BreadBox Canada {Moved to a new project}

2022 Update

From what I can tell, BreadBox Canada has moved on to other things and are no longer in business.

BreadBox Canada Launch: Artisanal Bread at Home

Who doesn’t love hot, freshly baked bread?

When I first heard about the launch of BreadBox, the first thought that came to mind, was that I have never made a loaf of bread at home before.  I had watched my Mom bake bread during my childhood, and I love to try new things in the kitchen…. so what have I been waiting for?  I truly don’t know the answer.

Finding out about BreadBox was the first step in the right direction.

About BreadBox

Founded by May and Arthur, BreadBox gives you the ability to bake artisanal loaves of bread from your own home.  All you have to do, is put the loaf in the oven, and wait 20-25 minutes for it to bake.  Then, impress your house guests with the stunning finished product of Sourdough bread.  Like the box that each loaf comes in states, “Just lie and say you made it!”

BreadBox was not an overnight success story.  It took many loaves of practice bread (157 to be exact), and approximately 978 cups of flour, before the products turned into what you see being sold today.

The concept of Breadbox was even selected to be 1 of 3 Winners at this years $EED Competition, part of Concordia University’s Dobson Practicum.

May and Arthur work hard to provide you the best products (list and details found below), with the most ethically sourced and organic ingredients.  They want you to feel good about what you are eating, while enjoying the homemade taste.

Why Should YOU Try It?

Do you ever think about what is actually in the bread you pick up at the supermarket?  If you’re like me, then you usually just throw whatever loaf sounds like a healthy option in your cart and continue shopping.  “100% Whole Wheat”, that must be healthy, right?  While I was looking at BreadBox Canada’s Official Website, I learned how wrong I was.

Most breads you find at the supermarket are full of artificial additives, preservatives, colourants, emulsifiers, and conditioners, all designed to make breads look and taste fresh.

Even breads that boast “100% whole wheat” can have over 40 ingredients. Compare this to our Sourdough bread, that has only 4 ingredients.

40 ingredients compared to 4.   Wow.  Technically, it’s even just 3 ingredients since two types of organic flour are used (both from Quebec)!

Their website goes on to list the ingredients that can be found in many supermarket breads.  Honestly, I didn’t want to know what approximately 15 of the ingredients were; I couldn’t even pronounce them.  Sure, the loaves sold in stores need to be “shelf friendly” but at what cost to our bodies?  I prefer fresh food over processed food, any day.

This is what I liked instantly about BreadBox Canada.  As a division of Crude Foods, their goal is to return the foods that have become overly-processed back to the fresh, delicious and healthy foods they should be.

I had wondered why they chose to provide loaves of Sourdough bread and not another type of loaf.  I had no idea that this type of bread is full of healthy probiotics and is easier to digest, until I looked on their website.

About the Launch

On July 7th, we attended the Launch of BreadBox Canada at Coop La Maison Verte.  I had only found out about the event the day before, so I was thrilled that we were able to go on short notice.

When we arrived, I was pleasantly surprised by the amount of people swarming to try the samples.  I overheard a few reactions and one woman said “I wish The Gazette was here!  They should know about this!”

For each sample I saw being eaten, I saw a loaf being sold.  I later found out that in the three hours that BreadBox was there, they sold all of their products!  I can understand why.  Once I tried a piece of the sourdough loaf that had been prepared, I wanted another slice instantly.  It was delicious.  I offered it to my almost two year old, and he enjoyed it enough to have another bite!  I left with two Regular Loaves and a box of Four Mini Rolls.

If you want to try it for yourself, you can find their products in the frozen food section of Coop La Maison Verte.  If you enjoy it, and would like to see it available closer to you, speak to your local stores and ask them if they could start to carry the BreadBox products!

I was able to meet May and Arthur very quickly between them speaking to other customers, and they are delightful to speak to.  They are extremely friendly and were ready to answer the questions that were being asked about the products.

The Products

BreadBox Canada offers a variety of products, for the various stages in the bread-making process.  Since I am a beginner, I bought the BreadBox, which is the loaf of bread, already baked once and then frozen.  All I have to do, is bake it in the oven when I’m ready.  However, if you want to be more involved in the baking of the bread, there are two other options.

The Raw BreadBox

On the scale of how much work you put into the entire process, if you purchase this product, you will fall in the middle.  You will have to score the bread and bake it from start to finish in your own oven, but the team at BreadBox does the messy part for you.

Scoring is quite the important step.  While it makes the loaves look aesthetically pleasing (you can be creative with your designs), it also ensures the bread is baked with the perfect texture.

The Starter

Would you like to have even more responsibility?  The Starter is the product for you.  You will need to mix it with equal parts unbleached flour and filtered water.  If you have any questions about the entire process, May and Arthur would be happy to give you advice.  Whether it is the tools you will need, baking techniques, or tips for success, they are incredibly knowledgeable and are here to help.

(Side note: You can even use any discarded starter in crepe batter, fresh tortillas and pizza dough!) 

How does the dough stay fresh?  What about the environment and the packaging they use?

These were two of the first questions I had, and I didn’t have to look far to find the answers.

“Sourdough Bread develops a more complex flavour as it is allowed to slowly proof (at cold temperatures). All of our BreadBox Raw Products are made only a few hours before they are sold and must be baked the day they are purchased for best results. We are working to keep finding ways to get you the best and freshest bread in your own home.” – FAQ

As for their packaging,  it is a combination of compostable and recyclable materials.  In a few years they hope to have it be 100% compostable to protect the planet even better.

More to Come…

I will be posting how I use BreadBox products in recipes soon, (I’ve been craving homemade bruschetta), so stay tuned.  In the meantime, if you have any other questions,  e-mail them at [email protected]

They are always looking for ways to give back to the community, so if you have any information, please get in touch!

When was the last time you made bread at home?  Are you excited to try BreadBox products?

If you do try BreadBox, be sure to tag them on Instagram so I can see what you make!  I’m always looking for more recipe ideas, and they love to see happy customers!