There’s a reason sourdough has captured the hearts of bakers all around the world. It’s more than just bread, it’s a craft and a small return to something real in a world that often moves too fast. If you’re new to baking or just curious about sourdough, this guide is the perfect place to start.
🥖 What Exactly Is Sourdough?
Sourdough is the oldest form of leavened bread. Instead of commercial yeast, it rises using a starter, a living mixture of flour and water that captures wild yeast and beneficial bacteria from the environment.
This natural fermentation is what gives sourdough its:
✔️ Complex flavour
✔️ Soft, airy crumb
✔️ Beautiful crackling crust
It’s bread that’s alive, and that’s part of the magic.
🌾 Only Three Ingredients: Flour, Water, Salt
At its core, true sourdough is incredibly simple.
No additives. No preservatives. No shortcuts.
Just:
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Stone-ground flour
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Water
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Salt
Everything else, the flavour, the texture, the nutrition all comes from time and fermentation.
⏳ Why Time Is the Secret Ingredient
Natural fermentation transforms bread in ways commercial yeast can’t.
Here’s what time does:
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Breaks down gluten → making sourdough easier to digest
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Unlocks nutrients → better absorption of minerals
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Develops flavour → deeper, more complex, more satisfying
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Creates that iconic tang and texture
Good sourdough isn’t rushed… and that’s why it feels different.
🧪 The Science (Made Simple)
Inside your starter are millions of yeast and bacteria working in harmony.
As they ferment the dough, they produce gases that make it rise and organic acids that give sourdough its signature taste.
Think of it as a tiny ecosystem. One you get to care for and bake with.
🥣 What You Need to Get Started
You don’t need a fancy kitchen or expensive tools.
Just a few basics:
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A sourdough starter
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A bowl
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A digital scale
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A banneton
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A sharp blade
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Patience
We have all the essentials in our Tools & Ingredients section if you’d like to start your journey with the right equipment.
👩🍳 Want to Learn With Us?
If you’d like hands-on guidance, we offer sourdough classes that teach you:
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How to feed and maintain a starter
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How to mix, fold, shape, and score
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How fermentation works
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How to bake beautiful loaves at home
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How to avoid common mistakes
Every class includes step-by-step notes and your own starter to take home.
❤️ Welcome to The Sourdough Guide
This is just the beginning.
In the next articles, we’ll teach you how to care for your starter, what tools matter, how to fix common problems, and so much more.
Real bread starts with understanding and now you’re already on your way.