What is yeast? And where to find it naturally?

515 viewsBiologyOther

What even is yeast? I am thinking mainly of the kind we use to make bread rise. Which I buy from the grocery store…

But, back in the day, where did people find yeast? I assume people cultivate it and grow it, much like sour dough, but someone had to find it originally, right?

And what does ir do in the wild? Especially since it is so easy to kill? (Can’t be too hot, can’t touch salt, can’t be too old…)

Note: this is purely to do with my curiosity. I have no interest in actually hunting wild yeast

In: Biology

15 Answers

Anonymous 0 Comments

It’s kind of just everywhere. On surfaces of things, and in the air.

A natural sourdough starter can start with just flour and water. Different varieties exist and even vary by region which is part of why there are varietals like San Francisco sourdough using the natural strains from the area to produce a different flavor profile.

It’s more sensitive for our uses like beer and bread because we want certain amounts to do what we need it to in specific situations. In the wild it doesn’t need to exist in a high concentration with specific temps because it’s just everywhere at a lower level.

You are viewing 1 out of 15 answers, click here to view all answers.