Wild Yeast a Microscopic Fungus

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Wild Yeast by definition is a “microscopic fungus consisting of single oval cells that reproduce by budding and are capable of converting sugar into alcohol and carbon dioxide”. Wild Yeast is just yeast that can be found in the air. Organic fruits, and vegetation that contain a lot of natural sugars seem incredibly attractive to yeast. Wild yeast was mentioned to me by a close friend, I didn’t even comprehend at first that yeast is a wild organism, for some reason I always thought that yeast was man-made.

I believe wild yeast is an extremely effective way to ferment alcohol and provide incredible flavors to breads and other foods, with a little further investigation and adventure I hope to harvest the micro-organism and find a suitable way to culture it.

               Yeast is one of the main components in alcoholic beverages and also the rising agent in many bread recipes, souring yeast in a starter can also give the bread a tangy taste that is present in sourdough breads and ciabatta, although I don’t believe these items are as sour as I once thought they were when I was younger. I was actually terrified to eat sourdough because I thought it would be sour like a warhead.

               Wild Yeast will attach itself through the air to vegetation and wait for the perfect opportunity to finally attack the sugars inside, many farmers actually treat their plants with chemicals that will kill the yeast and prevent micro-organisms because they spoil the food. Those chemicals are virtually harmless to humans because of the perfections made over time and testing done to eradicate any risk.

               I am collaborating with a close friend to research an effective way to harvest this micro-organism here in the Black Hills and the best place to explore would be Black Elk Peak the highest point in the black hills (7,244ft to be exact) to harvest a high altitude yeast only found a mile above sea-level.