How to Taste Bread

Mindfully chew a piece of the Mie, the interior part of the bread. Pay attention to the basic tastes—Salt, Sweet, Sour, and Bitter. In what sequence do the tastes reveal themselves? Do they work in balance, like the bitterness from whole wheat flour as it plays back and forth with the saltiness in the bread. Is the antagonism a friendly one? Or do they fight for attention, the saltiness making the bitterness seem harsh, and vice versa.

Did you notice that we are talking about the inside of the bread—not the Crust? In bread tasting protocol, start on the inside. The Mie reveals the bread’s true flavor and texture. It’s where you learn about the dough’s Fermentation and how it was handled during Development, Shaping, and Proofing.