History Of Baking

Some Interesting Facts About the History of Baking

The history of baking goes back to ancient times, when man figured out that the newly-discovered wonder of fire could actually make his foodstuffs more edible. Many cultures have enjoyed baking, to help them create meals. By now, we know it is an excellent means to create all types of delicacies, but the history of baking points out many other uses as well.

The first historic evidence we have dates to the time when man took wild grains that grew with the grasses, mixed them with water, and made something like beef stew but with more of a pasty texture. Then they took their creation to a rock heated by fire, and poured the mixture onto the rock to warm it. It ended up being a bit like the loaves of bread we might see today, but flatter, and without as much form to it.

In researching the history of baking, records have shown that in the 25th century B.C., the Egyptians were already eating bread, of a sort, and they may have learned how to make it from the Babylonians. A famous Greek scholar recorded in roughly 400 BC that Greek diets included tortes and flans of honey. Another food item created by the Greeks in the same general time period, dispyrus, was a bread with the consistency and sweetness of a dough nut, which they made from honey and flour and molded into a ring shape. This was then apparently soaked with wine, and it was eaten while it was still hot.

The history of baking was advanced by the Romans, who, by 300 B.C., had someone who served as a professional pastry cook. It was a profession that demanded respect, because the pastries they created were thought of as decadent, and the Romans loved celebration and festivity. In this way, then, pastries were often made for large gatherings, and the bakers had unofficial contests to see who could create the newest delicacy.

By the year 1 A.D., there were almost three-hundred and fifty pastry chefs just in Rome. They created a great many different types of bread, some of which were like cakes, some like tortes and some even like pretzels. The Roman chefs had an oven, complete with chimney, and they built mills to grind their grains into flour for the breads and pastries.

The Romans spread their concept of cooking – and government – throughout Europe, and they are largely responsible for the history of baking in Europe, and Asia as well. The bakers would often bake their breads and sweets at home and then sell them in the streets. Young children especially liked to follow the baker through the streets, just to catch a whiff of the wonderful smell, even if they didn't have the money to purchase anything. The bakers would occasionally give the children samples, if they had extras.

This idea eventually spread to London, where they developed carts to wheel through the streets, in order to carry more baked goods with them. They began delivering their goods to peoples' houses, and many more people purchased the baked goods that way, because it was so handy.

After London, the trend reached Paris, where the history of baking grew into their cafes which sold baked goods. The history of baking had reached its pinnacle, and was by then an established occupation through the whole world as they knew it at that time.