Found out my grandma's sourdough starter is over 100 years old

I was cleaning out my grandma's old kitchen last weekend in Portland and found a jar in the back of her fridge with a note dated 1923. Turns out she got it from a neighbor who brought it over from Italy, and my family has been feeding it ever since without really telling anyone. I looked up how to test if it's still alive and after 3 feedings it's bubbling like crazy. Has anyone else stumbled on something like this from a relative?

2 comments

2 Comments

avery_stone952d ago

Taste it and tell me what it smells like. I'm super curious if it's got that real tangy sourdough kick after a century. I've heard stories about starters surviving decades but never actually seen one in action. Did you try baking a loaf yet or just feeding it?

the_angela2d ago

Wait, do people really just taste a spoonful of century old starter? I read somewhere that you can actually tell the health of a starter by how it smells and bubbles, but tasting it raw sounds intense. I saw a video once where this baker said the tanginess gets mellow after a while, more like a deep sour than a punchy one. @avery_stone95, I'd love to hear if it smells earthy or like straight up vinegar. Either way, I bet a loaf from that would be incredible if it's been alive that long.