#Sourdough Market Growth

[ananya5400]

Sourdough Market Trends, Growth Drivers, Industry Overview, Key Segments, and Forecast - 2029

The sourdough market size is expected to grow from USD 2.5 billion in 2024 to USD 3.8 billion by 2029, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.2% in terms of value. Sourdough bread is made from a fermented dough starter that contains natural yeasts and lactobacilli bacteria. This fermented dough is widely used across various food categories, with different types of sourdough such as Type I, Type II, and Type III serving different purposes. Sourdough is a versatile ingredient in baking, commonly found in bread, buns, cookies, cakes, and pizza, offering a tangy flavor, improved texture, and extended shelf life. It is often made using ingredients like wheat, barley, and oats. The rising demand for artisanal, preservative-free, and naturally fermented products is driving the market’s growth.

Sourdough Market Opportunity: Increasing demand for innovation and product diversification

Advancements in food technology research offer opportunities to enhance functional and bioactive ingredients, which can improve human health and address nutrition security. These innovations target nutritional deficiencies, optimize underutilized crops, and increase nutrient bioavailability.

The sourdough market stands to benefit from these developments. By integrating functional and bioactive ingredients, sourdough products can achieve greater nutritional value and health benefits. Additionally, advancements in preservation methods could extend sourdough’s shelf life, increasing its availability. The introduction of new flavors, textures, and specialty ingredients like gluten-free or organic options can attract a broader customer base and fuel the market’s growth.

In the application segment, bread and buns dominated the market during the study period.

The use of sourdough in bread and buns has transformed the bakery industry, creating significant growth potential in the global sourdough market. As consumers worldwide shift toward healthier, more natural food options, sourdough has seen rapid expansion. This trend has not only drawn established bakeries to enhance their product lines but also encouraged startups and entrepreneurs to introduce a variety of sourdough-based bread and buns to cater to diverse consumer preferences. With bread being a staple in many developed countries, the rising demand—fueled by population growth and increasing health consciousness—is driving the adoption of sourdough in bread and bun production, further boosting market growth.

The European region dominates the sourdough market share.

The high per capita consumption of bread and bakery products in Europe, averaging 57 kg, reflects the region’s strong preference for these goods. In response to growing demand, the European bakery market has rebounded with growth in both sales and product launches after several years of decline, signaling a positive industry trend. As this market continues to expand, there is an increasing demand for healthier, authentic alternatives like sourdough. Additionally, the rising value and volume of cakes, pastries, and sweet goods—aligned with sourdough’s artisanal and gourmet appeal—boost its potential for further growth in Europe. With consumers seeking diverse, high-quality bakery items, sourdough’s premium reputation positions it well within the European bakery sector. As both a major exporter and importer of bakery products, Europe offers a dynamic market landscape, creating opportunities for sourdough to grow and extend its global reach.

Top Sourdough Companies

The key players in the sourdough market include Puratos (Belgium), AB Mauri (United Kingdom), IREKS GmbH (Germany), Lallemand (Canada), Lesaffre (France), Boudin Bakery (US), Goodmills (Australia), and Bake With Brolite (US). These market participants are increasing their market presence via product launches. They maintain a robust presence in North America, Asia Pacific, South America, RoW, and Europe, and they are supported by manufacturing facilities and well-established distribution networks spanning these regions.

Puratos is an international group that operates in the bakery, patisserie, chocolate, and health & well-being sectors. Puratos serves customers in over 100 countries around the world, catering to artisans, retailers, and industrial and food service companies. With a global presence, Puratos operates across various segments of the food industry, offering a full range of products and services. Their expertise encompasses bakery products, pastry creations, and chocolate applications. They work closely with their customers to meet their specific needs and enable them to thrive in their respective markets.

In the sourdough market, Puratos offers innovative food ingredients and services to support businesses in the bakery segment. Sourdough is one of the key areas of focus for Puratos, alongside their offerings in patisserie, chocolate, and health & well-being. The company leverages its expertise and experience gathered from diverse food cultures worldwide to develop new opportunities and solutions for its customers.

IREKS is an internationally operating family company serving customers in 90 countries worldwide. The company operates in multiple business divisions, including baking ingredients, agricultural trade, malts for brewing, flavorings, confectionery products, and ice cream.

In the baking ingredients division, IREKS produces high-quality ingredients for bread, rolls, and confectionery baked goods. This includes a range of sourdough products, which are used as natural leavening agents to enhance flavor, texture, and shelf life. IREKS offers sourdoughs that are precisely tailored to the requirements of bakeries and their customers, providing them with the necessary support and expertise. The company serves customers in over 90 countries, ensuring a global reach for its sourdough products. The company’s international expertise and network of locations in 24 countries allow them to be close to their customers and recognize emerging trends. This suggests that IREKS is likely to have a substantial presence in the sourdough market across various regions.

[gremlinmodetweeker]

Carve Out A Place For Me to Sing

Okay so, I had an idea for a story a long time ago and I was going to write this out, but I figured I'd try a hand at making this into a fanfiction first. I think y'all will really like the idea though. Hear me out:

Exectutioner!König

I know others have done the idea, but this is a world I've been building for ages with its own established lore and history. I think you'll all find this to be pretty fun.

CW: public execution, mild descriptions of gore,

Wordcount: 4.8k

Art from This Post

Story below the Cut

Carve Out A Place For Me to Sing

You hated execution wakes*. They were miserable, wretched shows of viscera and torment for the insatiable masses below. You despised the way the crowd roared and cheered as the criminal’s severed head was held up to the crowd, eyes still fluttering with prayers for forgiveness on their trembling lips. You were revolted by how judge Holten would laugh like a great, bellowing tracker* as the criminals would writhe and beg for mercy at his feet. What chilled you most of all, though, were his eyes. Not judge Holten’s, most certainly not Father Kim’s, but his.

Cold blue eyes like the hold of Criah’s-turn* on your heart. A chilling draft through thatched roofs. His blank stare felt like stepping into a frozen forest, lost under a pale sky without neither a hearth or home in reach. Whenever he looked at you, you could feel the cold chill winding up your spine. You were a good, honest woman. A good, honest woman was always afraid of a bad man. Any woman would be afraid of a beast like him.

You shuddered as you kneaded the sourdough bread beneath your hands. Your aunt clucked her tongue at you.

“Well come on! We don’t have all day, now do we?” she shook the dark curls that framed her face, “daylight’s fading fast!”

“Auntie, my arms feel like they’re going to fall off!” you complained as you dropped the dough into a bowl to rise again.

“Well I’ll knock them off if you keep up with your whinging!” she squawked and threw another tray of buns into the oven.

“You know, if you’ve got this sort of energy, you’re free to go out to market tomorrow in my stead,” you tried once more as you drew out another batch of dough to knead.

“I’ve got three young’uns underfoot,” your aunt scolded you, “I don’t have nearly enough time to go out hawking bread to those animals.”

“Animals” you scoffed, “I didn’t think witch Rozlin was an animal.”

“Witch Rozlin is a good woman, but anyone going out to one of those blood shows is naught much more than a pig out back,” Auntie sniffed.

You rolled your eyes as you got to kneading the next batch. It wasn’t like you disagreed with your Auntie, but you were rather nonplussed by the idea of going out and selling buns to the rabid mob that was sure to form in the town square next Brak-Hah’s-watch*. Your Auntie had a point. The three rapscallions that currently out at school would be a handful on a Hollinwake, but all god-watch you’d been looking forward to having the day to yourself. After all, Hollinwake was the one wake in a god-watch devoted to caring for yourself and for your family. It was meant to be a day of peace, rest and personal growth. As such, it figured that judge Holten would schedule an execution for the final day of a god-watch. It was just another tally onto the ever-growing list of why judge Holten was the most deplorable man in Mormonia.

It wasn’t like anyone else disagreed with you. Judge Holten was a miserable toad. He was a stout man sporting a grotesque belly overhanging his gilded rope belt with a pugnacious air to him radiating off him with the scent of his tobacco. He’d walk around town in his blessed scarlet robes, scoffing as he whacked small children and animals alike out from under his foot. It was a wonder that any woman willingly shared a bed with the man. You just wished that Halax* might take a shine to you and smite the bastard from existence.

Alas, Halax had long-since turned her back on you when your uncle had fallen ill. Normally, he’d be in your place to prepare the bread and buns for tomorrow, but he had been struck ill at the start of the god-watch. He’d been bed since last Dandorwake*. You’d prayed at church with Father Kim, who’d kindly offered you a cup of mead and a fresh cabbage from the church’s gardens, but you’d declined and urged him to keep them for someone else. He’d tried to insist while gardening, but by the time he turned to hand one over you were already out the door. Maybe it was a sin to turn your back on a priest when he hadn't finished giving an offering, but you knew full well that he needed that cabbage far more than you ever could.

Last cycle* had been cruel. This turning-time* had been fruitful in harvests, but it didn’t make up for an entire cycle of suffering. There had been nothing but torrential rain to drench the ground followed by ages of heat that left the earth splitting with cracks and coughing dust. Most families had to turn to their own reserves, but of course, Father Kim and the church had no such stores. The church, as any good church ought to be, was entirely dependent on donations to run. With families unable to feed even their own children, Father Kim had to make do with an entire cycle of kitchen scraps and meager growth from their garden. Even now, Father Kim was still bony and frail in frame, a mere shadow of the power and might he’d carried the cycle before.

Maybe it was because you’d denied Father Kim’s offerings that your uncle still lay sick, but you weren’t too concerned. Just last wake, witch Rozlin had come with the town apothecary, Darnell to your door. On seeing your uncle, they laughed and told you he’d be up and on his feet within a couple wakes. They still charged you for their time, but you were glad to only be giving over a handful of brass coins rather than paying full price for some balms. So, with the reminder to wait, your uncle had been urged to rest and you had gone out to give the good news to your cousins.

A spark of embers caught your attention. You realized your Auntie must have left to go grab the children from the school master for the evening, leaving you alone in the bakery to work on the next batches. You heaved a sigh and straightened your aching back momentarily before turning back to your work. After all, you had plenty of work to do.

The next wake had started with you loading up the market wagon.

“Auntie, are you sure you want to sell the salted buns?” you asked as your Auntie piled in another load of bread.

“I’m sure of it,” your Auntie declared, “they’re the best thing I’ve made in moons!”

“But-”

“No buts!” she held a roughened finger up to your lips, “just go! You’ll be lucky if it’s not over by now.”

“I hope it is,” you muttered back.

“And just you be careful about The Axe, alright?” your Auntie worried over you as she adjusted your head scarf.

“Worry about The Axe? Why?” you asked.

“He’s a mean one, he is,” your Auntie warned you, “barely talks but… Well… He’s an executioner, dear. He’s not a good man. You’d best keep your distance if you can.” 

“Doesn’t my uncle deal with him?” you frowned.

“Oh he’s nice enough to your uncle, but to a young lady?” your auntie clucked her tongue, “I don’t like thinking about it. He’s not right in the head. If only I could I’d go with you, but with the little ones…”

You smiled warmly, “I understand. Don’t worry Auntie, I promise I’ll be safe.”

“Make sure you have someone with you when he comes to get his rations!”

You barely heard her as you picked up the handles of the wagon and set off to to the Criahlin’s* stone. It wouldn’t be more than a half watch* to get there by foot, less by beetle. You’d always tried to get your uncle to buy one, but he’d stubbornly refused each time you brought up the idea, pointing out the cost of feeding such a thing.

At the very least, the walk was a good one. The warmth of Brak-Hah’s turn had a spring in your step as you moved down the dirt path, formed by generations of beetles, turtles and lizards drawing wagons from town to town. Being on the outskirts had its benefits, that couldn’t be argued, but you sometimes found the walk to be tiresome. At least today the skies were bright and cheery, much like the sun god himself.

As you pushed the wagon, you let yourself focus on the growing wheat of your uncle’s fields. They were slowly turning a nice, bright golden yellow with the coming of Hanndoal’s-turn*, which was heralded by the trees in the distance turning a rugged burgundy splattered with patches of golden yellow. And as you’d noted earlier, the sky above was bright and blue, a glorious day for an outing. It truly was a beautiful day for an execution.

You rolled the cart through the cobblestone streets to the Criahlin’s stone, where the red splotched platform had been dutifully erected. Already, a crowd was milling about in their fine clothes, all shades of bright yellow, soft green and pastel blues, a fond farewell to the warm sun of Brak-Hah’s-turn* and welcoming in the cool winds of Hanndoal’s-turn. You smiled at the sight of it all.

Already, a few others had set up their stalls in preparations for the day. You saw the farmers arranging their Brak-Hah’s-turn’s crops and hanging up garlands of spices to draw in patrons from the crowd. Across from that roughened few, a cobbler was setting up a place to clean people’s shoes of the blood. Today looked like it was turning out to be a beheading. If nothing else, it was an easy death.

You spotted a familiar dark head of hair and hurried to her side.

“What’s the crime?” you asked as you came up to Salvatrice.

She glanced back at you, the scar on the left side of her face bunching with a grimace.

“Why’re you out here?” she growled.

“Is that how you’re greeting a friend?” you laughed.

“Well, it’s how I greet you,” she snorted as she turned to face you properly, “but where’s your uncle? Usually he comes out to these sorts of things.”

“He’s sick as a tracker right now,” you laughed, “but he’ll be up on his feet soon. We had Darnell and witch Rozlin come out to take a look at him.”

“Why didn’t you get your aunt to come instead of you?” Salvatrice scowled.

“It’s almost like you don’t want to see me!” you put your hands on your hips accusingly.

That at least brought a smile to her scarred face, “I just didn’t think you’d like being here. I know you’re not too big a fan of what we’ve got going on this wake.”

“Eh,” you shrugged, “I can look away. But I already know what I’m doing, what’s the crime here? Who’s getting whacked?”

“Judge Holten found Cramus Wright guilty of murder,” Salvatrice explained, “he punched some poor bastard in the back of the neck so hard that their spine cracked.”

“Wait,” you shook your head, “why’d he do that?”

“Beats me,” Salvatrice shrugged, “but he did it, so here he is. Or, well, will be.”

You looked up at the platform where Father Kim was reciting his prayers to the crowd. Most of the crowd looked at him blankly, only a few bowing their heads with his. Beside him, Judge Holten was scratching his stomach and yawning. His great book of law was tucked under his other arm like a fat black slug.

“Where’s the executioner?” you asked, your voice wavering slightly.

“Leading Cramus, I’d think,” Salvatrice fiddled with one of the skinning knives on her belt.

“So it should take a while to get here,” you surmised.

“You should start selling that bread before he shows up,” Salvatrice reminded you, “people might not be so hungry after.”

“Oh you know they always are,” you groaned, but wheeled your cart back to a spare stall and laid out your goods.

It only took a couple of shouts for people to starting making their way over to you. You rolled your eyes when your Auntie’s salted buns sold out first, but vowed to tell her what a great success they were when you got home. Sadly, your uncle’s browned beetle meat buns weren’t quite so popular, but at the very least your crisprunch buns were selling well enough for you to feel confident in your experiments. Of course, the salted turtle buns sold well, but so did anything your Auntie made. You didn’t quite have the talent for coming up with recipes like she did. At the very least, what you lacked in useful creativity you more than made up for in technical skill. You knew your lattice pies were always sure to win over the crowds.

You passed a turtle bun to a small girl when you heard the yelling from behind you. You turned to look, and immediately wished you hadn’t.

There in the center of the road was a great monolith of a man carrying the soon to be departed Cramus Wright, wailing like a mowler on his back. You shuddered as he neared the square, his heavy footsteps slowly trudging by you to make his way to the great platform. The crowd split silently for the man, not a soul daring to step within his radius. Children huddled into their mother’s aprons and men shuddered at the sight of him. Up on his back, Cramus Wright threw his meaty hands against the giant and bellowed like a swamp toad. His eyes bulged so that even from afar you could see the whites of his black eyes as they whirled round and round in their sockets.

“It ain’t me!” the man’s voice carried through the crisp air, “I didn’t do it! It wasn’t me!”

Judge Holten rolled his eyes as Cramus was strapped into the stocks. He begged and cried until his voice went hoarse as he thrashed against the black iron chains. His neck strained as he tried to move his head from the chopping block, but eventually his body gave out and he slumped down over the wood.

Judge Holten sighed and turned to the crowd. He pulled out the black and gold leather book and started up his readings, calling out with a pious voice that grated on your ears. You ignored his callings to focus on Father Kim, who sensing his opportunity, had kneeled by the prisoner’s side to give him his final prayers. He painted the man’s face in pigmented oils, forming complex patterns that linked and looped across his cheeks up to his forehead, where Father Kim painted a bright and glorious eye in red. When he’d finished, he kissed the man’s forehead and stepped back to stand beside the half-giant and speak to him. The crowd roared and cheered as Judge Holten whipped them up into a fury, but you saw past them to the silent duo who stood waiting by the edge of the worn wood platform.

There with his cursed black hood stood the half giant only known in the village as ‘The Axe’. He was a horrendous man, what with his tremendous body and his hulking pose. He stood out in any crowd he stood in, a shrouded wraith covered in dark cloth from head to toe, save only for a tan tunic he tucked in with a girthy black leather belt. He lorded above Father Kim, and yet there was something so tender in seeing a man born of blood and death bowing down so that a chosen holy spirit could whisper into his ear. You couldn’t see his eyes from here (and thank Halax for that), but you could see the man’s shoulders shake with a good laugh.

Eventually, Judge Holten closed his book and tucked it back under his left arm, turning to face the unfortunate Cramus Wright.

“Cramus Wright,” Judge Holten’s voice boomed around you, “you are found to be guilty of murder in the highest degree. Additionally, you are charged with the theft of four-hundred gold coins, thirty-eight silver coins, forty five bronze coins, and ten copper coins. You are hereby deemed unfit to live amongst common man, and are to be beheaded with a blunt axe. May Forruxik* have mercy on you.”

Your knees felt weak. A blunt axe? That seemed absolutely barbaric, and yet the crowd cheered all the same.

From the back, you saw The Axe take his namesake axe from his side, rusted red with a grotty hardwood handle. He twirled it expertly in one gloved hand as he walked forth, ignoring Cramus’s screams and the cheering of the crowd. He leisurely sauntered to the side and looked down on Cramus. He bent in half to lean down to the man’s ear. A brief exchange was made, and The Axe rose back up to his full monstrous height and raised the axe up high above his head in his tremendous hands. The crowd was silent as The Axe took a deep breath, momentarily soaking in the moment, then swung down with all his might. You turned away just in time to hear a fleshy thud.

The crowd screamed with wild delight as Cramus’s head was raised up his, painting The Axe’s creamy tunic in bright scarlet red as blood rained down upon the crowd. They eagerly surged forward to try and catch some of it on any piece of clothing, anything to keep as a memento of the event. The Axe looked down upon them with those cold, cold eyes. You could see the sheer hatred and disdain from where you stood at your stall. You shivered as The Axe took the head and hurled it into the crowd to be torn apart. They grappled over it like wild lizards, teeth gnashing and spit flying as they tried to get a piece for themselves.

When you looked back at the stage, Father Kim had his hand on The Axe’s bicep and was speaking to him. Judge Holten was stepping down the platform stairs to make way for the morticians that crawled up from the earth to take their prize. They’d get the head in about an hour, when all was said and done. If they were lucky it’d be picked clean by then.

You sneered at the display, and instead focused your energy on making your sales to the now-ravenous mob.

You made your sales easily. It was sometimes easier to turn your brain off and just take the coins, tuck them into the pouch on your belt. You worked quickly, efficiently, not fully realizing how many you’d gotten through until the sky started to turn and the crowds dwindled to nothing.

Only once all the patrons had left for the day did you notice a shadow crossing your stall.

You looked up, only to immediately freeze under the watch of those frozen eyes.

“Hallo?” his voice was strangely accented, “I am here for my rations.”

You blinked as you took in The Axe. You’d never seen him this close before, where you could actually see the red trails that hung below the holes he cut out for his eyes.

“Your rations?” you whimpered as you trembled.

The Axe nodded slowly, almost as though you were stupid.

You looked around your stall, but it was bare of any goods. Everything had been sold that day. What did he mean?

“What rations?” you managed to squeak out.

“My bread,” The Axe said as though that might help clarify his meaning, “I want my bread. The provisions bread.”

You blinked up at him.

“What provisions bread?” you asked, now confused more than afraid.

“For my duties I am given rations by the council,” The Axe explained in his whispery voice, “your uncle always puts them aside for me.”

Oh! The rations! Surely your auntie had packed them somewhere.

You turned and rummaged through the cart, but there wasn’t so much as a bun to give over. The shelves under your stall held naught more than a coating of fresh crumbs. You turned up to him with a frown, “I’m sorry, but I don’t have any bread for you. Are you sure that you’re meant to get rations from us today?”

“There is no other miller in the village,” The Axe grunted, “do you not have my rations?”

You cringed at his accusations and subtly tried to shift your coin pouch away, ever so carefully creeping from him as you told him, “I don’t have your rations. I’m sorry.”

The Axe stood still. You couldn’t help but freeze under his icy eyes. You swore you saw rage like no other in those Criah’s turn eyes, cold and billowing out like a hailing gale. He looked you up and down with those frosted eyes before letting out a puff of air, making his black mask billow out before resting back on his face.

“Then next time,” he said quietly.

You turned to leave but he coughed to grab your attention.

“What?” you asked, a bit ruder than you intended.

“Is your uncle alright?”

You lowered your tensed shoulders, then scowled, “Why would you care? You’re not looking for him, are you?”

The Axe swung his head back and forth slowly, “I just want to know if he’s alright. He’s kind when giving me my rations. What happened to him?”

“He’s sick,” you said tersely.

“A shame,” The Axe said quietly, “I hate to hear that a good friend is suffering.”

Your scowl deepened, “What do you mean? That’s literally your job. You kill people all the time. You make people suffer for money. If you don’t like hurting people, then why are you still here?”

“It pays well,” The Axe muttered, “and it’s all I’m allowed to do, anyways.”

You paused. What in Mormonia* was he talking about?

“Couldn’t you get a job as a tailor? Maybe a glove maker?” you offered.

“Who would take an executioner’s son as a journeyman?” The Axe chuckled, “you see how the others are afraid to even be near me. Nobody would take me in.”

You drummed your fingers on the counter, “Why don’t you go to another town?”

“With what work history? Nobody will hire me,” The Axe supplied.

You nodded slowly before grimacing and offering your final solution, “Why don’t you become an adventurer? Somebody as big as you would make a good fighter, right?”

“And leave my home?” The Axe shook his head, “I love my home. I could never abandon what little I have. And anyways, what if I lose it all? What if I lose more than what I have now? Nobody likes me here, but this place is safe. I’m happier here.”

You leaned on the top of the stall, curling your fingers into a fist under your chin as you thought carefully. The Axe didn’t seem quite so scary now. You’d always figured him to be rude and abrasive, a beast of a man, but now that you spoke to him he seemed just as nervous of you as you of him, if a bit (understandably) melancholic.

You tried to think of another solution, but all that came up was, “Why don’t you make somebody else do your job?”

“Hah!” The Axe barked, “nobody can do my job as well as I can. They would draw out the pain, make the prisoners suffer. I make it quick! I try to make it as painless as possible. After all, it might be my head on the stocks one day,” his eyes softened, “I can only hope whoever’s next is as forgiving as I am.”

You nodded slowly. In the end, he managed to take a man’s head off with one sweep of a dull axe. There wasn’t another man in the village that you could imagine being able to pull off the same feat. He easily could have drawn out the killing, had every excuse with a dull axe, and yet he chose to make it as quick as possible. 

“So, you really don’t have a choice,” you concluded.

The Axe shook his head mournfully.

“That…” you slumped a bit, “that’s terrible. I’m so sorry you have to do this.”

“It’s not so bad,” The Axe offered, “just lonely.”

“Lonely?” you raised an eyebrow.

“Lonely,” The Axe nodded, “only a small few are willing to speak to me, and only because they must. I am friends with Darnell, Witch Rozlin, and Father Kim. Occasionally, Sister Callisto or Sister Mila will speak to me. But if they are not forced to speak with me? Nobody speaks to me. Everyone in this village hates me. If they don’t hate me, they are afraid of me.

“So,” The Axe shrugged, “I am lonely.”

You frowned at the thought. It sounded like a miserable existence. You’d always known the community to welcome you with open arms. You laughed with neighbors, chatted with vendors, haggled with patrons with ease. Life was always busy with five nieces and nephews running underfoot in at home. 

The Axe, though, was a different case.

You knew The Axe to be the only son of a waif of a woman and a giant man that had hung himself after his wife passed. For at least four years, you knew the Axe to live on his own out in a cottage deep in the woods, father from town than even your uncle’s mill. Supposedly, it was to protect everyone from the butcher’s rage. Now, you were starting to think the reverse might be true.

“That sounds awful,” you admitted, “I can’t imagine everyone in the village hating me.”

“You get used to it,” The Axe offered.

You frowned, “You shouldn’t have to ‘get used to it’. You should be able to have friends like anybody else.”

“Well, would you be friends with the man who kills for a living?” The Axe snorted.

You looked the man up and down carefully. The blood on his tunic had turned a maroon red. In the dying light of the sun, you could make out some flecks that had made their way onto his slider belt buckle. You flicked your eyes away from his crotch to look down at his thighs, each one thick as tree trunks and just as sturdy. Looking back up at his face, his cold eyes now seemed less dour, severe. Instead, you wondered if he was lost in his own frozen forest.

“I think I would be,” you offered.

The Axe’s eyes widened.

“You would be?” he parroted.

“I think if he let me,” you gave him a small smile.

The bells of the church rung out, indicating the late hour. You hissed as you scrambled to grab your wagon and pull it out from behind the stall. When you turned, The Axe was still standing, looking completely shell-shocked.

“Hey,” you caught his attention, “if you come back tomorrow at the start of the tenth watch*, I’ll get you your rations.”

“But won’t that be after sundown?” The Axe shifted his weight.

“The moon will be up by then,” you agreed, “but it won’t be too late. I can still make it out here and back before my Auntie and Uncle go to sleep. Do you wanna meet up then?”

The Axe looked down at his hands and shuffled awkwardly, “If you’re willing to do all that for me…”

“I’d love to,” you cut him off, “anyways, it’s getting late. I should probably get him before my Auntie gets worried.”

The Axe nodded and sent you off with a wave.

You walked down the path, following the glowing blue and white blossoms of moon flowers. A few patches of luminescent moss growing across the wood fences helped keep you on course when you finally made your way home.

When you did manage, your Auntie was waiting in the living room for you.

“You’re back!” she exclaimed and threw her arms around you before pulling away, “I’m so sorry! Was he mean to you? Did he try to hurt you?”

You screwed up your face, “Auntie, what’re you talking about? Who would’ve hurt me?”

“The Axe!” she exclaimed, “I forgot to pack his rations for you today! Didn’t he yell at you for them? I only noticed once you’d left! Surely he got upset, didn’t he? Was he too scary? I can tell your uncle he needs to find another baker if he tried to hurt you.”

“No, no,” you shook your head, “he was fine. I just told him I’d get them to him later.”

Your Auntie shrieked so loud you had to cover your ears.

“You told him you’d see him again?” she screeched, “what in the realms* were you thinking, girl!? Oh what have you done?”

“I told him I’d meet him at the tenth watch,” you explained, “out by the Criahlin’s stone.”

Your Auntie looked like she’d keel over and faint right then and there, “Oh by Halax’s name, what have you done?” she paused and shook her head, “no, you’re not going. I can’t have you seeing that dangerous man on your own, and especially not after dark!”

“What do you mean?” you scoffed, “I made a promise! You can’t have me breaking a promise, can you?”

“Oh I most certainly can!” your Auntie huffed, “it’s what’s best for you!”

“But Auntie he wasn’t that bad!” you tried to reason with her, “he’s nice! He’s just lonely!”

“Lonely?” your Auntie scoffed, “pah! That’s ridiculous. Now you listen and you listen close: you’re not to go and see him tomorrow. You stay right here with us. If I see you skeeving off, you’ll be in for a realm of trouble!”

You glared at her, but you were too tired to argue. You simply closed your eyes and nodded.

“That’s a good girl,” your Auntie sighed, “now, off to bed with you. We’ve got a busy day of baking tomorrow!”

You tromped up the creaking wooden stairs to go to bed.

You brushed out your hair in the window, thinking about how lonely The Axe must have been out in his cottage. You could see him now, sleeping alone in his thatching, shivering without so much as a fire to warm him. As you settled down into the straw, you vowed to make sure you’d change that.

Glossary

Wake - Day

Tracker - Type of lizard used for hunting (Mormonia's version of dogs)

Criah's turn - Every turn is a season named after a god. Criah's turn is named after the god of death, grief, hope and forgiveness. This turn is effectively winter

Next Wake - tomorrow

Hollinswake - tenth day of the week (there are ten days in a week), named after the goddess Hollin (diety of dreams and nightmares)

Halax - Creator goddess

Dandorwake - fifth day of the week, named after Dandor (diety of aspiration and responsibility)

Cycle - year

Half Watch - half an hour

Brak-Hah - God of the Sun, Light, Children and Joy

Hanndoal's Turn - Fall season, named after Hanndoal (diety of Trickery, Fun, Truth and Creativity)

Forruxik - God of Justice, Order, Wisdom and Intelligence

Mormonia - World

Tenth Watch - Days are split into 12 watches, each lasting 2 hours 24 minutes long

The Realms - There are an undetermined amount of realms of reality, with the three most pressing ones being the Looking Realm (our realm), the Feeling Realm (the realm where the otherworldly live) and the Highest Realm (the realm where Gods live)

Konig Dump

Alternate Universes

[rthidden]

AI Unleashed: ChatGPT's New Brain Boost

Ever wonder if your AI assistant might soon ace the SATs?

You're not alone. The latest version of ChatGPT isn't just reciting facts; it's learning how to think.

Why it matters

In the world of small businesses, this means less time stressing over mundane tasks and more time on creative growth!

ChatGPT's new trick lets it answer complex questions better, turning your AI buddy into a problem-solving prodigy.

The big picture

With AI integration, 35% of businesses have already joined the tech-savvy league (IBM Global AI Adoption Index, 2023).

ChatGPT’s evolution means the remaining 65% have even more reason to jump on the AI bandwagon.

By the numbers

ChatGPT boasts over 180.5 million users globally (Statista, 2023).

The AI market hit a staggering $207.9 billion this year (Grand View Research, 2023).

Looks like AI's popping up faster than your Aunt London's sourdough starters during lockdown.

The plot twist

You might think AI's "thinking" for itself is straight out of a sci-fi movie.

But as Richard Sutton explains, it's all about maximizing rewards. So, ChatGPT isn't plotting world domination. Yet.

The bottom line

Embrace the AI evolution.

Whether it's handling customer inquiries with more nuance or predicting market trends, ChatGPT's new skills can help your small business punch well above its weight class.

Who's ready to let the bots work their magic?

[tbrc34]

Rising Resurgence: Revivable Yeast Market Poised for Rebirth 2024-2033

The Revivable Yeast Market is experiencing a notable resurgence from 2024 to 2033, fueled by the increasing interest in traditional fermentation methods, advancements in biotechnology, and the growing demand for artisanal and craft products.

With consumers rediscovering the art of fermentation and the unique flavors it imparts, revivable yeast has emerged as a key ingredient in various food and beverage applications. From sourdough bread to craft beer and kombucha, revivable yeast adds depth and complexity to products, appealing to discerning palates seeking authentic and high-quality experiences. Furthermore, as the focus on natural and sustainable ingredients intensifies, revivable yeast offers a viable solution, aligning with consumer preferences for clean label and artisanal products. With forecasts indicating sustained growth, the Revivable Yeast Market presents lucrative opportunities for producers and artisans to innovate and captivate the evolving tastes of consumers. #RevivableYeast #Fermentation #Artisanal #Craft #Biotechnology #MarketResurgence #NaturalIngredients #Sustainability #ConsumerTrends #FutureOutlook #CraftBeer #Kombucha #TrendingIngredients #Forecast #ArtisanalFood

[123567-9qaaq9]

Global Fermented Food and Ingredient Market Report |BIS Research 

Major ingredient types of fermented ingredients include amino acid, organic acid, and industrial enzyme,  among others. Amino acid represents the most significant ingredient in the market for fermented food and ingredients. During the forecast period, ingredient areas, such as industrial enzyme, and organic acid are expected to display the maximum growth, owing to the high possibilities of value addition in these ingredient areas. Fermented food ingredients help in enhancing the quality, texture and flavor of food products. These help in making food products healthier and better in taste. These ingredients are formed using the process of fermentation and are further used in different food products. These ingredients are used to add flavor and to enhance the properties of food products or can also be used in supplements.

The fermented food and ingredient market is projected to grow from $512.19 billion in the year 2018 to $689.34 billion by 2023, growing at a CAGR of 6.12% from 2018 to 2023. The demand for fermented food and ingredients is driven by increasing population, rising per capita income and increasing awareness about health among the consumers.

Understanding Fermentation:

Fermentation is a natural process where microorganisms such as bacteria, yeast, and molds break down food components, leading to the transformation of flavors, textures, and nutritional profiles. This ancient practice not only enhances the shelf life of foods but also contributes to the development of complex and appealing taste profiles.

Market Dynamics:

Health and Wellness Trends:

Consumers are increasingly seeking functional foods that offer health benefits beyond basic nutrition. Fermented foods are rich in probiotics, which are known to promote gut health and support the immune system. As awareness of the gut-brain connection grows, fermented foods are gaining popularity as a part of a holistic approach to well-being.

Culinary Diversity:

The global culinary landscape is witnessing a surge in demand for diverse and exotic flavors. Fermentation adds depth and complexity to dishes, making them more appealing to adventurous eaters. As consumers become more open to trying new and unique flavors, fermented foods and ingredients find their way into mainstream diets.

Download the sample to know more @ Global Fermented Food and Ingredient Market

Sustainability and Waste Reduction:

Fermentation is a sustainable food preservation method that reduces the need for artificial additives and extends the shelf life of perishable foods. Additionally, it provides an opportunity to repurpose food by-products, contributing to a more sustainable food industry.

Technological Advancements:

Advances in food technology and biotechnology have facilitated the production of fermented foods on an industrial scale. From controlled fermentation processes to the development of specialized strains of microorganisms, these innovations have streamlined production and expanded the variety of fermented products available in the market.

Key Players and Products:

Yogurt and Dairy Products:

The yogurt market remains a major player in the fermented food sector, with new variations such as Greek yogurt and probiotic-enriched options gaining popularity.

Kimchi and Fermented Vegetables:

Asian fermented vegetables, including kimchi and pickles, are capturing the global palate, offering a spicy and tangy twist to traditional salads and side dishes.

Kombucha:

The kombucha market has experienced explosive growth, driven by the rising demand for probiotic-rich beverages. Its unique combination of tea, sugar, and fermented cultures has become a favorite among health-conscious consumers.

Sourdough and Fermented Grains:

Artisanal bread and fermented grains, such as sourdough, appeal to those seeking alternatives to conventional baked goods. The slow fermentation process contributes to the distinct texture and flavor of these products.

Challenges and Future Prospects:

While the fermented food market is thriving, it is not without challenges. Issues related to standardization, regulatory compliance, and consumer education need to be addressed. However, the future looks promising as researchers delve deeper into the potential health benefits of specific fermented foods and as chefs and food scientists continue to experiment with innovative combinations.

Conclusion:

The global fermented food and ingredient market is experiencing a renaissance, driven by a perfect blend of tradition, health consciousness, and culinary innovation. As consumers continue to explore diverse flavors and prioritize holistic well-being, fermented foods are likely to remain a staple in diets worldwide. The journey into this flavorful world of fermentation is only just beginning, promising a future where our plates are not just filled with nourishment but also with the rich, complex tastes of cultures and traditions from around the globe.

[market-spy]

Starching It Right: A Digestible Guide to the Modified Starch Market

Hey there, fellow foodies and industry enthusiasts! Today, we're diving into the world of modified starch – the unsung hero behind the scenes in your favorite processed foods. In this not-so-starchy blog, we'll break down the Global Modified Starch Market report with a sprinkle of humor and a dash of sarcasm. Let's embark on this culinary adventure, shall we?

The Starch Chronicles – A Recipe for Market Growth Picture this – a world where convenient and processed foods reign supreme. Enter modified starch, the not-so-secret ingredient making it all possible. Valued at a cool USD 11.8 Billion in 2021, this market is set to grow faster than your grandma's sourdough starter, reaching a forecasted USD 18.78 Billion by 2030. That's a CAGR of 5.3%, folks! It seems we're all craving more than just grandma's cooking these days.

Starches, Not Stars – Products Taking Center Stage Move over Hollywood, the real stars of this show are starch esters & ethers, claiming the title of the largest market segment. These MVPs enhance food texture and prolong shelf life – basically, they're the unsung guardians of your favorite snacks. Cationic starches are the dark horses, with a growth rate of 5.1%. They're like the Batman of the modified starch world, swooping in with unique properties for the paper industry.

Thickening the Plot – Functions that Stir the Pot Thickeners take the spotlight, commanding over 50% of the market share. Modified starch plays the role of a culinary superhero, elevating the viscosity of liquids without turning them into a gelatinous mess. It's the Batman's cape in the food industry – enhancing the overall experience without revealing its secrets. Meanwhile, emulsifiers are gearing up for their blockbuster moment, projected to grow at a CAGR of 5.7%. They're the cinematic directors behind the scenes, ensuring a smooth blend in the food and beverage industry. For More Information: https://www.skyquestt.com/sample-request/modified-starch-market?utm_source=LinkedIn&utm_medium=Aditya&utm_campaign=Aditya

Regionally Seasoned – The Global Flavor Profile North America steps into the limelight, flexing its cornstarch muscles and commanding 42% of the total revenue share. Thanks to health-conscious consumers in the US, modified starch is having a moment. Meanwhile, Asia Pacific is spicing things up, anticipating a rapid CAGR of 5.9%. With countries like India and China playing key roles in agriculture, the modified starch market is cooking up something big in this part of the world.

The Not-So-Sweet Challenges – Navigating the Starchy Waters Hold your culinary aspirations! The high demand for gum Arabic is the buzzkill here. While modified starches are making waves, gum Arabic still takes the crown in the beverages sector. It's like trying to introduce a new character in the finale of your favorite TV show – viewers might not be ready for the change.

Conclusion: Stirring the Pot of Innovation As we wrap up this culinary escapade through the Global Modified Starch Market, one thing is clear – this market is starching its way to the top. With rising investments, innovative product launches, and a growing demand for processed foods, modified starch is set to become the unsung hero that everyone secretly cheers for. So, whether you're a food industry aficionado or just someone who loves a good snack, keep an eye on the modified starch market – it's cooking up something special!

About Us-

SkyQuest Technology Group is a Global Market Intelligence, Innovation Management & Commercialization organization that connects innovation to new markets, networks & collaborators for achieving Sustainable Development Goals.

Contact Us-

SkyQuest Technology Consulting Pvt. Ltd.

1 Apache Way,

Westford,

Massachusetts 01886

USA (+1) 617–230–0741

Email- info@skyquestt.com

Website: https://www.skyquestt.com

[shristisahu]

"Rising Stars: The Top 5 Global Yeast and Enzymes Suppliers for Your Business Needs"

Originally Published on: SpendEdge |Top 5 Yeast and Enzymes Suppliers Across the World

Yeast and enzymes are integral components of the fermentation process, where they break down sugar into carbon dioxide, ethanol, and flavor molecules. While commonly associated with baking, these elements also play a crucial role in alcoholic fermentation, converting sugar into ethanol. According to SpendEdge's procurement market intelligence report, the global yeast market is estimated to be valued at around US$6 billion, while the global enzymes market accounts for approximately US$6.8 billion. This growth can be largely attributed to the expanding processed food and alcoholic beverages industry.

Top Yeast and Enzymes Suppliers:

1. Novozymes: Novozymes is a global biotechnology company and a leading provider of biological solutions. They specialize in R&D and the production of microorganisms, industrial yeast, enzymes, and biopharmaceutical ingredients. Key product lines include enzymes, microorganisms, and biopolymers. In 2017, Novozymes launched the Spirizyme T Portfolio, featuring glucoamylase enzymes with trehalase, resulting in industry-leading total sugar conversion and significant revenue growth.

2. DuPont: DuPont, a venerable American conglomerate established in 1802, offers science-based products and services across diverse industries, including agriculture, communication, food, construction, and transportation. DuPont's SYNERXIA Fermentation System delivers a 2% additional ethanol yield and reduces total sugar requirements by 20-25%. They also produce the next generation of fermentation additives, FermaSure, which enhances ethanol fermentation rate and efficiency without antibiotics.

3. Royal DSM: Royal DSM, a Dutch multinational, operates in the fields of nutrition, health, and materials. They manufacture and supply food and dietary supplements, personal care products, bio-based materials, as well as yeast and enzymes. DSM's yeast extracts are marketed under brand names such as Maxarome, Multimore, and Gistex. In 2017, they introduced reinforced resistant piping for boiling water made from high-performance polyamide (ForTii Ace) and Xytron PPS compounds.

4. Lesaffre: Lesaffre, a French yeast and enzymes manufacturer, holds the distinction of being the world's largest yeast producer. Their product offerings encompass yeast and baking solutions, biotechnologies, and food ingredients. These solutions include yeasts, sourdough, bread-making ingredients, and a baking center network. In 2017, Lesaffre invested approximately US$17.5 million in Intralytix, a U.S.-based biotechnology company.

5. BASF SE: BASF SE, a German chemical giant and the world's largest chemicals producer, supplies a wide range of products to industries such as agriculture, automotive, chemicals, construction, pharmaceuticals, paints, personal care, energy, and electronics. BASF is renowned for its high-performance enzymes used in industrial processes. In 2017, they announced plans to acquire a portion of Bayer's agrochemical business for US$7 billion.

For further inquiries and to get in touch with these top yeast and enzymes suppliers, please reach out to their respective official websites or contact their customer support representatives.

[chemicalresearchupdates]

Instant Dry Yeast Market Report: Examining Key Factors Influencing Market Dynamics

The instant dry yeast market refers to the industry that deals with the production, distribution, and sale of instant dry yeast, which is a form of yeast used in baking and fermentation processes. Instant dry yeast is a popular choice among bakers and food manufacturers due to its convenience and ease of use.

Here is some comprehensive information about the instant dry yeast market:

Market Overview: The instant dry yeast market has witnessed significant growth in recent years due to the rising demand for bakery products and convenience foods. Instant dry yeast offers several advantages over other types of yeast, such as faster fermentation, longer shelf life, and ease of storage.

Market Size and Forecast: The market size of the instant dry yeast industry has been steadily increasing. Factors contributing to market growth include the expansion of the food and beverage sector, increasing consumer preference for baked goods, and technological advancements in yeast production. Market forecasts suggest continued growth in the coming years.

Key Market Players: Several prominent companies operate in the instant dry yeast market, including Lesaffre Group, Angel Yeast Co., Ltd., AB Mauri, Lallemand Inc., and Pakmaya. These companies engage in product development, strategic collaborations, and mergers and acquisitions to strengthen their market presence.

Market Segmentation: The instant dry yeast market can be segmented based on type, application, distribution channel, and geography. Types of instant dry yeast may include active dry yeast, rapid-rise yeast, and bread machine yeast. Common applications include bakery products, pizza crusts, and other fermented foods. Distribution channels encompass retail stores, online platforms, and foodservice providers.

Regional Analysis: The instant dry yeast market is geographically diverse, with key regions including North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East and Africa. The market dynamics and consumer preferences vary across regions due to cultural differences and culinary traditions.

Market Drivers and Challenges: Factors driving the growth of the instant dry yeast market include the increasing consumption of baked goods, the growing popularity of artisanal bread, and the convenience factor associated with instant dry yeast. However, challenges such as fluctuating raw material prices, competition from fresh yeast and sourdough starters, and stringent food safety regulations can impact market growth.

Future Trends: The instant dry yeast market is witnessing several emerging trends, including the development of organic and clean label yeast products, innovations in packaging for extended shelf life, and the incorporation of probiotics in yeast formulations. Additionally, the rise of e-commerce platforms and the adoption of automation and digital technologies in yeast production are expected to shape the market's future.

It's important to note that the aforementioned information is a general overview of the instant dry yeast market. For more specific and up-to-date data, it is advisable to refer to industry reports, market research publications, and expert analysis.

[johnfuture]

Sourdough Bread Market Size by Application, Geographic Scope and Forecast for 2032

Western Europe will continue to dominate the sourdough bread market in 2022, with a nearly 38% share of total sales. Food manufacturing facilities in Western Europe are still embracing sourdough.

The US$ 3.2 Bn sourdough market will continue to be positively influenced by increasing application in bread production. Of the US$ 3.2 Bn worth of sourdough sold in 2022, demand from the bread segment totalled US$ 2.36 Bn. This segment is projected to increase at a US$ 6.17 Bn through 2032 at CAGR of 6.3%. The dominance of the bread segment can be gauged from the fact that other key application segments – pizza, buns, cakes, cookies, and waffles & pancakes – collectively accounted for nearly 27% revenue share.

Download Free Sample Report: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-1900

Future Market Insights estimates the Western Europe sourdough market to increase at a CAGR of 7.1% through 2032. In terms of revenues, the market is projected to grow 2X from its 2022 market valuation of US$ 1.21 Bn. In terms of volume, over 552 thousand tonnes of sourdough was sold in 2022; FMI estimates it to reach over 975 thousand tonnes in 2032.

Opportunities in the Global Sourdough Market

Increasing demand for clean-label products has presented a lucrative opportunity for businesses

Use of sourdough is also gaining traction owing to its application in preparation of foods that require fermentation

Key Supply-side and Demand-side Drivers

According to Future Market Insights’ report, demand for sourdough is increasing on account of its beneficial functional properties. Its property of enhancing flavour and texture is a key factor for its applications in the F&B sector, especially bakery sector

Increase in the number of artisan bakeries is positively influencing the demand for sourdough. Particularly high demand for type 1 sourdough – made using only wild yeasts – is being witnessed in artisan bakeries

 Availability of sourdough products on e-commerce stores is also contributing to increasing sales

Growing demand for sourdough from the fast food and bakery sector is creating sizeable growth opportunities for manufacturers

High cost of sourdough products is a major impediment to their widespread adoption in developing countries.

Key Trends Expected to Shape Global Sourdough Market

Dehydrated sourdough (Type III) is gaining traction in the bakery industry. Freeze-drying remains the preferred dehydration technique for manufacturers.

Manufacturers are using devitalised sourdough for enhancing the aroma of products. Devitalised sourdough does not contain live organisms, enhancing its use as an aromatic agent

Sourdough Market Forecast and Analysis by Starter Culture

Type III starter culture currently accounts for nearly half of the revenue share of the global sourdough market. Over 773 thousand tonnes of sourdough was sold in 2016; by the end of the forecast period, Future Market Insights estimates global volumes to surpass 1.3 million tonnes.

The introduction of the chocolate Sourdough Baking market is a result of consumer need for healthy food goods. Moreover, Future Market Insights noted a rise in type I sourdough usage.

View Complete Report: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sourdough-market

[ananya5400]

Sourdough Market was valued at US$ 2.3 billion in 2023 and is expected to reach US$ 3.5 billion in 2028, to surge a CAGR of 9.0% during 2023 to 2028.

[blogaarti]

Sourdough Market Share 2021 Growth Challenges, Opportunities and Future Trends 2025

The global sourdough market has been enjoying a good growth rate as consumers are realising its benefits. Increasing awareness about it as compared to conventional bread. Sourdough is best known to have a low glycemic index (GI), which makes it ideal for diabetics, weight watchers, and fitness-conscious consumers. Between the forecast years of 2021 and 2025, the global sourdough market is expected to see several takers as the palates change to be more accommodative of healthy food items. Fairfield Market Research states that as sourdough contains yeast, lactobacilli, and biological leavening agents naturally, it is known to keep the gut healthy. All of these reasons have created a positive demand for sourdough in the food industry. 

To Read Complete Report of Global Sourdough Market: https://www.fairfieldmarketresearch.com/report/sourdough-market

Quick Service Restaurants Menus Increase Popularity of Sourdough

The booming quick service restaurant business is giving the global sourdough market a steady source of income. Widening menus that include healthier options are popularising sourdough consumption. Its novelty and health factor have collectively made a solid case for market, says Fairfield Market Research. The demand for sourdough is also attributable to the fact that it has a longer shelf life as compared to the conventional dough. Furthermore, it can be used through varied structures such as dried powders, live fluid societies, and starter societies. All of these factors are expected to give the market a leg up in the quick service restaurant market. 

Sourdough Makes a Positive Impression on Baked Goods Fostering Sale

An influx of pizzerias and bakeries has given the sourdough market a boost in recent years. Its uptake in the production of cookies, buns, bread, waffles, cakes and pastries has created a lucrative opportunity. Furthermore, the use of sourdough for making a pizza base is also acting as a driving factor for the global sourdough market. The growing interest in home baking and mushrooming artisanal bakeries are also adding to the market’s revenue. Analysts anticipate that sourdough will see higher penetration in retail outlets as consumption increases over the years. 

Europe Leads Sourdough Market as Palates Favour its Taste

According to Fairfield Market Research, Europe will emerge as the leading consumer of sourdough between the forecast years of 2021 and 2025. As baking and bakeries remain an integral part of Europe’s food culture, the regional market will lead the way ahead of others. A change in perception about eating healthy has also created a change in purchasing patterns, favouring sourdough. Widening e-tailing platforms are also responsible for increasing sales in the region. The addition of flavours, such as Sweet Potato & Carrot Sourdough, Quinoa Sourdough, Super White Sourdough, and Rye Pumpernickel Sourdough by Leon in partnership with Sainsbury will also create a positive outlook. 

Some of the leading players operating in the global sourdough market are Lesaffre, REAL BREAD & FOOD CO., Portland French Bakery, IREKS GmbH, Goodmills Group, Riverside Sourdough, Puratos, ITALMILL S.r.l., Alpha Baking Co., and Lallemand Inc. In the coming years, sourdough bread manufacturers will focus on introducing a variety of bread with different flavours to attract younger consumers. For instance, Dawn Foods launched a sourdough donut mix in 2020. Such initiatives will garner attention, enticing a wider consumer base over the forecast period. 

For More Information Visit: https://www.fairfieldmarketresearch.com/report/sourdough-market

About Us

Fairfield Market Research is a UK-based market research provider. Fairfield offers a wide spectrum of services, ranging from customized reports to consulting solutions. With a strong European footprint, Fairfield operates globally and helps businesses navigate through business cycles, with quick responses and multi-pronged approaches. The company values an eye for insightful take on global matters, ably backed by a team of exceptionally experienced researchers. With a strong repository of syndicated market research reports that are continuously published & updated to ensure the ever-changing needs of customers are met with absolute promptness.

[mohitmaximize]

Sourdough Market Industry Overview, Research, Demand, Trends And Analysis 2027.

Sourdough Market :

Sourdough Market size was valued at US$ 2.91 Bn. in 2020 and the total revenue is expected to grow at a CAGR of 7.7% through 2021 to 2027, reaching nearly US$ 4.89 Bn.

Introduction of Sourdough Market :

Puratos is an international company that offers the bakery, patisserie, and chocolate industries with a wide range of innovative products, raw materials, and application expertise. Puratos has 9370 employees in the world. Puratos products are available in over 100 countries. Puratos had annual turnover of US$ 2,066.12 in 2020.

Maximize Market Research report is a user-based library of a Sourdough Market report database, delivers comprehensive reports with a detailed analysis of changing market trends, key segments, top investment organisations, value chain, regional landscape, and competitive scenario.

Each and every insights presented in the reports published by expert group of Maximize Market Research, which is derived from primary interviews with top officials from leading companies of the domain concerned. Report’s secondary data research methodology includes deep online and offline research and discussion with expert professionals and analysts in the industry. In report, Sourdough Market reports, industry trends have been explained on the macro level, which is expected to help to finding outline market landscape and probable future issues.

Request for free sample: https://www.maximizemarketresearch.com/request-sample/67152

COVID-19 Impact on Sourdough Market:

The report has identified detailed impact of COVID-19 on Sourdough Market in regions such as North America, Asia Pacific, Middle-East, Europe, and South America. The report provides Comprehensive analysis on alternatives, difficult conditions, and difficult scenarios of Sourdough Market during this crisis. The report briefly elaborates the advantages as well as the difficulties in terms of finance and market growth attained during the COVID-19. In addition, report offers a set of concepts, which is expected to aid readers in deciding and planning a strategy for their business.

Ask your queries regarding the report:

https://www.maximizemarketresearch.com/market-report/global-sourdough-market/67152/

Sourdough Market Segmentation:

Sourdough Market size is studied using various approaches and analyses in this research report to provide reliable and in-depth information about the industry. It is segmented into numerous segments to cover various aspects of the market for a better understanding.

Sourdough Market Regional Insights:

Asia-Pacific (Vietnam, China, Malaysia, Japan, Philippines, Korea, Thailand, India, Indonesia, and Australia)

Europe (Turkey, Germany, Russia UK, Italy, France, etc.)

North America (the United States, Mexico, and Canada.)

South America (Brazil etc.)

The Middle East and Africa (GCC Countries and Egypt.)

Key players:

The research report includes the current Sourdough Market size of the market and its growth rates based on 5-year statistics and records with company summary of Key players:

• Puratos • Boudin SF • Riverside Sourdough • Lallemand • Truckee Sourdough Company • Gold Coast Bakeries • Alpha Baking Co. Inc. • Josey Baker Bread • Bread SRSLY • Morabito Baking Co. Inc. • Ernst Böcker GmbH & Co. KG • The Sourdough Company • Swiss Bake Ingredients Pvt. Ltd. • Gluten-Free Sourdough Company • Sonoma • Brian's Artisan Bread Company • Pasta Fermentata • Don Rodrigo Sourdough Bakery • Rotella’s Italian Bakery • Wild Wheat • Nantucket Baking Company • Casa Dolce

Prime Reasons to purchase a Sourdough Market research report:

The goal of this research report is to help consumers to gain a more information and clearer understanding of the industry. The Sourdough Market growth analysis includes development trends, competitive landscape analysis, investment plan, business strategy, opportunity, and key regions development status for international markets.

The Sourdough Market overview and the analysis of several affecting elements such as drivers, restraints, and opportunities.

Porter's Five Force Analysis and SWOT analysis are used to define, characterise, and analyse the market competition landscape, with a focus on key players.

Extensive analysis into the global Temperature Sensor competitive landscape

Identification and analysis of micro and macro elements that influence and will influence market growth.

A comprehensive list of major market players in the global Temperature Sensor industry.

In the Sourdough Market, it provides a descriptive study of demand-supply chaining.

Statistical study of certain key economic statistics

Figures, charts, graphs, and illustrations are used to clearly describe the market.

About Us:

Maximize Market Research provides syndicate as well as custom made business and market research on 12,000+ high growth emerging technologies & opportunities in  Chemical, Healthcare, Pharmaceuticals, Electronics & Communications, Internet of Things, Food and Beverages, Aerospace and Defense and other manufacturing sectors.

[marnz]

gluten free sourdough starter notes; day 3

Something silly about me is that the idea of fermentation really freaks me out because I am terrified of alive bacteria and mold and fungi, which my brain lumps together for some reason. Terrified. I cannot deal with mushrooms, for example, unless I’m hiking and see them in the woods. This fear doesn’t make any sense but I still have it. Like, I learned about the bacteria in yogurt and did not eat it for 4 years. I still have to actively block out my knowledge of cheese and yogurt. I was only recently able to start eating pickles. Blue cheese, Sauerkraut, and Kimchi all freak me out. This is silly and I am actively trying to get over it. It took me a while to become alright with the idea of making sourdough due to this, but the allure of being able to cheaply make my own bread instead of paying a ton of money for gf bread from the farmer’s market or store was so powerful I decided to try and over come my fear (prompting friends and my partner to be like omg so proud of you--that’s how bad my phobia is). My rough understanding of sourdough is that it is not like cheese, it is different because yeasts are feeding on the flour rather than the flour molding (???). If I am wrong please do not tell me! So I have been reading about sourdough for a fuller understanding, esp. about different yeasts types.

 This brief article suggests that the diversity of sourdough microbial communities cannot be explained by location--and here’s another article talking about how microbial communities in sourdough are also on bakers’ skin biodome. But both articles are talking about gluten flours (wheat, rye, etc). I was wondering if there are specific yeasts attracted to rice flour, but this Serious Eats article suggests that the flour doesn’t matter as long as it converts into the right kind of sugar for microbial production. However this Scientific American article says a lot of yeasts come from the flours itself and the flour determines the flavor, I guess because of the yeasts and lactic acid bacteria (LAB) attracted to the flour/attached to it?? Hm! If this works out maybe I will also try a sorghum flour starter.

The Serious Eats article says that the lactic acid bacteria (LAB) in sourdough are also at work in pickles and sauerkraut and kimchi! so I need to get over myself!! 😭

I started my gf sourdough starter, Jonathan, 3 days ago. A baker once told me to bring my mix of flour and water outside and walk through a field to attract wild yeasts so I took my starter out into the yard and took a lap around. I’m using brown rice flour based on this recipe. I also have been tying a dishtowel over the quart jar I’m using instead of using the lid. I am storing it on the top of the fridge for temperature reasons.

I was a little concerned about the starter working because I chose to use tap water and the recipe advises to not do this b/c most tap water has chlorine, which impedes the growth of the starter. However my city has some of the best tap water in the world, so I ignored this. It’s working out quite well. I’ve been feeding Jonathan 50 g of brown rice flour & 50 g of water twice a day. By last night there was some sort of liquid on top--it is possible this was hooch? The recipe says hooch forms when the starter is “hungry” so I am wondering if 50 g of flour is not enough. I hope to start switching to 100% hydration feedings (1:1:1 ratio of starter/flour/water) soon.

By this morning at 7:30 the starter had almost tripled in size and was light and springy with a lot of bubbles. The recipe advises to start discarding today. There’s still some bad bacteria in the mix since it’s only 3 days old so I can’t use the discard for anything yet. It definitely smelled sour.

I am going to try to make sourdough with this recipe. I will start with the suggested flour mix and boule shape. I am fascinated by the idea of using psyllium husk as a binder/gluten replacement. I haven’t used it before; these days I mainly use flax egg as an egg replacement. My research suggests psyllium husk is very popular with the gf sourdough community right now. Since it’s a literal husk (the recipes I’ve consulted do not advise using psyllium husk powder) I’m a little concerned about how it will mix in with the bread. I’m hoping I can start experimenting with the bread itself after I’ve had the starter for about 2 weeks.

[basketofverbiage]

Hold On

This is my first writing post I’ve made. I had this in my head for a while and finally got it out. I have a part two, but it’s still being edited. I am so open to feedback!

Warnings: suicide attempt; hospitals; panic attacks

Part 2 Part 3 Part 4

For the past few weeks, Seokjin has known that something is wrong, but has no idea what it is. And without knowing what it is, how the hell is he supposed to fix it? His entire life seems to revolve around the need to take care of the people he loves most, and he can see that Y/n is devastatingly hurt but has no clue how to heal it. It’s like a surgeon trying to operate on a patient in a dark back alley somewhere; he can’t see what’s ruptured, can’t stop the bleeding, and he has this sneaking suspicion that he might lose his patient.

It’s been three solid weeks since he first noticed that something seems to be affecting the woman he loves. She put on a brave face and a faux smile when she knew he was paying attention. But in quiet moments when she thought he was distracted, he could see the darkness wash over her features. He’s tried everything he could think of to draw out what is wrong, comfort her, cheer her up, but nothing has worked and he’s starting to get scared.

It all began on a normal Tuesday afternoon. He was finished with his schedule fairly early in the day and came home to find her sitting in the kitchen floor with her back pressed against the cabinet below the sink, her legs drawn up into her arms and her face hidden in her kneecaps, with dark swirly curls hiding the rest of her features.

“Baby, are you okay?” he called quietly, rushing over to kneel in front of her. Her head snapped up and she smiled the fakest smile he’d ever seen from her.

“Yes, Jinnie. I’m fine. I just haven’t slept well, and just sat down after washing dishes.”

He knew she was lying to him by the darkness swirling in her eyes and the way that the smile didn’t soften the pain in her features, but he decided not to push it. She really hadn’t been sleeping well. More than one night this week he’d woken up in the twilight morning hours to her thrashing about a bit in fitful nightmares, but she’d settle down a bit when he’d pull her in and hum softly into her ear. So, he reiterated to himself that it’s okay not to push it, and that she’d open up once she was ready. He’d scooped her up off the kitchen floor into a tight hug then they’d spent the afternoon curled up in bed with mindless tv shows and drifting in and out of dreams until he started to believe she was okay. She’d laughed at his silly jokes, so Y/n is fine, right?

After that, he noticed that she began sleeping so much more. Sure, she’d had a stressful few months at work with a major project she had been assigned for a high-profile client, but she’d completed that project well and the client had been singing her praises to the heavens. In doing so, she had spent as many sleepless nights slaving away as he had spent missing her beside him in their king-sized bed. It made him wonder how she survived the long months of him being away on tour, lying so tiny in the vast wasteland of a cold, empty bed. Seokjin is not tiny by any means, and without her, he felt so small and vaguely empty in satin sheets, surrounded by so many pillows. And no matter how many extra blankets he added, the bed was so cold without her. So once the project was completed, it made perfect sense that she’d catch up on sleep, right? There is nothing to worry about, right?

Y/n had also pretty obviously stopped eating and cooking. This was driving him insane. The love of cooking and feeding other people is one of the many things that brought them together, and they took turns showing their love to each other with food. She hadn’t baked a single item in three straight weeks. While Seokjin could not bake to save his own life, Y/n baked the most amazing creations and her favorite thing to make was bread. All different varieties of breads from simple, rustic loaves to delicate fruit-filled sweetbreads, she once told him that baking bread made her feel alive. Something about the way the dough responded and how much encouragement it needed to become something from nearly nothing. In fact, in the two full years they had been together, Seokjin had not one time bought a loaf of bread from the store. He forgot that store-bought loaves were even a thing. She kept her own sourdough starter and had to bake at least one loaf a week to keep it growing healthily without it taking over, so he would come home at least one day a week to the slightly sour, yeasty twang of sourdough bread wafting about as two beautiful loaves cooled on a cooling rack. One loaf was always for them at home, and the other for his brothers. Before they shared a home, she would regularly bring her bread experiments over to the dorm and the boys would all ooh and ahh over her creations; Seokjin and Namjoon had had to nearly break up physical fights between the maknaes over who got to eat the last of the loaves on more than one occasion. But it had been two solid weeks since a loaf had been baked in their apartment and he was desperately trying to squelch the worry that was building.

Seokjin realized that he might be out of his element with this. He’d tried everything he knew to do. They’d been on three fancy dates, and he’d sent her a gorgeous bouquet to work. Seokjin bought her the earrings she’d been eyeing subtly when they were shopping for his mom’s birthday present and left them on her pillow one morning when he had to be at an interview at 4 am. He had made love to her slow and sweet on a rainy Sunday afternoon like she loved; it had always been enough to bring her back to him before as he’d remind her of why he loved her both with words and with his body. But not this time. He had told her every joke he could think of, even the worst ones that sounded like they had come off the stick of a melted popsicle. He made her coffee like she liked in the morning, tea in the afternoon, and heady glasses of red wine in the evening. He’d even gone so far as to fly her best friend in for the one weekend he’d had to be away in Japan, knowing that if he couldn’t fix it, she usually could. He had asked if she was okay at least twice a day for more than a week, then given up already when she tried to keep her work mask on all the time and lied straight to his face that she was fine. Y/n was not fine, but he didn’t know what was wrong and nothing he had tried had even made a dent in the darkness, so Seokjin did the only thing he could think of and asked for help to the smartest man he knew.

“Hey, man, you okay?” Namjoon asked when Jin barged into his studio one afternoon without even knocking. The king of manners never forgot something so simple.

“I’m okay, but Y/n is not. I’ve tried everything, and I can’t bring her out of this funk she’s in.”

For the next few minutes, Namjoon asked pointed questions about her behavior and her responses to Seokjin’s attempt at cheering her up. After he had basically verbally vomited all over Namjoon’s lap in RKive for nearly 45 minutes, Namjoon said the most obvious thing.

“Jin-hyung, she sounds depressed. Like seriously, clinically depressed. She has all the classic symptoms. Exhaustion, lack of sleep then sleeping too much, not much energy, disengaging, giving up activities she loves…”

Of course, Namjoon and his sexy brain would identify the thing he’d been seeing wreck the love of his life in practically no time at all. The only thing is that he really didn’t have many solutions other than trying to get her to see a doctor to talk about it. Y/n is stubborn and hates doctors, so convincing her to go would take some doing, but he had an idea of how to go about it. Seokjin thought about it more as he walked down the hallway leaving from Namjoon’s studio and gathered a game plan in his mind. He was done for the day after having recorded all of his parts early in the morning, and it was just now 2:30 in the afternoon. He has time to put things in motion before Y/n should be home from work at 5; if he makes a special dinner for her, then maybe he can soften her heart enough for her to hear him out when he asks her to please either let him in to help or to see a professional. Preferably both if things went well.

Seokjin left the building in a bit of a hurry and drove to the supermarket closest to the apartment. It was a small, family run market that regularly got ingredients in that were difficult to find in other places. Y/n had made friends with the owner’s daughter-in-law as they were from the same home country and had bemoaned how difficult it was to find ingredients for certain dishes, even in a city as big as Seoul. Seokjin planned to make this one soup that Y/n called Comfort Soup that she’d taught him to make; it was the food her mom had made her when she was a child anytime she was sick, hurt, or even just sad, and it brought a piece of her home to her now when she felt homesick. He also wanted to bake a crusty artisan loaf to go with it using the one recipe that Y/n had taught him that he could usually bake without an issue. In fact, Y/n called it the Idiot-Proof Loaf, so surely he wouldn’t screw that up. The best part was that while it took an hour and a half from start to finish, the dough only had to rise once, and finished its growth in the oven instead of multiple risings like most of the breads Y/n made. He rushed in and got all the things he needed, then popped into the florist shop next door for those silly purple roses she loved. His final stop was to a little bakery nearby where their second date had been, and bought chocolate covered strawberries and two beautiful slices of the strawberry cheesecake that they’d shared on that date.

When he finally arrived at their apartment building, Seokjin was relived to see that he’d only used 45 minutes of his precious time and had still had time to bake the bread as long as he did that first. He could make Comfort Soup while the dough rose. After unlocking the apartment door, he kicked off his shoes by the door, then took all his ingredients to the kitchen. He put away the strawberries and cheesecake in the ice box then looked down at his outfit. Even with an apron, he should change so that he isn’t covered in flour and dough.

He didn’t notice it at first. Oh my god, how could he not have noticed? He had walked into the closet to change without turning on the bedroom light, so how could he not have noticed the light filtering under the bathroom door? The light he had turned off before leaving this morning. Y/n had left first since she had an early meeting at the office before he had to be to the recording studio, and there is no reason that she should have already been home. He didn’t see her keys on the hook by the door when he came in or her shoes on the rack where they belonged. Seokjin turned around as he pulled the white t-shirt over his head and stood there perplexed for a few seconds staring at the brightness on the carpet before striding over to open the door and turn off the light.

“Oh my god, Y/n!”

He opened the door to see darkening blood on the white tile of the bathroom floor, and Y/n slumped over against the tub. Her wrist was bleeding in her lap and the shining razor blade was lying beside her on the tile. While the volume of blood was disconcerting, there wasn’t as much as he’d ever thought there would be in a situation like this, so Seokjin knew he might have a chance to save her until he noticed the empty bottle of pills in the sink. Then, came the panic.

Seokjin ripped the hand towel off the drying rack and tied it around her bleeding wrist tight enough to put pressure on the wound while he full-on sprinted to the kitchen for his cell phone. He’d left it lying on the kitchen island when he went to change, and he grabbed it and dialed for an ambulance while running back to her. The dispatcher gathered their address and told him that help was coming, but Seokjin could barely hear her. He was shaking Y/n gently trying to get her to respond. He could just barely hear a pulse when he pressed his ear to her chest and her breathing was so damn shallow it barely grazed his skin when he hovered his hand in front of her face. Oh, god, she’s so pale, he though to himself before hanging up and dropping his phone in the pocket of his sweatpants.

“Y/n, baby, can you hear me? Please wake up, please. I need you to wake up.” He didn’t even realize he was crying until he spoke, just begging her to open her eyes.

He barely registered the banging on the front door as help arrived. He didn’t want to leave her, but he had to, so he ran to the door and flung it open for the paramedics and just left the front door gaping open and ran back to the bathroom. Luckily, they took the hint and followed him back to where Y/n was still limp on the floor. They worked quickly and got her all strapped onto a stretcher and told him that he could ride to the hospital with her.

As an afterthought almost, Seokjin grabbed the empty bottle out of the sink and took it with them. Once they were in the ambulance and the paramedics were doing their jobs, Seokjin finally looked at the bottle and immediately felt worse. The empty bottle had his name on it. It had contained muscle relaxers from a couple of months ago when Seokjin had pulled a muscle in his back overworking himself and the doctor had given them to him to help him relax the muscles around it enough that he could sleep. There had been around 10 pills left in the bottle, and Y/n is so much smaller than him in size. Seokjin didn’t know much about medications but he did remember that they were prescribed taking size into consideration, and for the second time in the last 20 minutes, he realized that she might really die.

“Please, Y/n. Please. Oh God you have to wake up.” Seokjin choked on a sob before he could say anything else.

Seokjin felt like the minutes that had passed since he found her were moving through molasses, thick and slow to drip through the hourglass. The ambulance stopped in front of the hospital and the doors flung open into bright late afternoon sunlight, and this nightmare kept going. The paramedics unloaded the stretcher and Seokjin chased them into the emergency room. He kept following them through two sets of double doors, not hearing any words that were being spoken to him until a nurse physically grabbed him.

“Sir, you can’t go any further. We need space to help her,” she said then guided him into a tiny private waiting room. “Wait here and I’ll come back to update you as soon as I can.” She had just made it to the door when he remembered the bottle that he’d been squeezing.

“Here,” he said shakily. “I found this in the sink when I found her. I know that there were at least 10 left in there.”

The nurse thanked him and left quickly, shutting the door behind her. After several seconds of being attacked by the silence in the room, Seokjin’s legs couldn’t hold him up anymore and he just collapsed. He couldn’t stop crying but found the strength to pull out his phone and called Namjoon.

“Namjoon-ah, I was too late. Oh my god, I was too late,” Seokjin sobbed into the phone.

“Jin-hyung, where are you?”

After hearing that Seokjin was at the hospital, Namjoon told him that they’d all come to him. Seokjin had no concept of the flow of time as he remained crumpled on the floor when all six of his brothers tumbled in the door, and he lost it even more when Jimin and Taehyung both wrapped their arms around him. They held him while he sobbed and told them about what he’d found when he’d opened the bathroom door. After a while, Seokjin felt like his chest was gaping open and all of his internal organs were falling out at once, but the tears slowed down as the panic flooded back in; his chest constricted in terror and anxiety and sharp, wracking pain.

“I can’t breathe. Oh, my god, I can’t breathe,” he gasped out as he looked up and met eyes with Namjoon.

Jimin and Taehyung backed up a little to give him some space as Seokjin started hyperventilating. The edges of his vision were starting to get blurry and almost sparkled a bit as his body seemed to reject every breath he tried to take. He barely registered the sound of the door opening as Yoongi ran out to get help. Seokjin struggled to breathe and tried desperately to cling to consciousness as the panic attack really set in.

An unfamiliar feminine face was in front of him then, encouraging him to focus on the sound of her voice. She spoke softly and calmly to him, but she might as well have been speaking to him in Greek because he couldn’t understand any of her words. For that matter, he could just barely hear her over this loud whooshing sound in his ears. The tone of her voice was soft and forced him to focus on nothing else to try to understand what she was saying, and after a few minutes the whooshing noise quieted down enough to hear her properly and he began to lose some of the tightness in his chest.

“Seokjin-ssi, that’s it. Keep breathing slowly and deeply. You are safe. You are just having a panic attack right now, and that’s understandable. Just keep listening to my voice and keep breathing in…then out…now in again,” she murmured to him.

After she was sure that he was calm and wouldn’t panic again, she turned to the other men in the room and asked them to help Seokjin out of the floor. Jungkook stepped up with Namjoon and they physically lifted him up and into a chair. Seokjin couldn’t help them because his legs had been substituted with lemon jello that hadn’t fully set up yet.

Yoongi held a cup to his lips. “Drink, hyung,” he said softly.

Seokjin sipped obediently a few times until Yoongi was satisfied and sat the cup on a nearby table. Seokjin was shocked when Yoongi wrapped his arms around him. Yoongi rarely initiated physical shows of affection, but he understood this entire scenario in a deeper way than he wanted to admit and he knew exactly what Seokjin needed in this moment.

“Yoongichi, I think this is my fault,” Seokjin whispered into his ear.

“No, Jin-hyung. It is not your fault.”

“But I think it is. I must not have loved her well enough. I wasn’t home enough. The pills she took were mine. If I had gone to Namjoon-ah for help sooner…” Seokjin’s voice cracked and he couldn’t finish the thought.

“It is not your fault. Trust me. Do you not remember where I was emotionally when we met? And how close I came to trying too? Do you remember what I said to you the night you walked in and stopped me?” Yoongi countered gently.

“You said that you didn’t want to weigh us all down and that you’d rather hurt yourself than hurt us. And that everything is all your fault.”

“That’s right,” Yoongi replied with a soft smile. “And what did you say back to me?”

“That just because you feel like it’s your fault doesn’t mean that it is. That leaving us that way would hurt more than any burden you handed us. And to let me be your tether when you needed something to hold you down to the earth.”

“Yes, So, now I get a chance to say part of it back to you. Just because you think this is your fault doesn’t mean it is. You saved her, Jin-hyung. You are the reason she’s still breathing now, just like you are the reason I am still breathing now. Yes, she got a little closer to the fire than we’d like, but she can still come back to us. And when she does, Y/n is going to need a tether on the hard days, yeah?”

Seokjin couldn’t speak at that. He still felt like everything was his fault for not realizing what was happening sooner, but Yoongi was right. He had to stay strong because Y/n needed that right now, so he squeezed Yoongi a little tighter then let go before he started to cry again. Yoongi moved from kneeling in front of him to plant himself in the chair beside him. Now that his panic attack had stopped, Seokjin felt like someone had buried him under the weight of about 100 tons of brick. Everything was so heavy, and he was too tired to try to climb out. He finally looked around the room and took it in for the first time.

The waiting room was small but big enough for all of them. Namjoon was in the corner speaking quietly into the phone, presumably updating their managers on what was happening. Seokjin hadn’t thought to call anyone except Namjoon since Namjoon was the only person he’d spoken with about this. Jungkook was standing by the door with his arms crossed, almost as if he was standing guard over his brothers; his stance portrayed his worry a bit in that his first instinct when one of his hyungs was hurting was to cry with them, then protect them if he could. Hoseok was sitting on a small couch on the left side of the room smashed in between Jimin and Taehyung, both folded into Hobi for security and comfort. Hobi had both boys tucked under his arms and was trying to help them stay calm. Both Jimin and Taehyung were empaths and this scenario had them both on edge from the emotions in the room. Jimin still had tears running down his cheeks from the fear of Seokjin’s panic attack and worry for his friend. Taehyung was staring at Jin with wide eyes, seemingly trying to decide if he was okay and what he should do to help.

“I’m okay, Taehyungie,” Seokjin said softly. “I’m just scared.”

Taehyung got up and moved to sit at Seokjin’s feet and wrapped his arms around Seokjin’s legs. It was a small gesture, but somehow it helped to settle some of the remaining anxiety in the pit of Jin’s stomach, and he knew that the physical contact would help Tae relax a bit.

Time seemed to stop moving. Seokjin had no concept of how long they had been in this room. It could have been seconds, or it could have been 10 years, but not knowing what was happening with Y/n was making him crazy. Just when he thought that he couldn’t handle another minute of this stretching unnerving silence, there was a knock at the door, then the doctor stepped in.

“Kim Seokjin?” he asked.

“That’s me. How is she?” Jin stuttered out.

“She’s still alive, but in critical condition. She had lost quite a lot of blood when you found her. We had to give her three pints just to stabilize her. We also did have to pump her stomach for the pills she had taken. We wouldn’t have known about that if you hadn’t brought the bottle in. Honestly, if you had found her 5 minutes later, the outcome may have been very different. As it is, she’s still very weak and unconscious. Hopefully, she will wake up in the next few days, but we still have to wait and see.”

“Can I see her?” Seokin asked.

“Yes, but just be prepared. Her color is still really pale, and she’s hooked up to quite a few monitors. We have also inserted a ventilation tube to help her with breathing for tonight. We hope to remove it tomorrow morning, but we can take it out sooner if she wakes up before then. It’s not standard, but due to the scenario, you may want to bring someone with you,” the doctor advised then smiled softly. “I really think she will be okay, but I can’t be 100% sure.”

Seokjin looked around the room at each of his brothers, meeting eyes with Yoongi last. “Come with me?” he whispered. Yoongi nodded then stood. Taehyung unwrapped himself from around Seokjin’s legs and allowed the two men to follow the doctor out of the room.

The doctor lead them down a seemingly endless hallway before they arrived at a set of double doors. The doctor waved his name badge in front of a keypad and the doors swung open to another hallway. They walked past 4 doors before the doctor stopped and knocked on a door on the left side then let them in.

“Just let me know if you have any questions. I’ll be in to check on her in a couple of hours,” he told them before leaving and closing the door.

Seokjin watched the door close before he finally looked at Y/n lying in the bed. It was like he was standing in his worst nightmare and couldn’t wake up. She looked so small lying there, and so, so pale. There was an IV coming out of her right arm that connected to a couple of bags of fluid hanging limply from a pole beside the bed. There was a plastic mask over her mouth connected with the ventilator at the bedside, and wires that connected from cathodes on her chest to a large beeping heart monitor on the left side of the bed. At the shock of seeing Y/n like this, his knees almost buckled. He would have hit the floor if Yoongi hadn’t grabbed him. Yoongi guided him over to the chair beside the bed and helped him sit down.

“She almost looks dead, Yoongi. Oh my god…” he whimpered.

Yoongi didn’t say anything, he just grabbed Seokjin’s hand and held it tight. It had been nearly 5 years since the night Seokjin had walked in on him with a knife in his hand standing in the bathtub of their shared bathroom. Seokjin had talked him down that night and 3 more times since. Yoongi can’t help but think that while he has recovered so much, this could have been him at some point, and his chest ached. He hurt for his friend lying in the bed, and he ached for his brother who loved her so much and he was upset with himself for not being able to help either of them. He settled on being as comforting to Seokjin as he possibly could and released his hand just long enough to drag an empty chair up beside him, then grabbing his hand again.

Seokjin gently held Y/n’s hand in his right and Yoongi’s in his left. He tried to take the comfort he got from Yoongi’s hand and pour it into the gentle grip he maintained on Y/n’s hand. Tears were dripping silently down his cheeks as he watched the machine take breaths for her and listened to the beeping of the heart monitor. The heart monitor’s sound was comforting somehow as the steady beating reminded him that every beep was a beat of her heart. Seokjin just sat and stared at her motionless form in the bed, and after a while, the beeping of the heart monitor lulled him to sleep without him realizing he’d drifted off.

A loud frantic alarm went off and Seokjin jarred awake, taking a second to remember where he was and why he was there. When he jerked upright, Yoongi’s head fell off of his shoulder where it had landed and Yoongi woke up too. The heart monitor was beeping loudly and erratically now.

“Oh god, Yoongi get help. Something’s wrong.”

Yoongi ran out into the hallway, and Seokjin could vaguely recognize his voice calling for the nurses to come help. Y/n’s eyes hadn’t opened, but she looked paler than she had been and Seokjin couldn’t help but to panic.

“Y/n, no! Please wake up! You can’t leave me like this,” Jin cried, shaking her gently.

The nurses ran in just before that same alarm that shocked him awake sounded again, and they shoved Seokjin out the door and out of the way to have room to work.

“No, please! I need to be with her! Please! Y/n! Y/N! PLEASE DON’T LEAVE ME. PLEASE DON’T LEAVE ME!” Seokjin started screaming and crying trying to fight off the arms that were holding him back.

Yoongi spun him around to face him then and pulled him into a hug. “Hyung, you have to let them work. You have to let them help her.”

Seokjin felt like he had lost all control and he wasn’t sure he could just stand here when his entire world was behind that closed door dying. At the same time, he didn’t know what he could do to help, and he was so angry that he couldn’t just fix this. Seokjin let Yoongi lead him a few feet away from the door so they wouldn’t be blocking the way if anyone needed to come in or out. After an eternity it seemed, the nurses opened the door and called Seokjin over.

“I’m sorry for shoving you out the door. The alarm you were hearing was the heart rate monitor. Her blood pressure was dropping, and we had to give her a big shot of some medication to correct that. She has stabilized a bit and you can go back in and wait with her if you’d like.”

Seokjin just nodded and walked back in and headed back to his chair at the bedside. Yoongi grabbed his hand and squeezed it for a moment before speaking, “Hyung, I’m going to go update everyone. I know they are all worried about what’s happening. I’ll send someone else to come back with you for a bit so that they can visit Y/n too. They love her too.”

“Okay,” Seokjin whispered. “Would you send Joon-ah?”

“Of course I will.”

After Seokjin heard the door click closed, he took a closer look at Y/n. She was still so pale and looked like she was so breakable. Even through all of that, she was still the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen, and he couldn’t just sit there by the bedside anymore. He needed to hold her in his arms, so he gently navigated all of the wires and tubes to climb in the bed beside her and wrap his arms around her as gently as he could. The bed was so small, but his entire body relaxed a bit when he was able to feel her beside him. Seokjin kissed her gently on the temple before speaking softly into her ear.  

“Baby, I hope you can hear me. I love you so much. I am so sorry that I didn’t realize what was happening with you sooner. I tried so hard to help in subtle ways and not to force you to open up about what was going wrong. I should have pushed even if we fought. I’d rather live with the knowledge that you are angry with me than for you to not be alive at all. Please. Please, don’t leave me.” Seokjin couldn’t stop himself from sobbing into Y/n’s hair, and he was so exhausted with worry and fear. After a few more minutes, he had cried himself back to sleep.

As Seokjin’s sleep addled brain woke back up a few hours later, he had difficulty remembering where he was, but then he opened his eyes and reality bitch-slapped him in the face. He glanced down to see Y/n still unconscious beside him. He needed to visit the restroom and something to drink. He had cried so much that his entire body felt like it was drying up from the inside out. He slowly sat up and maneuvered out of the bed so that he wouldn’t disconnect any of the vital tubes and wires connected to her and got out of the bed. When he did, he saw Namjoon slumped over asleep in the chair he’d vacated the night before and smiled a bit to himself before slipping into the connected bathroom.

Seokjin stared at himself in the mirror as he washed his hands. While he still was as handsome as he’d ever been, his eyes were swollen and a bit red from crying and sleeping in his contacts. His hair was sticking up everywhere too from sleep, and there was a big brown streak of dried blood across his white tee from where he’d found Y/n. He looked like hell. He splashed some water on his face a bit then came out of the bathroom. As much as he didn’t want to leave her, he wanted to check on the others down the hallway. After exiting the restroom, he sat down beside Namjoon and lightly shook him.

“Namjoon-ah, wake up.”

Namjoon startled awake a bit, looking around to see what was happening. “Wha…What’s going on? Did something happen?”

“No, nothing has changed. I just want to walk down the hall to check on the others and get a cup of coffee. Will you stay with her please? I don’t want her to be alone when she wakes up. I just feel like I’m going to lose my mind if I stay still in this room for another second.”

Namjoon agreed immediately, and Seokjin rose and left the room as quietly as possible. He wondered down the hallway and back to the double doors. There was a sign beside the door that notated a 4-digit code so that he could get back in without a doctor’s name badge upon his return, so he committed that to memory before heading back into the room where he’d left the others. He walked in and saw Yoongi and Hoseok curled up on the sofa, cuddled up together asleep. The maknaes were all three curled up in the floor together using cushions they had removed from the chairs around the room as pillows, but they were all touching. Jungkook was in the middle, with Taehyung draped around him. Taehyung had one arm and one leg thrown across Jungkook, and Jimin was holding his hand. Jimin was lying with his left side pushed against Jungkook’s side and his head tilted so that it touched Jungkook’s shoulder. Seokjin chuckled a bit at the sight, glad that he had these men as his family. At the sound of his laugh, Hoseok looked over at Seokjin where he was standing just inside the door. Hoseok had always been the lightest sleeper of the group, and any sound would disrupt him.

“Hyung?” Hoseok asked, “Is Y/n awake?”

“No, Seokie, she’s not. But I felt like I was going to spontaneously combust from not being able to help her, so I came out to get some coffee.”

“Oh.” Hoseok’s face fell as he learned that Y/n was still not awake. “Sejin-hyung brought you a change of clothes and a toothbrush in the middle of the night. Joonie told him about how you…about your shirt.”

Seokjin found the bag in the corner of the room, so thankful at how much like family their managers were with them. They had always looked after all 7 as if they were their own children, so when something happened to 1 member, it happed to the entire staff too. Seokjin stepped into the small bathroom connected to the waiting room to change and brush his teeth and immediately felt a bit calmer. There had been black sweatpants, a white tee shirt and an oversized blue sweater in the bag. The sweater helped immensely. It was the one that Y/n had stolen to sleep in the other day, so her scent was still woven into the fabric and it helped him to stay calm and hopeful. He stepped out into the waiting room to see that the maknaes were starting to stir a bit.

“Jin-hyung, I’m going to get coffee and breakfast for everyone. Can I bring you something?” Jimin asked.

“Just coffee, Minnie. I don’t think I can stomach the thought of food at the moment. I’m going to head back to Y/n, so just call when you get back and I’ll come out and get the coffee.”

Seokjin then headed back towards Y/n’s room in the intensive care unit. He heard Namjoon screaming for someone to come before he got back through the double doors and his heart nearly exploded in fear. What if she’s crashing again, he thought to himself as he was running down the hall. He nearly collided with Namjoon midway there. Namjoon grabbed both his arms to keep from falling backwards, before he said two words that made Seokjin’s heart flutter from relief.

“She’s awake.”