The Fresh Loaf

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What makes a traditional baguette?

nomolosca's picture
nomolosca

What makes a traditional baguette?

I'm trying to get an understanding of what, exactly, makes a traditional baguette. Most of the research I've done indicates that the ingredients must only be wheat flour, water, yeast, and salt, that there is a required length, and that the baking must be done by hand. That said, most of the recipes I've seen are more limited than what the rules allow for.

Is a baguette considered traditional if it has...

- A combination of white flour and whole wheat flour instead of just white flour, or must it be all white flour?

- Sourdough starter instead of commercial yeast?

 

Is there anything else I'm missing here?

Edo Bread's picture
Edo Bread

Here is a link to the french bread law - that spells out all the details:

http://www.cooksinfo.com/french-bread-law-1993

nomolosca's picture
nomolosca

Interesting. I thought that there would be more in there about the sizes and shapes of the different loaves. I guess that a baguette made with entirely whole wheat flour could still be called traditional.

Mini Oven's picture
Mini Oven

You may get more information if you look up:  traditional french stick

one link is wiki:       http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baguette

a short one:      http://about-france.com/french-bread.htm