What is Sourdough?
A sourdough starter, or levain in French, is a complex community of microbes used to leaven breads. As it is a living thing it is sensitive to environmental conditions like humidity and temperature.
During fermentation, the enzymes in the starter break down starch into more flavoursome sugars and release carbon dioxide and ethanol in its process, as well as a whole range of by-products like amino acids and organic acids. It is the type and amount of these compounds produced during the fermentation process that produces the unique flavour and aroma of sourdough bread.
Like many ferments, starters have been around for thousands of years, with the earliest known leavened bread dating back to 3700 BCE in Lausanne, Switzerland. Ours is not quite that old, having been first grown in the Ribble Valley in 2014.
Gluten
Why no Gluten Free?
We do not bake gluten free bread. Partly because, as a small bakery, we are very mindful of the risks of cross contamination. However many people with IBS, gluten intolerance or gluten sensitivity can tolerate sourdough bread. This is because the way sourdough is prepared breaks down some of the gluten in the flour, making it easier to digest. Think of our sourdough as low-gluten rather than gluten-free.
Allergy Information
At Riverside Bread we have close family members impacted by serious food allergies, so we take extra care to make our products as safe as possible. Our staff members have completed allergen awareness training and hold the relevant certificates.
Some of our products contain bought in ingredients so we are reliant on our suppliers to accurately list any allergens. We use milk and cheese in some breads so our bakery does handle dairy products.
Our product labelling lists any allergenic ingredients in bold and always includes details if the product contains any of the following:
- cereals containing gluten, such as wheat, rye, barley, oats, spelt
- milk and milk products (including lactose)
- peanuts (also called groundnuts)
- nuts, such as almonds, hazelnuts, walnuts, Brazil nuts, cashews, pecans, pistachios, macadamias
- sesame seeds
We advise all customers to tell us if they have any allergies before they buy from us to avoid risk and so we can address any concerns about the product ingredients.
