Bread is a staple food in almost every culture on earth and is a key element in many cuisines- It is universal and has always been part of the human experience. We’re now in a place where baking doesn’t just include bread but other things like pastries, cakes, and cookies: Bread was the start of it all and initially brought people together around the table.

The History of Baking

Baking has been a form of cooking for thousands of years, tracing all the way back to ancient civilizations. Historians have found evidence that Ancient Greece and Egypt were baking bread as early as 600 B.C.E. However, it wasn’t like the bread we’re used to. At that time, people made it more like a dense flatbread because bakers had not used yeast in the baking process. Later, Ancient Egyptians were among the first civilizations to bake bread with yeast in 2600 B.C.E, making it more closely related to the bread we’re used to now.

Aside from Europe, Native American cultures have also included bread baking, whether in the same form as early European bread or tortillas.

European settlers brought their bread-baking traditions to North America and quickly adopted them. Farmers planted wheat as the dominant crop in New England, and bread became a staple of the early American diet, eventually evolving into what we enjoy today.

Bread in 2023

Now, we have endless kinds of bread from different cultures all around the world, like white bread, naan, sourdough, brioche, etc. However, it all shares a common history.

Whether for sandwiches, to pair with butter for dinner, or french toast, people now use bread in many sweet and savory dishes. And Having fresh, high-quality bread is a must: Count on Superior Street Mercantile to be your go-to stop for good bread.

Bread at Superior Street Mercantile 

At Superior Street Mercantile, there are many fresh bread options to bring home to enjoy with your meals or on its own. Naming a few, there are garlic loaves, French baguettes, dinner rolls, and even a delicious cinnamon brioche. 

The shelves hold locally baked breads that you can’t find at typical grocery chains. Additionally, if you love to shop locally, the Foundry, a bakery local to Albion, supplies freshly baked loaves of bread that are available in-store. You can also join the Foundry’s Weekly Bread Club to ensure that you’ll always have fresh homemade bread on hand.

Love Bread Whole Heartedly

Right now, there’s a limited-time offer for February: 15% off of all bakery items at the Mercantile. This is the perfect time to browse great bread and pick your favorites at a discounted price.  

Bring home a fresh loaf of bread for the dinner table this week, and enjoy the small thing that has brought people together for centuries.