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Sourdough Flours - The best flour for making Sourdough

What type of flour is best to use for sourdough bread? If you’re a complete beginner, organic strong white bread flour made from hard wheat is the best option. This flour will; give you the easiest and strongest gluten development, be easiest to knead and shape and give the best rise in the oven.

We have listed below recommended flours from our favourite millers Matthews Cotswold, Gilchesters & Marriage's. We have started with our best sellers Matthews Cotswold Churchill, Marriage's Manitoba Very Strong White Canadian and Gilchesters Organics Stoneground Organic Strong White Flour plus a great selection of organic flours, wholemeal flours and rye flours.
Buy Sourdough Flour at Ratton Pantry.
  • 16kg Sack of Matthews Cotswold Organic Stoneground Dark Rye flour, rich colour and full flavour

    Matthews Cotswold Organic Stoneground Dark Rye Flour 16kg

    £23.99
    Low Stock | Same Day Dispatch up to 2pm (Mon-Fri)* | Express Delivery Available

    Matthews Cotswold Organic Stoneground Dark Rye Flour easily produces an authentic 100% rye bread, rich in colour, with a traditional full flavour. ...

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    £23.99
    Low Stock | Same Day Dispatch up to 2pm (Mon-Fri)* | Express Delivery Available
  • 1.5kg, 4.5kg & 7.5kg Matthews Cotswold 100% Canadian Great White flour, premium strength white flour

    Matthews Cotswold 100% Canadian Great White Flour 1.5kg

    from £3.49
    In Stock | Same Day Dispatch up to 2pm (Mon-Fri)* | Express Delivery Available

    Matthews Cotswold Canadian Great White flour is a premium strength white flour milled from quality imported Canadian wheat. The flour produces a st...

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    from £3.49
    In Stock | Same Day Dispatch up to 2pm (Mon-Fri)* | Express Delivery Available
  • Matthews Cotswold Stoneground Dark Rye Flour 1.5kg

    from £2.99
    In Stock | Same Day Dispatch up to 2pm (Mon-Fri)* | Express Delivery Available

    Matthews Cotswold Stoneground Dark Rye Flour easily produces an authentic 100% rye bread, rich in colour, with a traditional full flavour and excel...

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    from £2.99
    In Stock | Same Day Dispatch up to 2pm (Mon-Fri)* | Express Delivery Available
  • Matthews Cotswold Stoneground Strong Wholemeal Flour 1.5kg

    from £2.99
    In Stock | Same Day Dispatch up to 2pm (Mon-Fri)* | Express Delivery Available

    Matthews Cotswold Strong Stoneground Wholemeal – a strong wholemeal flour, which has been stoneground to create a wonderfully wholesome flour perfe...

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    from £2.99
    In Stock | Same Day Dispatch up to 2pm (Mon-Fri)* | Express Delivery Available
  • Matthews Cotswold Stoneground Light Rye T997 Flour

    from £10.99
    In Stock | Same Day Dispatch up to 2pm (Mon-Fri)* | Express Delivery Available

    Traditionally stoneground milled Matthews light Rye flour type 997. This flour is a lighter grey colour than dark rye and by comparison produces li...

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    from £10.99
    In Stock | Same Day Dispatch up to 2pm (Mon-Fri)* | Express Delivery Available
  • Matthews Cotswold Stoneground Strong Wholemeal Flour

    from £12.99
    In Stock | Same Day Dispatch up to 2pm (Mon-Fri)* | Express Delivery Available

    Matthews Cotswold Strong Stoneground Wholemeal – a strong wholemeal flour, which has been stoneground to create a wonderfully wholesome flour perfe...

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    from £12.99
    In Stock | Same Day Dispatch up to 2pm (Mon-Fri)* | Express Delivery Available
  • Matthews Cotswold 100% Canadian Great White flour, premium strength white flour

    Matthews Cotswold 100% Canadian Great White Flour

    from £13.99
    In Stock | Same Day Dispatch up to 2pm (Mon-Fri)* | Express Delivery Available

    Matthews Cotswold Canadian Great White flour is a premium strength white flour milled from quality imported Canadian wheat. The flour produces a st...

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    from £13.99
    In Stock | Same Day Dispatch up to 2pm (Mon-Fri)* | Express Delivery Available
  • Paperback Cover of How to Raise a Loaf and Fall in Love with Sourdough, a sourdough baking guide

    How to raise a loaf and fall in love with sourdough Book

    £12.99
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    How to Raise a Loaf - All you need to become a master sourdough baker!How to raise a loaf and fall in love with sourdough is a new accessible guide...

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    £12.99
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  • Wildfarmed White Bread Flour (T65)

    from £2.29
    In Stock | Same Day Dispatch up to 2pm (Mon-Fri)* | Express Delivery Available

    Ratton Pantry champions sustainable brands, and they don't come much more environmentally conscious than Wildfarmed. Reinventing and revolutionisin...

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    from £2.29
    In Stock | Same Day Dispatch up to 2pm (Mon-Fri)* | Express Delivery Available
  • Matthews Cotswold Windrush Strong White Bread Flour

    from £11.99
    Low Stock | Same Day Dispatch up to 2pm (Mon-Fri)* | Express Delivery Available

    Matthews Cotswold Windrush Strong White Bread Flour is perfect for everyday bread baking in the bakery or kitchen. Milled using exclusively premium...

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    from £11.99
    Low Stock | Same Day Dispatch up to 2pm (Mon-Fri)* | Express Delivery Available
  • Wildfarmed Wholemeal Flour (T150)

    from £2.29
    In Stock | Same Day Dispatch up to 2pm (Mon-Fri)* | Express Delivery Available

    Ratton Pantry champions sustainable brands, and they don't come much more environmentally conscious than Wildfarmed. Reinventing and revolutionisin...

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    from £2.29
    In Stock | Same Day Dispatch up to 2pm (Mon-Fri)* | Express Delivery Available
  • Stoates Organic True South West Stoneground Wholemeal Bread Flour

    from £4.79
    In Stock | Same Day Dispatch up to 2pm (Mon-Fri)* | Express Delivery Available

    Ratton Pantry is proud to now being able to offering the True South West Flour brought to you through the South West Grain Network. This full Organ...

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    from £4.79
    In Stock | Same Day Dispatch up to 2pm (Mon-Fri)* | Express Delivery Available
  • 1kg Bag of Caputo Manitoba Oro Tipo 0 Italian flour, high protein for pastry and leavened dough

    Caputo® Manitoba Oro Tipo "0" Italian Flour - 1kg

    £2.99
    In Stock | Same Day Dispatch up to 2pm (Mon-Fri)* | Express Delivery Available

    Caputo® Manitoba Oro Tipo "0" Italian Flour - 1kg, elastic flour with high protein value, ideal for pastry and leavened products.Caputo Manitoba Or...

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    £2.99
    In Stock | Same Day Dispatch up to 2pm (Mon-Fri)* | Express Delivery Available
  • Caputo Manitoba Tipo 0 Italian flour, Italy's highest-rated flour with high protein content

    Caputo® Manitoba Tipo "0" Italian Flour

    from £7.99
    In Stock | Same Day Dispatch up to 2pm (Mon-Fri)* | Express Delivery Available

    Caputo® Manitoba Tipo "0" Flour.  Caputo® Manitoba Flour Tipo "0" is Italy's highest-rated flour. Made from the best wheats with high proteinic lev...

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    from £7.99
    In Stock | Same Day Dispatch up to 2pm (Mon-Fri)* | Express Delivery Available
  • Stoates Organic Stoneground Rye Flour

    from £3.99
    In Stock | Same Day Dispatch up to 2pm (Mon-Fri)* | Express Delivery Available

    Ratton Pantry is pleased to welcome Stoates and their premium range of British artisan organic flours. Used for making pumpernickel, sour doughs a...

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    from £3.99
    In Stock | Same Day Dispatch up to 2pm (Mon-Fri)* | Express Delivery Available
  • Matthews Cotswold Wychwood Strong White Bread Flour

    from £11.99
    In Stock | Same Day Dispatch up to 2pm (Mon-Fri)* | Express Delivery Available

    Matthews Cotswold Wychwood Strong White Bread Flour is a premium strength bread flour for top artisan bakers around the UK and passionate home bake...

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    from £11.99
    In Stock | Same Day Dispatch up to 2pm (Mon-Fri)* | Express Delivery Available
  • Stoates Organic Stoneground Strong 100% Wholemeal Flour

    from £3.49
    In Stock | Same Day Dispatch up to 2pm (Mon-Fri)* | Express Delivery Available

    Ratton Pantry is pleased to welcome Stoates and their premium range of British artisan organic flours. Stoates Organic Stoneground Strong 100% Whol...

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    from £3.49
    In Stock | Same Day Dispatch up to 2pm (Mon-Fri)* | Express Delivery Available
  • Molini Pizzuti Farina Pizza Vesuvio (Manitoba) Italian Flour Tipo "0"

    from £7.49
    In Stock | Same Day Dispatch up to 2pm (Mon-Fri)* | Express Delivery Available

    Soft wheat flour type “0”, for higher hydration dough that requires long rising period. The dough needs to rise between 24 and 72 hours, at a tempe...

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    from £7.49
    In Stock | Same Day Dispatch up to 2pm (Mon-Fri)* | Express Delivery Available
  • 16kg Sack of Marriage's organic strong white bread flour, high protein for loaves and pizza

    Marriage's Organic Strong White Bread Flour 16kg

    £27.99
    In Stock | Same Day Dispatch up to 2pm (Mon-Fri)* | Express Delivery Available

    Marriage's Organic Strong White Bread Flour. High protein organic strong bread flour for loaves, rolls, pizza and puff pastry. It is milled from ca...

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    £27.99
    In Stock | Same Day Dispatch up to 2pm (Mon-Fri)* | Express Delivery Available
  • Molino Dallagiovanna Type '00' Manitoba Flour - 25kg - Ratton Pantry

    Molino Dallagiovanna Type '0' Manitoba Flour

    from £6.99
    Low Stock | Same Day Dispatch up to 2pm (Mon-Fri)* | Express Delivery Available

    Ratton Pantry are proud to offer exquisite Italian flours from Molino Dallagiovanna. Type 0 soft wheatW 390P/L 0.6Proteins 15%Humidity <15.5...

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    from £6.99
    Low Stock | Same Day Dispatch up to 2pm (Mon-Fri)* | Express Delivery Available
  • Matthews Cotswold Stoneground Dark Rye Flour

    from £10.99
    In Stock | Same Day Dispatch up to 2pm (Mon-Fri)* | Express Delivery Available

    Matthews Cotswold Stoneground Dark Rye flour is a wholemeal Rye flour used to produce delicious rye breads and with a dark dense character. Produce...

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    from £10.99
    In Stock | Same Day Dispatch up to 2pm (Mon-Fri)* | Express Delivery Available
  • Wessex Mill Strong White Bread Flour 16kg

    £26.99
    In Stock | Same Day Dispatch up to 2pm (Mon-Fri)* | Express Delivery Available

    Wessex Mill Strong White Bread Flour was awarded 2 Stars in The Great Taste Awards. Judges comment " Made a perfect, well-risen loaf. Good crumb, t...

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    £26.99
    In Stock | Same Day Dispatch up to 2pm (Mon-Fri)* | Express Delivery Available
  • Wessex Mill Strong White Bread Flour 1.5kg

    £3.49
    In Stock | Same Day Dispatch up to 2pm (Mon-Fri)* | Express Delivery Available

    Wessex Mill Strong White Bread Flour, for use in yeasted or sourdough loaves. Makes delicious loaves or rolls. Strong White Bread Flour made from t...

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    £3.49
    In Stock | Same Day Dispatch up to 2pm (Mon-Fri)* | Express Delivery Available
  • Stoates Organic True South West Stoneground Strong White Bread Flour

    from £4.99
    In Stock | Same Day Dispatch up to 2pm (Mon-Fri)* | Express Delivery Available

    Ratton Pantry is proud to now being able to offering the True South West Flour brought to you through the South West Grain Network. This full Organ...

    View full details
    from £4.99
    In Stock | Same Day Dispatch up to 2pm (Mon-Fri)* | Express Delivery Available
  • Marriage's Manitoba very strong white Canadian bread flour, 100% Canadian wheat

    Marriage's Manitoba Very Strong White Canadian Bread Flour

    from £5.99
    In Stock | Same Day Dispatch up to 2pm (Mon-Fri)* | Express Delivery Available

    Marriage's Manitoba Very Strong White Canadian Bread Flour. This 100% Canadian wheat flour is very high in protein, for bread, rolls and making pa...

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    from £5.99
    In Stock | Same Day Dispatch up to 2pm (Mon-Fri)* | Express Delivery Available
  • 16kg Sack of Marriage's organic strong stoneground wholemeal flour, milled using French Burr stones

    Marriage's Organic Strong Stoneground Wholemeal Flour 16kg

    £25.99
    In Stock | Same Day Dispatch up to 2pm (Mon-Fri)* | Express Delivery Available

    Marriage's Organic Strong Stoneground Wholemeal Bread Flour. Marriage's mill this traditional organic flour using ancient French Burr stones to del...

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    £25.99
    In Stock | Same Day Dispatch up to 2pm (Mon-Fri)* | Express Delivery Available
  • 0.75L Le Parfait Super Preserve clip top glass store jar

    Le Parfait Super Preserve Clip Top Glass Store Jar 0.75L

    £6.99
    In Stock | Same Day Dispatch up to 2pm (Mon-Fri)* | Express Delivery Available

    The 0.75L Le Parfait Super Preserve Glass Jar is perfect for Canning and Preserving foods like as pate, chutney, or pickling jars.  Airtight fre...

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    £6.99
    In Stock | Same Day Dispatch up to 2pm (Mon-Fri)* | Express Delivery Available
  • 0.5L Le Parfait Super Preserve clip top glass store jar

    Le Parfait Super Preserve Clip Top Glass Store Jar 0.5L

    £5.99
    In Stock | Same Day Dispatch up to 2pm (Mon-Fri)* | Express Delivery Available

    The 0.5L Le Parfait Super Preserve Glass Jar is perfect for Canning and Preserving foods like as pate, chutney, or individual dessert jars.  Air...

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    £5.99
    In Stock | Same Day Dispatch up to 2pm (Mon-Fri)* | Express Delivery Available
  • 0.25L Le Parfait Super Preserve clip top glass store jar

    Le Parfait Super Preserve Clip Top Glass Store Jar 0.25L

    £4.99
    In Stock | Same Day Dispatch up to 2pm (Mon-Fri)* | Express Delivery Available

    The 0.25L Le Parfait Super Preserve Glass Jar is perfect for smaller preserving such as pate, chutney, or individual dessert jars.  Airtight fre...

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    £4.99
    In Stock | Same Day Dispatch up to 2pm (Mon-Fri)* | Express Delivery Available
  • Hardback Cover of Crumb: Show the Dough Who's Boss by Richard Bertinet, a bread-baking cookbook

    Crumb: Show The Dough Who's Boss Richard Bertinet Cookbook

    £27.99
    Low Stock | Same Day Dispatch up to 2pm (Mon-Fri)* | Express Delivery Available

    Show the Dough who’s Boss ‘All it takes to make bread is flour, water and salt. To make great bread, add a little Bertinet.’ Pierre Koffmann ‘Richa...

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    £27.99
    Low Stock | Same Day Dispatch up to 2pm (Mon-Fri)* | Express Delivery Available
  • Hardback Cover of Gail's Artisan Bakery Cookbook

    Gail's Artisan Bakery Cookbook

    £25.99
    Low Stock | Same Day Dispatch up to 2pm (Mon-Fri)* | Express Delivery Available

    "Good bread begins with just four honest ingredients: flour, water, salt and yeast. Nothing could be simpler and yet nothing is more gratifying." -...

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    £25.99
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  • Tartine Bread Cookbook

    £29.99
    Low Stock | Same Day Dispatch up to 2pm (Mon-Fri)* | Express Delivery Available

    Tartine - A bread bible for the home baker or professional bread-maker! It comes from Chad Robertson, a man many consider to be the best bread bak...

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    £29.99
    Low Stock | Same Day Dispatch up to 2pm (Mon-Fri)* | Express Delivery Available
  • Shipton Mill Finest Canadian Strong White Flour

    from £1.99
    In Stock | Same Day Dispatch up to 2pm (Mon-Fri)* | Express Delivery Available

    Shipton Mill's Finest Canadian Strong White Flour, now available at Ratton Pantry and forming part of a larger selection of Shipton Mill's incredib...

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    from £1.99
    In Stock | Same Day Dispatch up to 2pm (Mon-Fri)* | Express Delivery Available
  • Shipton Mill Organic Stoneground 100% Wholemeal Flour

    from £1.99
    In Stock | Same Day Dispatch up to 2pm (Mon-Fri)* | Express Delivery Available

    Shipton Mill Organic Stoneground 100% Wholemeal Flour, now available at Ratton Pantry and forming part of a larger selection of Shipton Mill's incr...

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    from £1.99
    In Stock | Same Day Dispatch up to 2pm (Mon-Fri)* | Express Delivery Available
  • Shipton Mill Organic Traditional White Flour

    from £2.49
    In Stock | Same Day Dispatch up to 2pm (Mon-Fri)* | Express Delivery Available

    Shipton Mill Organic Traditional White Flour, now available at Ratton Pantry and forming part of a larger selection of Shipton Mill's incredible ar...

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    from £2.49
    In Stock | Same Day Dispatch up to 2pm (Mon-Fri)* | Express Delivery Available
  • Shipton Mill Traditional Organic Bakers White Flour No.4

    £32.99
    In Stock | Same Day Dispatch up to 2pm (Mon-Fri)* | Express Delivery Available

    Shipton Mill Traditional Organic Bakers White Flour No.4, now available at Ratton Pantry and forming part of a larger selection of Shipton Mill's i...

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    £32.99
    In Stock | Same Day Dispatch up to 2pm (Mon-Fri)* | Express Delivery Available
  • 1.5kg, 4.5kg & 7.5kg Matthews Cotswold Churchill strong white bread flour, extra-strong high protein

    Matthews Cotswold Churchill Strong White Bread Flour 1.5kg

    from £2.99
    In Stock | Same Day Dispatch up to 2pm (Mon-Fri)* | Express Delivery Available

    Matthews Cotswold Churchill is an extra-strong, high-protein bread flour. Encourages beautiful gluten development and easy kneading and shaping. Th...

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    from £2.99
    In Stock | Same Day Dispatch up to 2pm (Mon-Fri)* | Express Delivery Available
  • Bruern Farms Bruern Blend Stoneground Strong White Flour - British artisan regenerative flour

    Bruern Farms Bruern Blend Stoneground Strong White Flour

    from £2.49
    In Stock | Same Day Dispatch up to 2pm (Mon-Fri)* | Express Delivery Available

    Ratton Pantry is proud to be stocking and supporting Bruern Farms, who offer a range of British artisan regenerative flours. Bruern Blend Stonegrou...

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    from £2.49
    In Stock | Same Day Dispatch up to 2pm (Mon-Fri)* | Express Delivery Available

Flour for sourdough bread and starters

Sourdough can be made with many grains, but flour choice changes fermentation, handling, flavour and loaf structure. Strong white wheat flour is a forgiving foundation, while wholemeal and rye bring more of the grain and a different fermentation character.

This collection gathers white, wholemeal, rye, organic, regenerative and heritage flours suited to starters and naturally leavened bread.

Build structure, then add grain character

A strong white base usually makes shaping and oven spring easier. Adding wholemeal, rye, spelt or ancient grains introduces flavour, colour and texture, although the dough may need different hydration and handling.

Rye is particularly useful in starters and mixed-grain loaves, but high-rye bread behaves differently because rye does not form the same gluten network as wheat.

Ratton Pantry

Why buy sourdough flour from Ratton Pantry

We stock flour from millers with very different approaches to grain, farming and milling, allowing sourdough bakers to explore beyond a single generic bread flour.

The range supports both beginners looking for a reliable base and experienced bakers experimenting with stoneground, wholegrain, heritage and regenerative flour.

Choosing flour for sourdough

Begin with strong white bread flour if you want the easiest route to a well-supported loaf. Add wholemeal or rye gradually for flavour and fermentation activity.

For longer fermentation or higher hydration, select a flour with appropriate strength rather than assuming every bread flour will behave identically.

Change one variable at a time and record flour blend, water, starter quantity, temperature and fermentation time. The best flour is the one that suits your process and preferred bread.

Questions & answers

Sourdough Flours - The best flour for making Sourdough FAQs

What flour is best for a beginner's sourdough loaf?

Start with a reliable strong white bread flour. It usually gives predictable gluten development and shaping, and you can introduce wholemeal or rye once your process is consistent.

Which flour is best for starting a sourdough starter?

Wholemeal wheat or rye flour can encourage an active starter because it contains more of the grain, although a starter can also be maintained with white bread flour. Consistency matters more than chasing one perfect flour.

Can I make sourdough with plain flour?

It is possible, but lower-strength plain flour may make wetter or long-fermented dough harder to handle. Bread flour is generally the easier choice for a well-supported loaf.

Why add rye flour to sourdough?

Rye contributes a distinctive flavour, colour and fermentable material. Even a modest proportion can change fermentation and character, while high-rye loaves require different handling from wheat bread.

Do I need very strong flour for long fermentation?

Not always, but flour with suitable strength can provide greater tolerance during long or warm fermentation. Fermentation time, temperature, hydration and inoculation must still be balanced.

Can I blend different sourdough flours?

Yes. Many bakers use strong white flour for structure and add wholemeal, rye, spelt or ancient grains for flavour. Keep notes so you can adjust water and fermentation as the blend changes.