Essene Bread is one of the earliest varieties of bread (some say this sprouted bread was made 6,000 years ago). The name “Essene” is derived from a recipe of the ancient Essenes, a living food Jewish religious sect of mystics living in the Middle East around the 1st Century, who had quite an apparent influence on the Christian Church. The Essenes lived on the Dead Sea and buried the famous “Dead Sea Scrolls”. Interestingly, they had no known enemies - one of the few religious sects in history with this accomplishment.

The fundamental teachings of the Essenes were the love of God, love of virtue, love of one's fellow humans as well as respect of all life forms. They abstained from eating meat and cultivated their own crops of wheat and vegetables. To prepare their bread, the Essenes sprouted the grains, ground them into dough, and baked their bread in the desert, heated by the sun, on stones or rocks. They were expert bakers of sprouted breads, using a technique that produces sweet, moist cake-like bread without flour, honey, eggs, or oil. Just the name seems to suggest something mysterious and exotic!

Although sprouting is a simple process, the Essenes knew it had a huge effect on the grain. It makes indigestible grain easily digestible, flavourful, alive, and extremely delicious. You might say that sprouts are a “pre-digested” food, full of enzymes and nutrients. (Readers of “The Eat Right Diet” by Dr. D’Adamo will note that Essene Bread is recommended for all blood types.)

For more information on the Essenes, go to www.naturallyalive.ca and order a copy of The Essene Gospel of Peace by Edmond Bordeaux Szekely.

“Honor your Earthly Mother and keep all her laws, that your days may be long on this earth, and honor your Heavenly Father that Eternal Life may be yours in the heavens …”