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Essence Breads
This bread was originally called “Essene Bread.” The Essenes were a group of people living thousands of years ago in Palestine. The tradition
of making Essene bread is discussed in the Essene Gospels, a translation of the Dead Sea Scrolls. The Essenes would sprout their grains,
mash them up, and set them in the sun to dry. This sacred bread-making tradition has been handed down over the ages. I decided to change
the name to Essence Bread because the loaves hold the essence of life. Sprouted grains have a great amount of potential energy, and drying
them in the sun concentrates the essential life force contained within.
Essence Breads are created by sprouting grains such as wheat, rye, oat, and kamut or seeds like buckwheat. These grains and seeds are
then dried at a low enough temperature (108°F) to ensure enzyme protection. Essence Breads can be used as a live alternative to overly
processed baked bread, in rawiches or as pizza crusts. You can dry Essence Breads slightly for a soft, doughy texture, or dry the bread totally
for a crispy texture that makes great chips and crackers and increases its storage time.
Grains are at their nutritional peak when the sprouting tail is as long as the grain itself. I recommend processing the sprouted grains through a
homogenizing juicer with the juicing plate and adding a small amount of water to keep it lubricated. (Added water is needed only when the
grains aren’t already moist and even—then, just 1 or 2 tablespoons per cup of grains will do the job.) Be sure to put a container where the juice
normally comes out to catch excess gluten or water. Too much gluten can be difficult to pass through the body. Removing the glutinous part of
the grain makes for easier digestion, especially of wheat, a grain known for its high gluten content. Buckwheat contains no gluten and makes
awesome bread. The pulp that comes out of the front of the juicer is the usable part of the grain. If a homogenizing juicer is unavailable, the
grain can be ground in a food processor, adding just enough water to form a smooth paste. The dough can be shaped into loaves, sticks, or flat
crusts.
