origin

The Story of the Origin of Dough with Maia "Sofia"

I was a little hesitant to share our sourdough starter, known as Sofia, but my wife convinced me to let the world know. I think my great-grandfather would have wanted Sofia to be popular too.

Sofia, our sourdough starter, has been passed down from generation to generation, from my great-grandfather, to my grandfather, to my father, and now to me. I will briefly tell her story so as not to be too long.

My great-grandfather, Ion, originally from Sibiu, Romania, moved to Bucharest when he was 10 years old, with his family, in the early 1900s. They lived in Bucharest for about 10 years, where my great-great-grandfather worked in construction. Around 1910, they moved to Constanța, where my great-great-grandfather and great-great-grandfather worked as fishermen. Around 1916, my great-grandfather, Ion, gave up fishing and started working as a baker. This is where he got our sourdough and named it after his wife, Sofia. Since then, sourdough has been passed down in the family.

The original jar in which the dough was kept is still in our family, being a true heritage item. It is inscribed with the year 1916 and the name Sofia. The baker is very active and makes delicious breads, traditional breads, cozonacs and many other delicious treats.

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This story highlights the family tradition and legacy in preserving and using "Sofia" sourdough in Romania.