Our Bread

For Estonians, rye bread has been the staple source for nutrition for ten centuries. In the old days, bread making was a ritual as bread was thought to have supernatural powers. Estonians enhanced the bread dough depending on the occasion. Rye bran or potatoes got mixed in when rye harvest was poor; salted fish was often added in the coastal areas of the country, and meat, when times were better, and bread was to feed hungry fieldworkers. Every household’s bread tasted, and still does, a bit different. Naturally fermented, living bread dough is greatly affected by its growing environment, including the weather conditions. The size of the bread has changed drastically over time, 150 years ago one loaf of bread weighed 22-26 pounds! It took some strong Estonian women to bake bread!

OUR HAND MADE RYE BREAD is made with love by the ways of old Estonian traditions. Flavor, texture and color are achieved by a long, natural fermentation of the dough. Organic whole grain rye flour and various seeds (if used) pack the bread with an abundance of vitamins and fiber. There is very little air in the naturally fermented rye bread making the densely textured bread very filling. EstoEtno rye breads are WHEAT FREE with no added commercial yeast or preservatives. Our Finnish rye contains only organic flour, water, and sea salt. In our Estonian Dark Rye bread, we use a combination of spices and a small amount of organic minimally processed sugar and molasses to provide customers with well-balanced flavor.

Long fermentation and dense texture are the key contributors to the long shelf life: the breads stay fresh for up to a week on the counter-top (depends on the humidity of the air in your home) and up to two weeks in the refrigerator. Rye breads freeze very well. Give them couple of hours at room temperature to thaw and you can enjoy the bread as it was just brought home.

At the farmer's markets, we offer our bread in two sizes: half a loaf and a full loaf (Large). We only ship full loafs (Large) of bread to make sure you'd get it as fresh as possible.

Serving suggestions.

Let your imagination fly with toppings! It works well with traditional savory toppings such as ham, cheese, eggs, but also great with bold flavors like smoked salmon or guacamole or why not both together? Or toast a slice for breakfast, spread a little butter to melt on top, add slices of tomato and/or cucumber, sprinkle with some scallions and dill, and let the aroma and flavor make your day! Hosting a party? Consider rye bread! It's a great bread to make appetizers ahead of time. You sure will surprise your guests with healthy-trendy-out of ordinary Hors d'oeuvres! For ideas, visit our Instagram account @estoetnobaker. Don’t stop at savory options! Kids love rye bread with jam, Nutella or peanut butter.

Ready to order? Start your hand-crafted, wheat-free, high-fiber, low-glycemic, nutrient-dense bread order below!

For more information about rye nutritional value, please visit:

https://chicagointernalcleansing.com/7-health-benefits-of-rye/

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/08/190805112156.htm