clear and easy to follow. I've bought my oat groats and will be giving this a go!”

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Eileen Patterson

5 star rating

“Alison is a wonderful instructor! She explains everything in very easy to understand terms, shows you how to proceed step by step, and even shows you how the product should look at each phase. The end result is that I have been really enjoying a m...”

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“Alison is a wonderful instructor! She explains everything in very easy to understand terms, shows you how to proceed step by step, and even shows you how the product should look at each phase. The end result is that I have been really enjoying a much healthier, and delicious, breakfast with my sowans and I have also really enjoyed the mulled version of swats. I decided to take this course after learning about all the health benefits of fermentation. I was glad to find this, the price is very fair and affordable. I can FEEL the difference these healthy foods are having on my body and on my nervous system. I find they both are very soothing, (something we can all use these days, am I right?). After seeing how easy and informative this course was, I signed up for the hot sauce one, too. The Fermentation School is a true gem, bringing education and health to us in a format that is very "easy to digest" (ha, see what I did there?)!”

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Elly Emmett

5 star rating

“Excellent presentation, thank you Alison! Very thorough and enjoyable to watch. I loved all the variations provided depending on what type of oats and equipment you have. Everything you need to know to make this wonderful fermented drink and home-...”

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“Excellent presentation, thank you Alison! Very thorough and enjoyable to watch. I loved all the variations provided depending on what type of oats and equipment you have. Everything you need to know to make this wonderful fermented drink and home-processed oat porridge is provided in this delightful course. I can highly recommend Alison's millet Boza course too (on her website). Five stars!”

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Kate Kassulke

5 star rating

“What a wonderful course! I am completely in love with this new healthful ferment and can't wait to put this knowledge into action. Course was very clearly instructed, and was at once simple enough for busy people but also inspiring to more adven...”

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“What a wonderful course! I am completely in love with this new healthful ferment and can't wait to put this knowledge into action. Course was very clearly instructed, and was at once simple enough for busy people but also inspiring to more adventurous fermentors. It was comprehensive and I enjoyed both the videos and the written content too- as people learn in different ways. I loved that Alison said it was like eating clouds, food fit for an Oat Queen! Thanks Alison and team. ”

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frankie carl

5 star rating

“Great instructional set of videos made by a thoughtful person. I cannot wait to make use of the information! I highly reommend this course for those who are interested beginners in this subject. Cheers!”

“Great instructional set of videos made by a thoughtful person. I cannot wait to make use of the information! I highly reommend this course for those who are interested beginners in this subject. Cheers!”

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Cindy Parke

5 star rating

“Eager to try this, but haven't done it yet. Thoroughly enjoyed the pace of the videos, the explanations and the pictures. I think I know what to do! I like all the descriptions of extending the use of everything - very liberating. Lovely!”

“Eager to try this, but haven't done it yet. Thoroughly enjoyed the pace of the videos, the explanations and the pictures. I think I know what to do! I like all the descriptions of extending the use of everything - very liberating. Lovely!”

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Emmanuel Archontous

5 star rating

“Very nicely documented and presented, I enjoyed it. Thank you”

“Very nicely documented and presented, I enjoyed it. Thank you”

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babsi riegler

5 star rating

“This course covers everything from the history of Sowans to equipment needed (with LOTS of options to get the desired results), the process of fermenting the oats, and many variations of what to do with the final ferment. The videos were clear, an...”

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“This course covers everything from the history of Sowans to equipment needed (with LOTS of options to get the desired results), the process of fermenting the oats, and many variations of what to do with the final ferment. The videos were clear, and Alison explained each step in detail. The .pdfs supplement the videos and are very handy. It was super helpful to have several options for how to get good results with everyday tools and supplies. This would be a great course to try your hands at fermenting - very easy to follow, and with lots of inspiration for further experiments (I must try that sourdough bread...).”

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Mindy Beam

5 star rating

“Allison's approach is simple and straight forward. I love her passion and the way she inspires an adventurous spirit in the kitchen in a way that is attainable. This is a great course and I'm so excited to try Sowans for myself!”

“Allison's approach is simple and straight forward. I love her passion and the way she inspires an adventurous spirit in the kitchen in a way that is attainable. This is a great course and I'm so excited to try Sowans for myself!”

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martina van der kooy

5 star rating

“Absolutely delicious and rich with information course on Sowans. No matter your equipment, all the possibilities are explained here. Can´t wait to start!!! ”

“Absolutely delicious and rich with information course on Sowans. No matter your equipment, all the possibilities are explained here. Can´t wait to start!!! ”

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Judy Jones

5 star rating

“Enjoyed the history, the videos, and the written instructions. I also like the format of the course with short videos followed by written instructions and links. Again, Alison is great!”

“Enjoyed the history, the videos, and the written instructions. I also like the format of the course with short videos followed by written instructions and links. Again, Alison is great!”

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Meet your Instructor

Alison Kay creates foods that enhance our biome, community and environment, working from her kitchen near Florence, Italy. She’s the founder of Ancestral Kitchen, where she shares traditional food wisdom, fermentation and joyful eating in a practical and easily-accessible way. You can find her at www.ancestralkitchen.com, on Instagram @ancestral_kitchen or on your podcast app by searching for Ancestral Kitchen Podcast.

Alison Kay