Sourdough

[rocme44]

During the Gold Rush many miners were called Sourdough. The name comes from a pouch of sourdough hung around their neck to keep the yeast warm. If The yeast died you could hope to get a new start from someone else.
There are some places in CA that claim to have sourdough bread from the original 49ers.

LOVE that sourdough bread!

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

Family Maps of Hinds County, Mississippi, Deluxe Edition - Grab it through Amazon!

[63bkpkr]

Supposedly they would leave the dough somewhat out in the open to capture the natural 'yeast' in the air, I believe the other name for it is mold. Real sourdough is worth any trouble it takes to keep the starter going! I would think that wearing it around the neck of "any Miner" would certainly 'add' to its flavor in several ways possibly giving each miners bread its own distinktive taste and aroma.

I've made yeast risen camp bread a few times out in the mountains of NorCal(ifornia), at those times it is the best bread ever made by man though it might be rejected when back in the city. It sure smells good cooking! And it tastes great, out there!...................63bkpkr