Perth's artisanal bakeries leading the gluten-free, full-taste movement

For those with a gluten intolerance or coeliac allergy, finding ‘good’ gluten-free bread can often be an uphill struggle. While cakes and biscuits are easily whipped up from home using alternative flours, as most gluten-free carb-lovers will know, baking soft and spongey gluten-free bread is harder to get right! We scouted around to find gluten-free bread that tastes just as good as the real thing, so that no one has to miss out on carb-heaven ever again.

Strange Grains, Shenton Park

Starting out as a small market stall in 2009, owner Jenny’s passion for creating and selling gluten free baked goods quickly evolved. The current store opened in 2013 and the team has been spreading love for those with special dietary requirements ever since. After 7 years of experimentation, Strange Grains have nailed the recipe for the ultimate gluten-free loaf. The bakery produces a variety of rustic loaves, ranging from buckwheat and multi-seed to heavier sourdough options. Everything is shaped by hand and they even sell bread mixes if you wish to bake it yourself at home. Made from exotic whole pseudo grains, weed seeds and roots, with a chewy crust and soft middle, the loaves are indistinguishable from regular bread. Notably, while gluten-free breads often contain large amounts of additives in order to get it to a desired soft texture, Strange Grains uses no additives at all and their bread still stays fresh for three days. They also take special consideration for those who have anaphylactic reactions by making their own chocolate too.

“We know exactly what’s in it, and there’s no cross contamination,” Jenny emphasised.

Winning awards against ‘Wheaten Breads’ in open categories at the Perth Royal Show, their loaves are without a doubt like no other. If looking to buy but feel overwhelmed by choice, the most popular is the buckwheat sourdough, a high fibre loaf. Or, if you’re wanting something a little softer and more spongey, try the multi-seed and quinoa. Strange Grains also sells cakes, pies, sausage rolls and pizzas. Their dairy-free carrot cake and vegan Hummingbird are crowd favourites! Opening hours: Monday – Friday 8am – 5pm, Saturday 8am – 1pm

Panna Artisan, Palymra

Recommended by Strange Grains, Panna Artisan is another great gluten-free bakery and Jenny says they also make a great sourdough. Whether you have an allergy or simply wish to choose a healthier low GI option, all their breads are gluten free, vegan and free from gums, corn, added sugar and preservatives. Using local and organic ingredients wherever possible, the grains and seeds used in their loaves are freshly stone milled onsite in the bakery, maximising the nutritional value of the bread. Owner and chief baker Susan commented that Panna Artisan’s breads are a result of four years of recipe development. Built upon a desire to produce authentic gluten free bread, the process now involves making each small batch of 10-12 loaves by hand. The sourdough is slow fermented with multiple weigh points and then milling. Examples of their loaves include:

• Black sourdough: refined starch free and made with fresh milled organic ingredients, organic fruit and biodynamic banana flour.
• Organic fruit and walnut loaves, as well as raisin bread
• Wholemeal and Italian loaves
• Activated seed sourdough, Pally sourdough and Milla’s sourdough

Panna Artisan truly do make the wildest of dreams become a reality for those with coeliac or opting for a gluten-free lifestyle. Check out their Facebook page for more: https://www.facebook.com/pannaartisan/