The Wonderful World of Bread: A Brazilian Tradition – Level 2

On World Bread Day, we explore the famous bakeries of São Paulo, a city with over 5,000 of them. We are reporting from a very special one: the oldest bakery in Brazil, which has a tradition of over 150 years. The star of the show is the “pão francês,” or French bread. This bread is a staple in Brazilian homes and has many different names across the country. It is perfect for breakfast, especially with butter melting on the warm bread, or with cheese and eggs.
The production process is quite interesting. It all starts by combining flour, cold water, and yeast in a large mixer to form the dough. A special ingredient is also added to strengthen the dough. After mixing, it rests for about 15 minutes. The dough then goes through a machine that shapes it into its familiar roll format. But the resting isn’t over. The shaped dough rests for another three hours, which allows it to rise and develop its light texture. Finally, it’s baked until golden brown. The history of this kind of bread is ancient. The first leavened bread, made with a rising agent like yeast, was created about 6,000 years ago.

New Words:

1. Tradition: A belief, principle, or way of acting that people in a particular society or group have continued to follow for a long time.
Example: Making homemade pasta on Sundays is a family tradition.
2. Staple: A main or important element of something, especially of a diet.
Example: Rice is a staple food in many Asian countries.
3. Process: A series of actions or steps taken in order to achieve a particular result.
Example: The process of getting a driver’s license can be long and complicated.