Focus And New Beginnings

Laure of Nature
11 hours ago
6 min read

I am sorry for the delay in writing this newsletter. Even though questionable 'AI Marketing prompts' keep saying “just send something,” I've always wanted these words to come from a genuine place. AI may occasionally help shape a sentence (I'm a second language English speaker so it can be helpful when Alan's Intelligence is not around!!), but the heart of these newsletters must come from lived experience, reflection, and presence — and sometimes that takes time.

May suddenly shifted gear for us after returning from a short visit to the Vendée. We were grateful to reconnect with the sea air, spend time resting, and bring back some beautiful Celtic salt from the region.

This month has brought a few important milestones into focus. The first was celebrating a special 'aged related' milestone for my partner Alan, and the second — perhaps our biggest news — is that Absorb is moving!

After many happy years at Bridge Studios, we are preparing for a new chapter in the countryside just outside Brynna, Rhondda Cynon Taff. We have loved our time there, but we are now feeling called toward more space, more nature, and new horizons for healing, learning, fermentation, and community.

The theme that keeps returning for me this month is Focus.

Not the pressured kind of focus that modern life demands, but a gentler, heart-led focus. A focus that comes when distractions fall away and we begin listening more deeply to what truly matters.

Our recent Fermentation Club on Koji and Misos felt very aligned with this energy. Fermentation itself teaches patience, trust, and presence — cultures quietly transforming in their own time while life continues around them.

I have also been inspired recently by Pam Gregory’s reflections around the Taurus New Moon and conversations about the importance of conscious communities and heart coherence. There seems to be a collective longing right now for simplicity, grounding, and meaningful connection. Perhaps focus is not about narrowing ourselves, but aligning ourselves.

This week’s weather has felt unusually cold and unsettled, yet nature quietly continues its work. Nettles are thriving, asparagus is appearing, beetroot is overwhelming and rhubarb is coming into season — small reminders to stay connected to the rhythm of the earth even during times of change.

At this time of year, I love making a simple nettle soup with potato, garlic, and fresh herbs, or roasting asparagus with olive oil and lemon. Seasonal foods have a way of bringing us back into ourselves.

As we move into this next phase for Absorb, my own focus is becoming clearer: creating spaces for healing, for connection, for nourishment, and for community.

Thank you, as always, for continuing to walk this path with us.

My mantras for this month:

• I create space for clarity, coherence, and calm.

• What I nourish with attention grows.

Absorb New premises from June 2026

We are thrilled to relocate to our new location at the end of the month, with plans to create events, a community, and a wellness hub centered around fermentation. Our new base will be at Brynna Mill on Church Street, where we'll be moving into renovated old stables! Chloe and Pete are our new hosts there and we are very excited to be joining them at their truly lovely space!

Upcoming Markets

Our Calendar:

Roath Market: 2nd Saturday of the Month.
Usk Market: 1st and 3rd Saturday of the month; keep an eye on the calendar.
Kenfig Market: 3rd Sunday of the Month.

Festivals coming up!

Cowbridge Food and Drinks Festival (May 24th and 25th)

Pencoed Vegan Market (June 20th)

Treorchy Food festival (Aug)

Aberdare Food Festival (Sept 5th)

Newport Food Festival (Oct 3rd)

Gluten free Festival Cardiff (Nov 8th)

Vegan Festival Cardiff (Nov 30th)

Absorb Water Kefir Stockists

Our products can be found throughout South Wales and in Bristol and Bath. We carefully select our stockists, collaborating with independent, ethos-aligned outlets that share our values—please support them whenever possible.

Absorb Product News for 2026

The Sweet Fava Bean Miso made by Jackie from Umami Chef is a real success and is available to buy from us at Markets and Workshops! Miso is an excellent addition to any dish and will truly elevate your taste buds and your gut microbiome; it's also high in enzymes, providing another boost to your digestive system.
New products:
Our new kraut "blanc-nature" is now available at markets.
A shrub (syrup sweetened apple cider vinegar - with the mother - for use as a mixer). The syrup is made from the by-products of our Blackcurrant & Hibiscus and Ginger & Lemon water kefirs. We are still experimenting with this at the moment!

We will take samples to markets, clubs, and workshops for you to try, and the feedback has been excellent so far!

Join the South Wales Fermentation Revolution

Would you like to join our WhatsApp group for fermentation enthusiasts? If you're keen to explore, learn, and share your fermentation experiences, please send us your phone number to become a member! (07515493402). This group is open to residents of the South to West Wales region.

The Fermentation Club at Bacareto: Summer Season

Our last gut gathering in April on Koji, Miso and Amino Sauces was a real success.

We had the privilege of hosting our special guest speaker, Jackie Bailey, an analytical chemist and the Founder of Umami Chef, who creates miso and tamari from British-grown fava beans using traditional Japanese methods. Jackie showed us all how to make Miso, Amino Sauce (Ukaki), and Shio Koji. We had such a great evening!

Our next gut gathering will be in July, the date and theme are still to be confirmed.

Promoting Wellness and Bringing Communities Together

Our mission is to share the wonders of fermentation with as many people as possible. This age-old practice is not only nourishing but also an excellent means of uniting communities. If you know individuals, groups, or organizations interested in fermentation, we would be thrilled to connect with them. We provide engaging talks, interactive demonstrations, inspiring workshops, and, naturally, delicious tastings! Whether it's for a community group, workplace wellness event, or local gathering, we are committed to making fermentation both enjoyable and accessible.

Let’s spread the joy of fermentation—together. Click here to get a glimpse!

Drinking Water Kefir for Better Health

If you want to consume our Water Kefir regularly for health benefits, there are two cost-effective options you can choose from.

Enrol in our subscription program by completing this document and sending it to us via email at absorbhealth@outlook.com.
Discover how to make it yourself by joining one of our workshops, or we can sell you some grains, provide a recipe, and teach you everything you need to know!

We deliver all around Cardiff and the surrounding area—and further afield too!

Grouped Deliveries Outside of Cardiff

We have two separate delivery runs each month that go East of Cardiff one week and West of Cardiff the next. Please get in touch if you live in or around the areas detailed below and want a Water Kefir delivery:

Gower, Mumbles, Swansea, Swansea Valleys, Pontardawe, and Ystradgynlais: Next runs are Thursday 13.05.26 / 11.06.26 / 16.07.26
Newport, Monmouthshire, and Bristol: Thursday 02.06.26 (TBC due to move) & 23.06.26

Workshops and Talks on Fermentation and Digestive Health

We cannot schedule any additional workshops in April and May due to the move, but more will be available starting in June.

Fermentation and Gut Health: Heathcock Bakery, Llandaff North, Tues 9th of June.

Please check out our linktree or my calendar for the latest updates on which markets I’ll be attending in the coming months, along with links to workshops, festivals, and gatherings.

Gift vouchers are now available to redeem against a Fermentation Workshop and a complementary bottle of Kefir on the chosen day - £30.

Give Us a Review!

Whether you love our products or have enjoyed one of our workshops, we would be so grateful if you could write a review here so we can spread the word about all the benefits of consuming Water Kefir and learning about fermented food and drinks!