Simples. Copyright: Martha Wiles
It’s Sourdough September
Join the sensationally simple sourdough swap!
This year, the Real Bread Campaign is keeping Sourdough September super simple. Our call to all is to dough just one thing: swap whatever bread you normally make or buy for genuine sourdough.
Just once. That’s all.
Get the kit
You can grab a limited edition ‘Loaf of Your Life’ t-shirt, apron and mug, ONLY from 1 - 30 September 2026, at: www.realbreadshop.co.uk
This month also marks the 10th anniversary of the Campaign’s Slow Dough: Real Bread recipe book. Buy now
A single simple switch
Your swap might be from a favourite bread to a sourdough version of it; or kicking sourfaux in favour of the real deal. It’s also a chance for people to taste things they haven’t tried before.
Real Bread Campaign coordinator Chris Young said: ‘All we’re encouraging people to do is make just one, simple switch; one bite to enjoy the difference. After that, the bread does the talking.’
Just one swap but so much choice
Sourdough opens the door to a world of choice. Rather than a style of bread, sourdough is a process. It can be used to make pretty much any type of bread on the planet, savoury or sweet, ranging from crusty to soft.
We’re not expecting a single switch will cause everyone to suddenly start making their own kimchi, chugging kefir and ACV* every day, or even making Real Bread every week. For many people, though, that first taste of the real deal could be the one, simple thing that triggers a chain reaction of changes for the better.
*ACV = apple cider vinegar.
Sourdough seekers
You can find a simple sourdough starter guide and a growing bank of free recipes on the Real Bread Campaign website.
That’s also where sourdough switchers can search the Real Bread Map to which bakeries have posted details of where to buy their additive-free bread. While out and about, shoppers can look for The Sourdough Loaf Mark.
At a time when independent businesses continue to struggle, this is a nudge for everyone who has the ability to support a local bakery to seek one out and help keep their high street alive. Meanwhile, without a small bakery’s overheads, making your own sourdough or other Real Bread is dirt cheap.
More ways to get involved
The Campaign encourages eveyone to post their simple sourdough swaps on social media. We're @RealBreadCampaign on FB and Insta.
We also invite (micro)bakeries, mills, bakery / cookery schools, schools, care homes, community groups and everyone else to help [people join the fun, then add details to the Real Bread events calendar. (Many just post their Sourdough September shenanigans on their own social media feeds, though...)
Start(er) ‘em young!
People baking with, children can gain info and inspo from:
- The free Dough Monsters care guide.
- Bake Your Lawn, the grow-a-loaf guidebook, in time for winter wheat planting.
Raising dough to do good
Without corporate sponsorship, or current grant funding, the Campaign relies on people’s generosity to continue its charitable work, championing Real Bread and the people who make it, while challenging obstacles to their rise.
Ways that everyone can help include:
Real Bread Campaign: Finding and sharing ways to make bread better for us, our communities and planet.
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