A rustic sourdough loaf with an open crumb

Bread Calendar

National Sourdough Bread Day

A day for the slow, tangy loaf raised by a living starter rather than a packet of yeast.

Next National Sourdough Bread Day
1 April

When is National Sourdough Bread Day?

National Sourdough Bread Day falls on 1 April every year. It is observed in the United States, and its exact origin is not formally recorded, in common with many of these food days.

What makes sourdough sourdough

Sourdough is bread raised by a natural starter: a living culture of wild yeast and friendly bacteria, kept alive with regular feeds of flour and water. That culture does the work that a packet of commercial yeast would otherwise do, only slower, and with a flavour all its own.

The long, slow fermentation is what gives a good sourdough its character: a gentle tang, a chewy and open crumb, and a crust that crackles. It also asks for patience and a starter you keep alive, which is part of why baking one feels like such an achievement.

Sourdough or yeast? Both are real bread

Breaditorial is, for now, a yeast-first guide, because a same-day loaf is the kindest place to begin and needs nothing you have to keep alive. But there is no rivalry here. Sourdough and a yeasted loaf are two roads to the same honest thing: bread made from flour, water and salt, with nothing you cannot pronounce. If today tempts you toward a starter, that is a fine way to celebrate.

New to baking? Start with a same-day loaf

Breaditorial calculates the exact weights for your tin and flour and guides you through every step, so your first loaves come out right. A calm, foolproof way in, before you take on a starter.

Download on the App Store

Frequently asked questions

When is National Sourdough Bread Day?

It is on 1 April every year.

What is sourdough bread?

Bread leavened with a natural starter, a living culture of wild yeast and bacteria, rather than commercial yeast. That gives it a tangy flavour and a chewy, open crumb.

Is sourdough better than yeasted bread?

Neither is better. Sourdough has a distinctive tang and a longer process; a yeasted loaf is quicker and milder. Both are real bread from simple ingredients.

More from the Bread Calendar

HomeBread CalendarBread GuidePrivacyTerms
breaditorial