The Other Sprouts

You may have noticed that "sprouted grain" breads are gaining in popularity, tucked in between the traditional loaves of sourdough and rye in our bakery. Nowadays there are sprouted grain bagels, English muffins, hot dog buns and even tortillas. But, familiar sounding as the name may be, few people know what sprouted grain products taste like, or even what sprouted grains are.

The majority of bread items on grocery store shelves are either of the white or whole wheat variety, gaining their distinction from the flour used in the dough. But sprouted grain breads are not made from traditional flour at all. Here are the key distinctions:

Wheat Bread: Made with whole wheat flour that has been ground using the entire wheat berry or wheat kernel, including the vitamin-rich germ and the protein and carb-dense bran.

White Bread: Made with white flour that has been created by removing both the germ and the bran from the wheat berry before grinding. White bread lacks the nutritional value that both whole wheat and sprouted grains breads provide.

Sprouted Grain Bread: Made from wheat berries that are allowed to sprout before being ground up and made into bread. (Note: Although most sprouted grain bakery items are considered ""flourless,"" they can still contain wheat glutens or even flour as an additional ingredient; so those with gluten intolerance should exercise caution and thoroughly read the labels.)

The sprouting process essentially turns the grain into a tiny plant, so when eaten, the grain is treated as a vegetable rather than a starch, thus making it easy to digest. The grains can come from a variety of sprout sources, including millet, barley, oat, rye and even lentils.

Sprouted grains are packed with fiber and are considered "whole grain" because they include both the bran and germ. While most breads are vegetarian-friendly, sprouted grain breads are especially healthful, because they can provide a complete set of amino acids, the building blocks of protein, making them a great option for those who avoid meat.

The sprouted baked goods such as bread, bagels and tortillas boast a nutty taste and a denser, chewier texture than regular breads.

Sprouts Farmers Market offers many sprouted grain items from several esteemed companies such as Food 4 Life, Alvarado and Oasis and French Meadow Bakery. Appropriately enough, we also sell several sprouted grain products under the Sprouts name, including Sprouted Wheat Bagels, 7-Grain Sprouted Bread, Sprouted Wheat with Flaxseed Bread, and Sprouted 9-Grain Bread.