But despite all the connections and stories, sourdough isn't endemic to San Francisco. Actually, it's one of the oldest bread types – a fermented and leavened dough that dates back at least 4,500 years to ancient Egypt.

Where is sourdough bread native to?

Sourdough bread traces its origins to ancient Egypt and is common in parts of Europe. It became a staple in San Francisco during the California Gold Rush of 1849. Gold miners valued it for their camps because of its durability, and the relative ease of obtaining yeast.

Is sourdough bread Irish?

Fermenting wild yeasts was never a problem in Ireland. ... The invention of sourdough in Ireland is credited to a woman of the Stone Age who went for a wander with her lover, only to return to find her bread had risen because of the natural wild yeasts in the flour.