Old Ferry Ember (formerly known as Red Brick Dirt) - Bold, Brick-like, North American natural edible dirt chunks

“Hard, flaky ember-red layers with a warm terracotta crunch.”

Product Overview

Old Ferry Ember by Taste Montana is a naturally formed Montana clay known for its hard, flaky crunch, layered structure, and striking ember-red colour. Formerly known as Red Brick Dirt, this distinctive North American clay is foraged from the rugged Missouri River Breaks of Montana, where natural geological formations create thin sheets, compact chunks, flakes, and irregular fragments.

Despite its former name, Old Ferry Ember has a surprisingly nuanced flavour profile. Rather than an intensely brick-like earthiness, it delivers mild mineral earthiness with subtle terracotta, warm clay, and sunbaked earth notes. Think dry canyon walls, weathered red earth and warm mineral-rich soil rather than a heavy, muddy flavour.

The texture is where Old Ferry Ember really earns its character. Dry pieces are lightweight yet hard, producing a crisp, layered crack as they break into delicate flakes and sheets. Different pieces can offer slightly different levels of density and crunch, making it particularly interesting for texture-focused clay enthusiasts and ASMR setups. When dampened, the hard structure softens dramatically into a smooth, earthy slush while retaining its distinctive mineral character.

We are proud to be the only European reseller exclusively offering Taste Montana products, bringing these distinctive Montana clays to customers across Europe without the need to source them directly from North America.

Read more on Sam's foraging process here: https://earthycrunch.co.uk/blogs/geophagia/old-ferry-ember-a-piece-of-montana-i-ll-always-carry

Key features

Texture: Hard, layered crunch with crisp flakes, thin sheets and a smooth slushy transformation when dampened

Taste: Mild earthy minerals with subtle terracotta, warm clay and sunbaked earth notes

Crunch factor: 5 – Very Hard

Origin: 🇺🇸 Montana, United States

Best for: Experienced clay enthusiasts, texture explorers, ASMR lovers, collectors and anyone who enjoys hard, flaky natural clays

Clay experience: A naturally layered ember-red Montana clay combining crisp flaky crunches with gentle mineral earthiness and an unusually smooth hydrated texture

ASMR level: Crisp layered crack

Hydration texture: Softens from hard flakes and sheets into a smooth, earthy slush

Aroma notes: Petrichor, sunbaked clay, warm earth, canyon dust and terracotta

Product details

Weight: Selectable options

Shape: Irregular chunks, flakes, sheets and natural fragments

Colour: Deep ember red with natural variations ranging from warm red and terracotta to darker earthy tones

Ingredients: 100% Natural Montana Clay (No preservatives, additives, alcohol or colourings)

Vendor: Taste Montana

European availability: Earthy Crunch UK is the only European reseller exclusively offering Taste Montana products

Traditional clay origins: Old Ferry Ember is naturally foraged from the Missouri River Breaks of Montana, an area recognised for its dramatic river-carved landscapes, mineral-rich soils and naturally layered clay formations. Its distinctive red colouring and flaky geological structure are products of the region's long natural formation processes.

Test status: Community-Tested

Disclaimer

Earthy Crunch UK products are natural clay and chalk materials sold for sensory, hobbyist and ASMR use only. They are not food-grade certified or promoted for consumption. All personal use is at your own risk; we make no claims regarding health benefits and accept no liability for any adverse effects arising from handling or ingestion. Products are prepared in a home environment.