The Invention relates to a fermented onion composition having a dry matter content of at least 8 wt. %, said composition comprising, per gram of dry matter: a) 0-150 mg of saccharides selected from fructose, glucose, sucrose and combinations thereof; b) 5-250 mg of phenols selected from acid equivalent of gallic acid, acid equivalent of ferulic acid, quercetin, kaempferol and combinations thereof; c) 75-500 mg acid equivalent of organic acid selected from propionic acid, lactic acid, acetic acid and combinations thereof, including at least 200 mg lactic acid equivalent and/or at least 75 mg propionic acid equivalent and/or at least 120 mg acetic acid equivalent; wherein the combination of components a) to c) constitutes 50-89 wt. % of the dry matter that is contained in the composition; and wherein at least 90 wt. % of the composition is dissolved at a temperature of 20° C. when the composition is diluted with distilled water to a dry matter content of 5 wt. %.

The fermented onion composition of the present invention can advantageously be used as an effective, label friendly food ingredient to increase overall quality of foods.

The invention also provides a method of preparing a fermented onion composition, comprising: providing an onion substrate containing 10-50 wt. % dry matter and 50-90 wt. % water, wherein at least 40 wt. % of the dry matter is derived from onion; inoculating the substrate with a micro-organism selected from lactic acid producing bacteria, Propionibacterium, acetic acid producing bacteria and combinations thereof; and incubating the inoculated substrate at a temperature in the range of 25-60° C. for at least 12 hours to produce an onion ferment.