SC - Kvass.

[Decker, Terry D.]

> Adamantius said:
> 
> >I know the Egyptians used a bread specifically made for brewing, rather
> >than simply using bread (which makes it somewhat similar to the later
> >kvass recipe). I guess what I was wondering was what bread has, in its
> >capacity to collect airborne wild yeasts, that beer or kvass doesn't
> >have. In other words, what is the advantage of doing it that way?
> 
> Apparently their is an ongoing argument about whether man invented
> beer first or bread. 
> 
> Beer can be made from bread. And bread can be made from beer.
> 
> On the plus side for beer being invented first
> are the arguments that it was more nutritous. 
> 
> The beer would be less subject to spoilage.
> 
> Cooking(?) beer would be easier than baking bread. We're talking about
> simple beers here.
> 
> 
> Stefan li Rous
> stefan at texas.net
> 
> 
 In re, Adamantius' question, I find Nick Sasso's comments about why bread
is used for beer most compelling and those have nothing to do with this
particular chicken/egg debate.  The type of bread used by the Egyptians to
make beer was bread baked from the flour of sprouted grain (malted).
Apparently the Sumerians used malted barley.  Which suggests that bread and
beer were well understood 5000 to 8000 years ago.  IIRC, the earliest
indication of ovens is from 25,000+ years ago.

Yes, there is an academic argument over which was adopted first.  If you are
talking about fermented breads (leavened), beer wins hands down.  However,
bread does not need to be fermented to be made and Sumerian beer was made
from unfermented bread.

Bread was first made when someone crushed grain and water together to get a
paste.  Beer was first made when someone left grain (or bread) soaking long
enough to become a mash.  Producing bread from beer initially is less
likely, as the grain used in beer would not be crushed to the fineness of
coarse flour.

The initial discovery is not dependent upon the nutrition of the product.
This would be an argument for adoption.

Bread goes stale or molds.  Beer spoils.  Neither is a valid argument in my
book, because as soon as the problem was understood, the product would be
produced in quantities which could be consumed before going bad.

Bread requires finer milling than beer.

Bread can be transported more easily than beer and can be produced more
quickly than beer.

My opinion is that grain based foods came into being in the order:
frumenty, bread, beer.  This does not preclude fermentation and bread from
occurring simultaneously.  You do not need grain for simple fermentation and
my money would be on fruit producing the first fermented product.

Bear  

 


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