Your starter
One dehydrated San Francisco Style Sourdough Starter Culture, with instructions. Activate it with flour and water, then keep some back for future bakes.
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$50.99
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San Francisco starter, baker’s scale, steel dough scraper, bread lame, butter muslin and recipe cards. See everything in the kit.
Enjoy free standard shipping on eligible U.S. orders over $49.99. See shipping details.
Not what you expected? We offer 60-day, no-hassle returns. See our returns policy.
Real kitchens. Real loaves. Join our sourdough baking community and share that first warm slice.
Photos from our sourdough baking community, across different starters, recipes and equipment.
EVERY CULTURE WE MAKE IS FOOD-SAFETY TESTED.
A MOM’S REASON. OUR STANDARD SINCE 2002.
Cultures for Health was founded in 2002 by a single mom who wanted to feed her children the best food she could.
That care still shapes what we make. Food-safety testing is a meaningful investment, and one we keep making for the families who bring our cultures home.
Start something good in your kitchen →
START. MEASURE. SHAPE. BAKE.
Start with a San Francisco-style culture and the tools to weigh, work and score your dough. Add your own flour, water, quart-size jar and usual baking setup.
One dehydrated San Francisco Style Sourdough Starter Culture, with instructions. Activate it with flour and water, then keep some back for future bakes.
A baker’s scale, steel dough scraper and bread lame for scoring dough before baking.
Butter muslin for covering your starter and sourdough recipe cards to get you baking. Equipment may look different from the photos.
Use your flour, water and jar with the San Francisco starter instructions. Follow the guide’s feeding schedule and readiness cues.
Use the scale for your recipe measurements and the steel scraper to work with the dough.
Score the shaped dough with the lame and bake using your recipe. Save some starter and keep it fed for next time.
ONE STARTER. ENDLESS BAKES.
Keep your starter active with regular feeding and care, then try these three sourdough favorites:
01The iconic loaf: blistered crust, airy crumb, and that signature tangy San Francisco flavor.
Get the recipe →
02Bring sourdough flavor and a deep-dish crust to your next pizza night.
Get the recipe →
03Turn your starter into tender sourdough pancakes for a weekend breakfast.
Get the recipe →A little reassurance goes a long way.
Get started with 60-day, no-hassle returns. And whenever you have a sourdough question, our on-staff fermenters are here to help. Next week, next month, or next year.
See our guarantee →Artisan Bread Kit$50.99
United StatesI activated this the day I received it and it took right off! It smells awesome and I will be making my first San Francisco sourdough bread tomorrow. It came with concise instructions and directions to the web site with recipes.
United States
United StatesWas very easy to work with and just made my first loaf!!!!
United StatesIt’s working great so far bubbling faster than expected in the chilly temps.
United StatesExcited to have all supplies to make sourdough starter & they have an AWESOME website with great recipes & helpful tips to working with sourdough!
One San Francisco Style Sourdough Starter Culture, one bread lame, one baker’s scale, one steel dough scraper, one butter muslin and sourdough recipe cards. Equipment may differ in appearance from the photos.
No. Bring your own flour, water, quart-size glass jar, rubber band and stirring utensil, plus the bakeware and oven your recipe requires.
This kit includes the San Francisco Style starter. “Artisan” is the kit’s name. Follow the new San Francisco sourdough instructions.
The included culture is dehydrated. Activate it with flour and water before baking. It is not ready-to-bake dough.
Follow the activation schedule in the guide. Look for bubbles throughout, a pleasantly tangy smell and a rise and fall within 4–8 hours after feeding. Temperature and feeding affect readiness.
Yes. Save some active starter and keep it fed and maintained according to the guide for future batches.
Starter ingredients: organic white wheat flour and live active cultures. Contains wheat and gluten. The listing states it is made in a facility that processes products containing gluten and is Non-GMO. Check your packet and contact our team with allergy questions.
Keep the unopened dehydrated culture in a cool, dry place and use it by the date on the bag. Once active, follow the guide for counter or refrigerated feeding.
It makes controlled cuts in shaped dough before baking. Its blade is sharp; handle it carefully and keep it away from children.
Yes. Our on-staff fermenters can help with questions as you bake. Ongoing support is separate from the 60-day returns period. Get in touch.