sourdough is a type of bread made through a natural fermentation process. Instead of using commercial yeast, it relies on wild yeast and bacteria present in the environment. This unique fermentation gives sourdough its distinct tangy flavor and chewy texture. The process can take longer than traditional bread-making, but many bakers find it rewarding. To make sourdough, you start with a starter, a mixture of flour and water that captures wild yeast. Over time, this starter ferments and develops a bubbly consistency. Once it's ready, you mix it with more flour and water to create the dough, which is then shaped and baked into delicious bread.