All Things Considered

« Bromptonaut | Main | Allmeinde Commongrounds »

Artisan Bakeries
Posted by Kate Sullivan

Did you know that in the UK, 98% of bread is made by supermarkets and highly mechanised bakeries and the remaining 2% by artisan bakeries? It’s crazy isn’t it?

After World War Two, mechanised baking equipment was developed to produce high-speed loaves, this was known as the Chorleywood Process. At the time and for subsequent years, it was a good thing as it helped create a constant supply of fresh bread for families who relied heavily on the cheap and vaguely nutritious loaf.

Thankfully, our tastes and knowledge of food are changing for the better. As we become more food aware, we discover that the always available, plastic wrapped, industrial loaves which make us feel bloated and sluggish are incomparable to the superior artisan produced bakes which are becoming increasingly more available (but then, they don’t contain ascorbic acid, liquid gluten or doughs made and risen in less than 4 minutes).

Skilled, artisan bakers create breads that are hand crafted and are made using leavens (natural yeasts). Batches of different dough are slowly fermented over several days using just natural ingredients.  They prepare beautiful, rustic loaves with unprocessed flours like spelt, rye and stone-ground which typically are sourced from mills using traditional processes, often using organic or untreated grains like my local mill at Letheringsett and my not so local Shipton Mill in Gloustershire.

Farmers markets are a great place to buy hand-crafted and unprocessed breads. Here in Norfolk, we are lucky enough to be supplied wholesome loaves by Metfield Bakery who bake delicious breads created from a wide range of flours, seeds and nuts as well as excellent cakes and pies.

If you fancy a go at creating your own natural loaves, I highly recommend reading Baker by Dean Brettschneider. This book gives both basic and comprehensive techniques on bread and cake baking.

Dan Lepard is also a well sung baking guru, his website lists some excellent UK bakeries defiantly worth looking at which may even tempt you to find your local wholesome bakery or order your daily bread on-line.

Posted by Kate Sullivan on April 12th, 2007