TORONTO — Puratos Canada has inducted Toronto-based Blackbird Baking Co.’s sourdough starter into its sourdough library in St. Vith, Belgium.
Launched in October 2013, the Puratos sourdough library is the world’s first facility dedicated to housing a collection of authentic traditional sourdough cultures from around the world. The Puratos sourdough library is condition-controlled to ensure each unique sourdough strain remains viable for the future.
The sourdough library stores fresh sourdough samples in glass jars at 4ºC (29ºF) and refreshes them periodically, according to the protocols established by the source bakery. It also makes up additional samples to be kept in four different locations. These samples are kept as backups and also used for research and analysis with partner universities. More than 700 strains of wild yeast and 1,500 lactic-acid bacteria have been recorded so far.
“We are thrilled that Blackbird Baking Co. has shared a piece of their own history to house in our library and agreed to be the first Canadian inductee,” says Karl de Smedt, librarian and expert at the sourdough library. “As the world becomes more and more globalized, it is important to preserve and protect the biodiversities of sourdough and work with small-scale local bakeries to preserve their unique cultures.”
To be on the shelves of the Puratos sourdough library, each inductee is asked to provide the ingredients needed to keep the cultures alive and must provide local flour and additional specific ingredients from their region in order to feed the starter. The Puratos sourdough library has more than 100 sourdough cultures housed within its library.
Take a virtual tour of the sourdough library at here.
