European bread, known as “Ou Bao” in Chinese, is a staple food eaten daily by Europeans, represented by bread from countries such as Germany, France, and Denmark. Common types include German pretzels, French baguettes, and Italian ciabatta bread. European bread can generally be divided into three types: rustic bread, crusty bread, and soft bread.
Rustic Bread
Both rustic bread and crusty bread belong to the category of traditional and authentic European bread. Rustic bread refers to bread baked when the flour naturally ferments to the point of becoming sour or slightly sour. It is made from simple ingredients, resulting in a dense texture and a overall slightly hard and sour taste, such as the Russian Borodinsky bread.
Crusty Bread
Ingredients for crusty bread like baguettes and pretzels are simple, with sugar and fat controlled at less than 4% of the flour amount. They have a characteristic of being crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, with large air holes in the internal structure, providing a chewy texture.
Soft Bread
Soft bread is not considered traditional European bread and is a modified variety more in line with Asian tastes. Soft bread uses higher amounts of sugar and fat, both exceeding 10% of the flour amount. Its internal structure is fine and uniform, with a chewier texture compared to regular soft bread. It is softer than crusty bread and often incorporates various fillings, resulting in a richer flavor that attracts consumers’ attention.
Flour Requirements for European Bread
European bread pursues the natural aroma of the ingredients themselves, and those familiar with bread making certainly know that French flour is indispensable for making European-style bread. Using French T flour to make European bread can better capture the natural fragrance of wheat. Compared to Asian flour, French T flour has higher ash content and mineral content, resulting in relatively crispier European-style bread and a more prominent expression of the natural wheat aroma.
Therefore, good ingredients are the prerequisite for creating excellent European bread. If you want to make authentic traditional European-style bread, suitable professional flour is definitely essential.
