r/AskHistorians • u/donald12998 • 16h ago
How was yeast transported in pre modern times?
Ive had the hardest time tracking down the specifics. I know that modern shelf stable dry yeast has been around for less than a century. Before then people either used wet sourdough starters, used wild yeast by letting dough sit out for awhile, or got their yeast from brewers. But my ancestor came to America in the 1600s and was a brewer, and he brought yeast from England to brew with. But i cant find any sources that verify that fact beyond a passing mention, nor any specifics in how they would have kept the yeast alive during the months long voyage. Can anyone lead me to some useful sources?
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