Sourdough Starter—What Is It?

A Sourdough Starter is one of the oldest culinary ingredients. At the earliest of recorded time and most likely by accident, people discovered that when it was left on its own, a mixture of grain and water would start bubbling. They as likely didn’t know that this bubbling was caused by the spontaneous action of microbes—Yeast and Bacteria, to be specific. They discovered that the bubbling mixture had better flavor and texture when it was then cooked. A process which they likely also discovered by accident when some of the wet grain mixture spilled onto hot stones or embers from a fire.