Bread has been known to man for over 5000 years.
Early Iron age man used a mixture of sour milk and potash to produce a
raising agent but it was in Ancient Egypt that yeast was discovered and
the first risen loaves were produced. The wheat used in bread first originated
in the Middle East and was grown between the Tigris and Euphrates 8500
years ago.
The Romans improved the milling methods of wheat with the use of large
animal driven millstones and produced a finer flour by the use of sifting.
In later times silk was used for sieving, producing an even finer flour.
Bread was also made from other grains such as rye, oats and barley and
in times of famine peas and beans were even used.
The nobility ate loaves called manchets, made from finely sifted white
four while the poorer folk ate bran loaves.
Bakers Guilds were introduced during the middle ages and 'The Assize of
Bread' set up in 1266 was the first controlling body to regulate the industry.
The sandwich it is claimed, came about when the Earl of Sandwich, who at the time was engrossed in gambling and didn't have time to eat, ordered a slice of beef between two slices of bread. From that point on fillings between slices of bread became known as sandwiches.