For almost ten years I have lived mostly on a wheat-free and lactose-free diet. In this period I have tried my fair share of alternative products but have been unimpressed most of the time.
Since this product is about bread, I won’t discuss lactose-free products.
If you are wheat intolerant, you can thank your lucky stars that you are not gluten intolerant because ingredients like spelt, barley, rye and oats would be off limits too. Once in a while I would enjoy a few slices of Ryvita Crispbread or Nairns Rough Oatcakes. But when it comes to bread I have no favourites.
I have grown tired of the German rye breads with their overwhelming sour aftertaste and annoying brittle texture. Any alternative bread I pick up and give a gentle squeeze reminds me of a brick – heavy in weight and high density. Baking my own at home yielded the same results as the latter, so I have given up.
Yeast-Free Wholemeal Bread
The ingredients are wholemeal wheat flour, non-hydrogenated vegetable fat, baking powder and salt.
This bread looks (although smaller in size), feels and tastes the same as all the other wheat-based ones. I would not have been able to discern that it contains no yeast. So for Candida sufferers and the likes, this bread rocks! Cost: £1.10
Wheat-Free Rye Bread
The ingredients are rye flour, non-hydrogenated vegetable fat, baking powder, egg and salt. It is yeast-free too.
Not as bouncy as the yeast-free wholemeal bread, but softer than most alternative breads I have tried and that is a huge plus for me. There is little to nothing of a sour aftertaste and its flavour is mellow. This is the closest I have come so far to enjoy a “real” sandwich like this bacon and avocado one for example. Cost: £1.15
If you live within driving distance and are excited at the prospect of enjoying bread again, fear not, they will take telephone orders for later collection.
Gilberts
Pastrycooks & Confectioners
1155 London Road
Leigh-on-Sea
Essex
SS9 3JE
Telephone: 01702 474 804
http://www.gilbertsbakery.co.uk/
Do they ship to California?
Melodie: Erm, I don’t think they will.
BUT an American reader has told me about this place: http://www.udisfood.com/, and you seem to be able to place your order online. Hope it helps!