Ginger Bug

The Freshman Ginger Bug Fermentation is a student-led project designed to give undergraduate freshmen an early hands-on experience with chemical engineering and process design principles. 

There are 5 teams of 4–5 freshmen led by upperclassmen, all competing to make the best brew and provide the best business plan. The work involved also presents an opportunity to be exposed to many business and marketing concepts as they relate to food science and production, with students in the team involved in the entire development and execution of the chemistry and a business pitch for the process they are ultimately designing.

The project involves the following: 

• Maximizing the resources given to us to produce a carbonated beverage that balances carbonation and taste 

• Researching the process behind ginger bug fermentation 

• Experimentation of flavor combinations with bugs 

• Comparing differences between separate trials and improving future ones