Italy has an incredible variety of breads, with many regional versions of flatbread, sourdough and your traditional loaf. It's definitely worth trying some of the specialist breads that are available – you're sure to find a new favourite!
1. Focaccia. Out of all the famous breads of Italy, the Focaccia is one of the most loved. Often packed the flavour and seasoning, the Focaccia takes its name from the Latin word for 'hearth'.
Sourdough bread is healthier than Italian bread. Like the other bread types touched on thus far, Italian bread is made using commercial yeast. Since Italian bread does not traditionally use wild yeast that ferments slowly, Italian bread does not have the enhanced nutritional content that sourdough bread has.
While ancient Egypt is generally heralded as the birthplace of sourdough, evidence of fermented bread has been found in Bern, Switzerland, said to date back 3600BC (around 5000 years ago). There are a few different dates floating around, both the for the discovery of yeasted bread in Switzerland and Egypt.
In effect there are two basic types of wheat grown and used in Italy: grano tenero (triticum aestivum) and grano duro (triticum durum). In English the latter is often called durum wheat.
Granoro Farina "00" is the prefered Italian flour for bread, focaccia, pizza, and cakes. This flour also makes excellent homemade pasta dough. This super-soft flour is the choice for many bakers throughout Italy and the world.
Italian bread loaves tend to be shorter and plumper. French bread tends to be hard and crusty on the outside, with a light and soft crumb. Italian bread can also have a hard crust, but the crumb tends to be denser.
Scientists, nutritionists, and health experts all agree that naturally-fermented sourdough bread is healthier than 'regular' white or whole wheat bread – for a multitude of reasons! Sourdough is more nutritious, easier to digest, and has a lower glycemic index. Sourdough also contains less gluten than other bread.
It's nutritious.
Sourdough contains a variety of vitamins and nutrients, making it super beneficial to your day-to-day health.
Sourdough bread is a healthy bread that may be easier for people to digest than other types of bread. The fermented starter culture contains beneficial bacteria and yeasts. People with digestive conditions such as IBS may find that sourdough bread causes fewer symptoms than regular bread.
And is there a better option available? Although Sourdough bread can boast a low Glycemic Index, better digestibility and an increased nutritional profile, whole wheat has been known to have increased health benefits due to its higher fiber content and nutritional levels.
Egyptian Bread, Aesh Baladi
Egypt is THE country of bread, with a passion for food Egyptians consume more bread than any other country in the world and I wouldn't blame them as they have the most delicious bread from all over the world.
Ciabatta: With it's hearty and open texture and chewy crust, this rustic Italian bread is perfect with almost any kind of sandwich, but is especially known for its use in paninis.
Sourdough bread's benefits range from reducing the risk of heart disorders to promoting nutrient absorption. It has a low glycemic index and is a good bread option for those watching their after-meal blood sugar spikes. However, overindulging in it may lead to gas and bloating due to its fermented nature.
Lower glycemic index: Sourdough bread has a lower glycemic index (54) than commercial bread (71). That means sourdough bread does not raise blood sugar levels as rapidly as refined white bread.
Aldi's sourdough loaf is a quality sourdough, with the taste and texture I'd expect. The bread holds together well and works for a number of different meals. Recommended.
Bakers Life
Davies manufactures bread, crumpets, English muffins and seasonal hot cross buns for ALDI's Victorian stores. The goods are sold under ALDI's exclusive label, Bakers Life, or (in the case of its premium hot cross buns) Specially Selected.
It may have been fermented for longer than standard bread but that does not make it a sourdough. A sourdough is a bread leavened with a sourdough culture, which comprises wild yeasts and lactobacilli bacteria. The process is slow and generally proved at low or room temperature.
5. Coppia Ferrarese. One of the most popular styles of bread worldwide right now is sourdough! If you're a big sourdough fan, you should definitely try the Italian version of Coppia Ferrarese.
Italians aren't big on toast in the morning. Instead, they prefer a type of hard pre-baked toast-shaped thing called fette biscottate.
Breakfast in Italy: what to expect
Homemade breakfast in Italy is usually a straightforward affair. Traditional breakfast drinks in Italian households are coffee, tea and cocoa milk for the kids and the main breakfast foods are bread with butter and jam, biscuits and cereals.