What exactly is wild yeast? How do I make wild yeast water?
Many of us are familiar with dry yeast which is commonly used for baking bread. You can bake bread almost without fail when using store-bought dry yeast.
What is wild yeast?
I first learnt about wild yeast when my younger sisters started attending a series of wild yeast bread making classes (a mouthful I know!).
The concept of using wild yeast was very foreign to me and changed my views on bread making.
These classes involved baking bread using commercially prepared wild yeast made from raisins.
Commercially prepared wild yeast was used because the classes were meant to teach students the concept and method of making bread within a limited time frame.
Raisin yeast is caught by adding water to un-coated* raisins and leaving it until the raisins produce froth. This is a process of yeast producing dioxide while it consumes gluten starch and carbohydrate.
Some yeasts generally exist in the air and get into the yeast water. It’s also found on the skins of fruits such as grapes, apples and berries.
You can make wild yeast water with almost any fruits, leaves and flour. Catching wild yeast has many health benefits.
*Side note: Un-coated raisins are pure 100 % raisins without any additives. Additives prevent raisins from bubbling.
Health benefits of wild yeast*
There are many health benefits to using wild yeast for food, including:
1. Starches and gluten that are indigestible are consumed and converted while the wild yeast fermentation is occurring. So your blood sugar levels don’t rise as high as when consuming store-bought dry yeast.
2.Wild yeast doesn’t cause intestinal inflammation while non-wild yeast foods do.
3.Wild fermentation can often be beneficial to those who are gluten-sensitive because the protein that makes gluten is converted into digestible amino acids.
4.Wild yeast contains Acetic acid that prevents mold growth. This means it’s a natural preservative in keeping foods fresh for longer.
5.Wild yeast is rich in beneficial bacteria and essential vitamins, minerals and proteins, which your body requires.
The best thing about making yeast water is that you can enjoy flavorsome breads and enjoy the process of making your very own bread from scratch, whenever you want.
Things you need to make wild yeast water
*A clean glass jar (a plastic jar is possible, but can be an easy target for germs)
*A bunch of rosemary ( to fill 1/3 – 1/2 of the jar)
*A teaspoon of brown sugar
*Filtered water (tap water can be used, but the chemicals added might be an obstacle for fermentation)
How to prepare wild yeast water?
1.
Wash the rosemary thoroughly by removing insects and dead leaves.
2.
Wash and sterilizing the glass jar by pouring boiled water up to an inch or a half, leave it for 5 seconds and discard the water. Repeat this 3 – 4 times. Pour the boiled water around the mouth of the jar while rolling it to sterilize the area.
3.
Place the rosemary and a teaspoon of brown sugar into the glass jar, and add the filtered water until the rosemary is immersed.
4.
Cover the opening of the jar with cling wrap.
5.
Leave it in a partly shaded area until the water produces froth. (4 – 6 days)
6.
Remove the cling wrap and slowly shake the jar to get fresh air in a few times a day.
7.
Once it’s done, remove all rosemary and store the jar in your refrigerator.
Here you have your wild yeast water!
Check out my next article in the wild yeast series, “How to make wild yeast starter“.
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