Though I have never been a fan of rye, something has been attracting my eye to the Mestemacher bread. I finally spotted it on sale, and decided to give it a shot.
Mestemacher Bread includes Natural, Hearty German-Style Loaves
Upon opening the package, it smelled a bit like dog food, but I wasn’t discouraged. I snuck a quick corner for a taste, which confirmed a very hearty texture and a strong rye flavor. Untoasted the Mestemacher bread was a bit too strong and mealy for me, but when toasted, it seemed to lighten up a bit. It also took on a more well rounded flavor and a pleasing toast/bread like texture. I loved the little rye kernels throughout (in terms of texture) and the hearty brown bread appeal. The only odd part was the size and shape. Each slice is very long and thin (maybe ¼ inch thick), so I had to cut them in half just to fit them in my toaster, and they tended to be a bit flimsy.
While the Mestemacher bread isn’t on the tops on my baked goods list (keep in mind, I am not a rye fan!), I liked that it was shelf stable. I would definitely consider stocking more for the pantry. While I purchased it in January, the expiry date wasn’t until December of that year.
The entire Mestemacher Bread line is made without dairy, and includes super-simple ingredients. Here are a couple examples.
- Organic Whole Rye Bread Ingredients – organic whole kernel rye, water, organic whole rye flour, sea salt, yeast.
- Organic Linseed Bread Ingredients – whole rye meal, water, linseed* (5%), sea salt, yeast.
More Allergen Notes
Mestemacher Bread is certified kosher pareve, but they do have a “may contain traces” notation for milk, soy, and nuts on several varieties. They are all made with wheat.
The Facts on Mestemacher Bread
Price: $3.99 per 12.3-ounce loaf
Certifications: Mestemacher Bread is Certified Kosher Parve and select varieties are Certified Organic.
Dietary Notes: By ingredients, Mestemacher Bread is dairy-free / non-dairy, egg-free, peanut-free, soy-free, vegan / plant-based, and vegetarian.*
For More Product Information: Visit the Carl Brandt website at www.carlbrandt.com.
*Always read the ingredient and nutrition statement prior to consumption. Ingredients, processes, and labeling are subject to change at any time for any company or product. Contact the company to discuss their manufacturing processes if potential allergen cross-contamination is an issue for you. No food product can be guaranteed “safe” for every individual’s needs. You should never rely on ingredient and allergen statements alone if dealing with a severe food allergy.
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What Others Are Saying ...
Dry with No Flavor! NOT Authentic, German Rye!
Dry with No Flavor! NOT the Real Deal!
Anyone who has ever been to Europe, especially Germany with its hundreds of varieties of delicious breads, and tasted authentic, rustic, bakery-fresh rye breads will laugh at this pathetic bread attempt with no flavor, evidently made for the American market, for people who don’t know any better. (This is rather like European chocolates made for the American market that typically taste nothing like the same brands of chocolates in Europe.)
Why anyone with actual tastebuds would choose this bread is a mystery?
One good thing that came out of this inferior, expensive bread purchasing disaster—it inspired me to bake my own dense rye breads with fresh, whole grains, premium rye flours along with rye berries, nuts, and seeds that was 1,000 times better tasting, more nutritious and less expensive.
I cannot recommend this bread!
Response from Go Dairy Free
As a heads up to others, these are the same breads sold in Germany and many other countries. Mestemacher is a German brand, and they don’t make “Americanized” versions of their breads. We’ve bought these exact same loaves in Germany.
Shelf-stable with wholesome ingredients
These loaves didn’t stand much of a chance at a 5-star review since I’m not a fan of rye (they are quite rye heavy), but the hearty, German-style appeal was too much for me to resist. That said, the shelf-stable nature, wholesome ingredients and earthy vibe are all pluses, while the slightly off-putting scent, odd shape, and somewhat mealy texture take getting used to.
