What links chocolate, beer, bread and lacto‑fermented vegetables? A single foundational gesture: fermentation. Around this unexpected thread, the Fermentastic Tour invites visitors to rediscover the capital from a fresh perspective.
Supported by the European TASTE programme, the Fermentastic Tour introduces a unique tourism experience. Cookwork and its partners : Concept Chocolate, Fermenthings, La Source Brewery and Bazaar Trottoir, have combined their expertise to design a full day dedicated to this discreet yet omnipresent phenomenon in our food.
Following this theme, the itinerary guides visitors through places, artisans and practices that reveal another side of Brussels. Fermentation becomes a lens through which to understand how chocolate, bread, vegetables or beer come to life, but also an entry point into contemporary issues of sustainable food and artisanal professions. More than a gourmet walk, this experience immerses visitors in an innovative, local and sustainability‑driven Brussels gastronomy.
A route that reveals a city off the beaten track
The tour goes far beyond tasting. It crosses neighbourhoods rarely visited, where former breweries, workshops and repurposed industrial sites bear witness to Brussels’ industrial past. This urban exploration blends classic tourism with authentic discovery, highlighting places that embody today’s new dynamics in sustainable food and culinary innovation.
The project demonstrates that it is possible to build a tourism product that values local producers, craftsmanship and neighbourhoods in transition. It positions Brussels as a city capable of connecting culinary tradition, innovation and sustainability.
A model designed to travel across Europe
Although conceived for Brussels, the Fermentastic Tour was imagined as a prototype that can be easily transferred. Its simple structure can be adapted to other districts or audiences, from schools and companies to international visitors.
This replicability has already been tested: a first version was piloted in Paris, and a new edition is being prepared in Turin as part of Terra Madre Salone del Gusto, the international festival of the Slow Food movement. These adaptations confirm that the concept can take root in diverse urban contexts while remaining coherent, making it suitable for other European cities.
A dedicated webpage, including a map, partner profiles and sustainability information, ensures ongoing visibility while remaining accessible.
A city reinventing itself through its flavours
By connecting heritage, innovation and sustainable food practices, the Fermentastic Tour shows how a theme that is both scientific and cultural can become a true driver of urban discovery. Fermentation becomes more than a guiding thread: it becomes an original way to explore Brussels, meet its artisans and rediscover its culinary heritage. This experience reveals how tradition, creativity and sustainability can come together to reshape urban tourism.
