Hearthbound Loaf

The story of sourdough begins in ancient Egypt over 5000 years ago, where wild yeast and flour met beside a warm hearth in an accidental chance to make leavened bread.

From there sourdough gradually spread to Greece and the Roman empire by 800 BC, turning into breads that fed emperors, soldiers, and farmers. It became both sustenance and tradition.

Across Gaul (modern day France) and into medieval Europe, bakers tended their starters and passed down the living culture from one generation to the next.

In Renaissance kitchens, sourdough was used in both grand feasts and humble dinners, always a companion through the centuries of change.

By the 1800’s, sourdough crossed the ocean to join in the Gold Rush in San Francisco, where miners and their families relied on bread to sustain them in a new land.

Sourdough bread making started to decline with the rise of commercial yeast and faster baking method. The art of nurturing a starter became overshadowed by convenience of quicker leavening agents.

However, sourdough has experienced a remarkable revival with people turning to it as a comforting, hands-on hobby. Today, it’s a staple in both bakeries and homes.