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We have all been trained to think that a loaf of bread should cost very little. We walk into a supermarket and see a wall of soft plastic-wrapped loaves. We accept this as normal. We have also been trained to think that artisan bread is a "luxury" item that is overpriced. It is time to challenge this. Your cheap supermarket bread is not a good value. It is a rip-off. You are not paying for food. You are paying for air water and a long list of industrial chemicals.

Let's compare what you are actually buying. When you buy a loaf from a real artisan bakery like NOVAKS BAKERY you are paying for ingredients. You are paying for high-quality flour water and salt. You are paying for the skill of the baker and the time it took to make. That loaf of bread probably fermented for 24 hours. It was shaped by hand and baked in a proper oven. The price reflects the cost of real ingredients and real labor. It is an honest product.

Now let's look at the supermarket loaf. Pick it up. It is very light. It feels like a sponge. That is because it is. It has been pumped full of air. Now read the ingredient list. It is not flour water and salt. It is a science experiment. You will find sugar and vegetable oils. You will find emulsifiers to keep it soft. You will find dough conditioners to make it rise faster. You will find calcium propionate or other preservatives to keep it from molding for weeks. You are paying for a chemical concoction that is designed to mimic real bread. It is a product of speed not quality.

Let's talk about nutrition. The artisan loaf which is often a sourdough has benefits. The long fermentation makes it easier to digest. It unlocks nutrients in the grain. It has a lower glycemic index. The supermarket loaf is the opposite. It is a spike in blood sugar waiting to happen. It is full of empty calories. The preservatives and additives have unknown long-term effects on our health. You are "saving money" now but you are paying for it with your well-being. That is not a good value.

Let's talk about waste. The artisan loaf is delicious. You will eat every crumb. When it gets a day old you will make toast. When it gets hard you will make croutons. The supermarket loaf is often so flavorless that it sits on the counter. It is so full of preservatives that it does not go bad it just gets stale. A huge amount of it ends up in the bin. That is wasted money. When you find a real Artisan Bakery in Cork you are buying a product that you will actually value. For residents in Cork who care about value this is an important distinction.

It is time to rethink your definition of value. Is value the cheapest price tag on the shelf? Or is it paying a fair price for a real product? A product made with integrity. A product that nourishes your body. A product that supports a local craftsperson. The supermarket loaf is not food. It is a food-like product. Stop buying it. You are not saving money. You are just being ripped off.

To learn more about what goes into a real loaf of bread we encourage you to learn more from NOVAKS BAKERY.