Sourdough September is a holiday month that has been observed for quite some time. The purpose of this month is to encourage people to bake genuine sourdough bread, to buy real sourdough from small independent bakeries, and to spread the word about sourdough to everyone who hasn’t had the chance to enjoy this type of bread.

Since September marks the end of summer and the beginning of autumn, it’s a great time to enjoy a golden loaf of sourdough bread with friends and loved ones. There’s nothing like tangy sourdough served alongside soups, stews, or chili as the weather begins to change.

The History of Sourdough September

Sourdough bread can be traced back to ancient Egypt and was made from wild yeasts and bacteria naturally found in the environment. This method of making bread, which involves fermenting dough over several days to create a natural leavening agent, spread across Africa, Asia, and Europe.

This type of bread was brought to North America and taken west across the continent by early settlers. It was especially popular among settlers in Alaska, who relied on sourdough to leaven bread before commercial baking powder and yeast were available.

The sourdough starter dough was not only used for making bread but also biscuits and flapjacks. That is why many Alaskan miners had a tin of fermented dough that they kept warm by keeping it in their beds. Sourdough September was first established in 2013 in the United Kingdom to promote the science and art of sourdough baking.

Ever since its inception, the holiday has continued to grow in popularity, but it really took off during the lockdowns of the COVID-19 pandemic when people around the world were trying their hand at making sourdough. Today, this holiday month remains the perfect time for people to bake sourdough bread, especially if it’s their first time.

Observing Sourdough September

Sourdough September can be observed by anyone who has the desire, ingredients, and time to make sourdough bread. Anyone whipping up loaves of sourdough may want to ensure they cut themselves some slack.

After all, making sourdough is both an art and a science, so a bit of trial and error might be necessary before one stumbles upon their best sourdough bread. Everyone should also take the time to spread the news about this holiday using the hashtag #SourdoughSeptember online. Oh, and we urge everyone who is making sourdough bread to consider sending us a piece. After all, we do love sourdough!