Home / Science / Iceman's Yeast Bakes 5,000-Year-Old Sourdough
Iceman's Yeast Bakes 5,000-Year-Old Sourdough
12 Jun
Summary
- Ancient yeast from Otzi the Iceman was used to successfully bake sourdough bread.
- Otzi's body, preserved in ice for over 5,300 years, was found in the Alps.
- Researchers are also exploring brewing beer using the ancient yeast strains.
In a remarkable scientific endeavor, researchers have cultivated a loaf of sourdough bread using yeast extracted from the 5,000-year-old mummy known as Otzi the Iceman. Otzi's remarkably preserved body was discovered in the Alps, near the current border of Italy and Austria, in 1991, having been encased in ice for over 5,300 years.
Scientists at Eurac Research successfully isolated viable yeast microorganisms from Otzi's remains. These ancient yeasts, adapted to extremely cold temperatures, are believed to have colonized the body post-mortem. Despite initial challenges, the experiment yielded a dough that rose successfully, marking a significant first in baking with prehistoric yeasts.
The team is now considering further applications for these unique microorganisms, including the possibility of brewing beer. Discussions have already taken place with experts from the Weihenstephan Brewery in Germany regarding this potential venture.
