You will get the starter sent via courier and the Sourdough Starter eGuide will be sent to you via email. For more recipes please see the Sourdough Bread Baking eGuide, which is sold separately.
This fresh starter need to be fed once you receive it, the dried starter can be stored for up to 9 months (choose below). Please have some rye flour on hand to be able to care for it. We sell organic wholegrain rye flour.
The fresh starter gets shipped every Monday (or Tuesday if Monday is a public holiday). Order and payment needs to be in by 4pm Saturday to get shipped the following Monday.
The dried starter gets shipped any day of the week.
Both starters are shipped in a sealed pouch and do not come with a glass jar.
The fresh starter arrives in a sealed pouch at 60% hydration. It is ready to be used for baking with only 1-2 feedings. The dried starter are flakes in a sealed pouch and needs a couple of days to activate. It is great to have some dried starter on hand as a back-up, for when you are going away or if you have forgotten to feed your starter. It is also better to choose the dried starter if courier items to your address take generally longer than a week. As a gift the dried starter is also more suitable so the receiver has some time to get organised.
This fresh starter need to be fed once you receive it, the dried starter can be stored for up to 9 months (choose below). Please have some rye flour on hand to be able to care for it. We sell organic wholegrain rye flour.
We have been baking bread for over 13 years now and our culture is strong and healthy. You get the starter sent via courier and our Sourdough Starter eGuide will be sent to you via email.
Please see below the ToC for our Sourdough Starter eGuide (sent via email).
Please look for an email with the subject line: [KoruKai Herb Farm] Files available for your order
Rye starters are very robust and can tolerate a bit of neglect. Other starters would not survive that and need more care and attention. We use the rye starter for loaves of wheat, rye and spelt bread, buns, for pizza dough, ciabatta and so much more. We even go on holiday taking the culture with us to bake fresh bread.
Shipping is with overnight courier (without signature, by NZ post) at the start of the week (cut off day and time is Saturday, 4pm to get shipped the same week). Please select rural delivery if you supply us with a rural address. We won't send the sourdough starter if the rural fee has not been paid. If you are unsure if you live at a rural address please check your address here: https://www.nzpost.co.nz/tools/address-postcode-finder
The dried starter arrives in dried shards. The fresh starter arrives at 60% hydration. That means it is kept more dry than usual for shipping so that it doesn’t get overly bubbly and explodes during transport. Your starter is alive and needs to be fed once you receive it. Please follow the eguide for instructions and have rye flour on hand.
Here is a video we have created to show you how an active starter after one feed looks like. This starter has been taken out of the fridge at 9pm and scooped into a stainless steel mixing bowl. It was then fed with 110g rye flour and 110g lukewarm water. This is how it looks like the next morning after 12 hours at 20 C room temperature ready to be used to build your dough.
Good luck and happy baking!
Sourdough Baking Equipment
In order to make sourdough bread, you’ll need to pick up some basic equipment. Some of it, you can’t do with out – like a jar for your starter and mixing bowls. Other equipment, like a grain mill for making freshly ground flour or a cast iron insert that helps you capture steam while baking, can take your baking to the next level and help you produce *amazing* bread, but you can still bake good bread without them.
Glass Jar: You’ll need a jar or crock in which to store your sourdough. A Fido jar with a strong seal works really well to store sourdough, and to prevent it from drying out. Your jar should be at least twice as big as the volume of your starter. So aim for at least a quart-sized jar. You can also use mason jars, if you like.
A Dough Whisk or Wooden Spoon: You’ll need to vigorously incorporate flour, water and starter together, and one of the best ways to do that is with a dough whisk.
Mixing Bowls with Tight-fitting Lids: Mixing bowls help you mix your dough, and they give it a place to rise. With tight-fitting lids, your dough won’t dry out! You can also use a beeswax wrap to cover the bowl.
Kitchen Scale: For consistent results, you’ll want to weigh your ingredients both when you feed your starter and when you bake bread. The recipe we provide has exact measurements in grams, so a scale is a must.
Proofing Baskets (Banneton) and Linens: Proofing baskets and linens help your bread to keep its shape while it rises. Since we’re working with relatively high-hydration artisan-style breads, a proofing basket is an essential tool. You can also use a stainless steel bowl and a clean tea towel to start with.
Dutch Oven: In order to develop a beautiful crisp crust, and a lofty and airy crumb, you need to bake with steam and to keep an even temperature while baking. I recommend a cast iron insert like the Dutch oven because it achieves particularly good results. It’s an investment for people who are really committed to baking good bread. I don’t use this tool as I want to bake two loaves at a time and still get great bead using a simple baking tray. I add 1/6 cup water to the base in the oven before putting the bread in to get that steam.
Grain Mill: There is nothing like real sourdough bread prepared from freshly milled grains. If you’re looking to take your baking to the next level and bake truly nutritious, amazing whole grain breads, a grain mill is valuable.
A Lame: A lame is a wooden tool equipped with a razor blade that helps you to score bread precisely and effectively. Using a lame is how artisan breads get such gorgeous patterns, and it also prevents them from tearing when they rise during baking. A lame produces the best results, but you can also score bread with a serrated knife.
Data sheet
Ingredients
Rye, water, natural yeast and lactobacilli
Grade 
Claire17/12/2023
A high-quality product
I just wanted to acknowledge and say thank you for the lovely quality of the goods I’ve just received.
I have used the sourdough starter to make crumpets and flatbread as well as a loaves of bread.
Unfortunately, the results have been fantastic! The bread itself was crusty and light and so delicious. It’s set a very high bar that I am now going to be struggling to recreate! In all seriousness, the starter with the rye smells and tastes divine so thank you for providing such a high-quality product.
Grade 
Hayley20/09/2023
Going strong
Ive had this sour dough starter for months and it's still going strong. The instruction booklet is easy to follow. Thanks for the great product and fast delivery!
Grade 
Corey21/06/2023
2 years strong
This has been amazing - I've kept this baby going (feeding / baking every 7 to 10 days) for 2 years now and turned out beautiful croissants, ciabatta, general sandwich/ toast' loaves, brioche and more. It's been a resilient and reliable friend which only gets better over time.
Sourdough doesn't have to be intimidating, and this little starter in the perfect companion to start strong
Grade 
Nebula NZ18/02/2023
Wonderful bread made with this starter.
Got your sourdough starter the other day and baked 2 loaves this evening. Wonderful bread thank you.
Grade 
Diane Welsh19/12/2021
Fantastic quality
I killed my own starter that I had for 2 years. I am glad I did, because the KoruKai starter is so much better than the one I had before. Brings by bread baking to the next level. Very happy with my purchase.
Grade 
Sharon H13/06/2020
Amazing
This company is just amazing!! And definitely buy the guide. The aftercare was exceptional and fatest response to help me via email once i sent out my sos because i thought i killed it. Absolutely amazing company, fully support!!!
Grade 
Gabrielle Richard18/05/2020
Healthy, buzzing starter
The starter was active from the get go and I was able to make bread on the first weekend. of receiving it. I am a novice and valued greatly the comprehensive guide. I couldn't have made it without that. There is so much online that I was left more confused and couldn't get my head around the process. The guide is well structured and my very first loaf was a success. Thank you so much for providing this service. I am hooked now!
Grade 
Cathryn Louise H03/04/2020
Sour dough bubble
My sourdough starter arrived so promptly. Ive rehydrated it and its bubbling in my pantry, I’m very excited.
I have a plain loaf im going to try and a sourdough pancake recipe. Thanks heaps
Grade 
Shaun Butler02/04/2020
Great starter
First time making sourdough and this stuff was great. Only took a few rounds of making dough for it to get quite active. Really tasty!
Grade 
Liz Brook08/12/2019
Sourdough Starter Happiness
My sourdough starter is everything I hoped it would be. After my first attempt with a sourdough yeast sachet and subsequent failure, I decided to get an already made starter to commence my sourdough bread journey, and I have not been disappointed. A mature rye sourdough starter is a beautiful sight! I followed Cornelia’s directions and with one mistake and one change I have two loaves of my very own sourdough bread. They look good and best of all, they taste good! Cornelia was so kind and prompt, answering all my questions and responding immediately. I am very happy and I have a starter to feed and continue to experiment.
Grade 
Vanessa Maxwell 09/06/2019
Great starter and service
I purchased my starter with instructions which was great! Cornelia was very patient with me after emailing her many times with questions. Recommend you purchase the instructions if you are a beginner. My first ever sourdough loaf turned out amazing.
Grade 
Sue Whitley02/04/2019
Sourdough starter
I bought my starter a while ago. I don't bake often as it's mostly only myself and my husband. I have just baked my 5th loaf. The quality of the loaves have improved each time I've made one, as I get used to the process. The flavor is excellent and my daughter who is currently staying with us is very impressed. I found the instructions a necessity and I would recommend buying them if you are a first time sourdough baker. Baking sourdough is time consuming but the result well worth it.
Grade 
Elisabeth Hill02/01/2019
Excellent instructions!
I bought the instructions with the starter because I am a beginner. The instructions are well structured , very clear and easy to follow. My first bread was airy inside and had a nice crust. The taste was great. I will add some seeds next time and maybe a little bit more flour because the dough was a bit soft when shaping it.
Grade 
Ben02/01/2019
Healthy starter!
I have baked sourdough bread a lot 10 years ago and now have found time in my life to get back into it. This is a great starter and the resulting bread is nice and soft inside with lots of yeast activity present (holes, airy). The crust is divine and the flavour excellent.
Grade 
Jo Tulley23/12/2018
sourdough starter
paid the $10 so didn't get full instructions, I have little info such as how to bake a loaf using the starter, would appreciate some instruction as i'm a learner
This is for a gluten starter like our rye sourdough starter!
This thorough eGuide with 47 pages covers all the basics that you need to know to create great artisan sourdough bread. Please see the table of contents below. This is NOT the same eGuide that comes with the sourdough starter!
It includes instructions how to look after a rye sourdough starter, but not how to make one from scratch. It includes recipes to get you started on this amazing journey. For an example recipe please see this blog post: Bavarian Sourdough Oven Buns
You will get the guide as downloadable pdf so make sure you enter the correct email address when placing your order.
Proofing baskets help your bread to keep its shape while it does its final rise. We find a banneton an essential tool when making sourdough bread at home.
Each banneton comes with a fitted linen liner.
Available in 4 sizes. Please check sizes and pictures of resulting loaves below before making your selection.
In Stock (fast shipping within New Zealand).
Customer Review:
"The quality of our bread has greatly improved since we invested in bannetons."
"Thank you for your excellent service: order arrived today - promptly and in excellent condition. Much appreciated."
Our KoruKai gluten-free organic sourdough starter is very flexible and works with quinoa, millet, brown rice, sorghum and buckwheat flours. Best to feed with brown rice flour or a combination of the above with some brown rice flour in it. It comes with an eGuide to help you take care of it and gives you a basic bread recipe.
Contains 100% certified organic brown rice flour and filtered spring water.
The fresh starter gets shipped every Monday (or Tuesday if Monday is a public holiday). Order and payment needs to be in by 4pm Saturday to get shipped the following Monday.
The dried starter gets shipped any day of the week.
Both starters are shipped in a sealed pouch and do not come with a glass jar.
The perfect food for our Rye Sourdough Starter and as an ingredient in the homemade artisan sourdough loaves. Rye flour is said to be the most nutrient- and amylase-dense option for a sourdough starter therefore it ferments more actively.
Made from organically and sustainably grown grains of rye corn, this flour is milled with meticulous care, using traditional methods and without treatments, such as chemical bleaching.
This malt powder is made from certified organic barley grown by a family farm in Central Otago.
Diastatic malt powder is the "secret ingredient" bread bakers use to promote a strong rise, great texture, and lovely brown crust. When used in baking it increases the enzymatic activity of dough, which means starch converts to sugar more quickly. As a result, the sugars caramelize more intensely, making a darker crust and a sweeter dough. As a result of heightened yeast activity, malt can help bakes rise into a higher volume, with a more tender and even texture.
Available in 100g, 500g and 1kg bulk pack in a home-compostable, biodegradable pouch.
Please see more info below to choose the correct size for your needs.
Our KoruKai gluten-free organic sourdough starter is very flexible and works with quinoa, millet, brown rice, sorghum and buckwheat flours. Best to feed with brown rice flour or a combination of the above with some brown rice flour in it. It comes with an eGuide to help you take care of it and gives you a basic bread recipe.
Contains 100% certified organic brown rice flour and filtered spring water.
The fresh starter gets shipped every Monday (or Tuesday if Monday is a public holiday). Order and payment needs to be in by 4pm Saturday to get shipped the following Monday.
The dried starter gets shipped any day of the week.
Both starters are shipped in a sealed pouch and do not come with a glass jar.
Proofing baskets help your bread to keep its shape while it does its final rise. We find a banneton an essential tool when making sourdough bread at home.
Each banneton comes with a fitted linen liner.
Available in 4 sizes. Please check sizes and pictures of resulting loaves below before making your selection.
In Stock (fast shipping within New Zealand).
Customer Review:
"The quality of our bread has greatly improved since we invested in bannetons."
"Thank you for your excellent service: order arrived today - promptly and in excellent condition. Much appreciated."
These wax wraps are perfect to cover your big bannetons once the bread dough has been shaped and is retarded in the fridge. Plastic free, reusable, environmental friendly.
Made from repurposed cotton fabric, beeswax from hives at KoruKai Herb Farm and coconut oil.
Each wax wrap has 17g of beeswax melted into it. It keeps well for at least two years of regular use.
2 sizes available (select below) to fit our large bannetons:
Round: 30.5cm diameter to fit our large round banneton Rectangular: 34cm x 19.5cm to fit our large rectangular banneton
We do not have wax wraps for our small bannetons as most wax wraps available will fit them.
FULLY BOOKED. To go onto the waiting list please sign up below.
Learn how to make artisan sourdough bread successfully at home. Please note that this workshop uses our rye sourdough starter and wheat, spelt and rye flours in the finished products. For our gluten-free sourdough workshop please go here.
Date: Sunday, 14th April 2024
Time: 10am - 3pm
Lunch and some afternoon tea is included!
We started our sourdough bread baking journey 13 years ago and now bake a large variety of breads and sweet treats for our family and friends.
You will walk away with a recipe booklet and a free rye sourdough starter (valued at $19.90).
Attractive wooden handle and stainless steel tip to hold the blade. Also includes a wee leather pouch to protect the blade and your fingers during storage.
One side of a blade can be used for about 50 cuts, so one blade is for around 100 loaves of bread. For replacement razor blades please see here.
Fully booked! To go onto the waiting list or be informed for future workshops please sign up below.
Learn how to make gluten-free sourdough bread as well as gluten-free pizza dough and focaccia successfully at home. To book our regular sourdough workshop please go here.
Date: Saturday, 3rd August 2024
Time: 10am - 3pm
Gluten-free lunch included!
You will walk away with a comprehensive recipe booklet and a free gluten-free sourdough starter.
The perfect ingredient for gluten-free baking and to feed the KoruKai Gluten-Free Sourdough Starter. Great in combination with quinoa and buckwheat flour.
Made from organically and sustainably grown rice, this flour is milled with meticulous care, using traditional methods and without treatments, such as chemical bleaching.
Sturdy dough whisk made with an oak handle and stainless steel head. It is perfect for bringing the dough together at the very start when mixing the water with the flour. Dough won’t get caught in the wires, and won’t clump in the center. Perfect for everything from artisan sourdough loaves, pasta, muffins and biscuits.
Length: 33cm Head diameter: 8cm Wire thickness: 3mm
This is for a gluten-free sourdough starter like our KoruKai gluten-free sourdough starter!
This thorough eGuide with 38 pages covers all the basics that you need to know to create great artisan gluten-free sourdough bread at home. Please see the table of contents below. This is NOT the same eGuide that comes with the gluten-free sourdough starter it contains much more!
It includes instructions how to look after a gluten-free sourdough starter, but not how to make one from scratch. It includes recipes to get you started on this amazing journey.
You will get the guide as downloadable pdf so make sure you enter the correct email address when placing your order.
Constructed from carbon steel with perforated holes for air circulation, they help you make the perfect crust and airy crumb. The non-stick coating makes it easy to clean and keeps your baguettes intact once they come out of the oven.
This tray is fabulous for baking three standard sized baguettes. It's perfectly shaped to keep your bread in shape during fermentation and in the oven without the need to transfer the delicate loaves.
Suitable for sourdough and yeast baguettes to impress your family and friends.
The perfect food for our Rye Sourdough Starter and as an ingredient in the homemade artisan sourdough loaves. Rye flour is said to be the most nutrient- and amylase-dense option for a sourdough starter therefore it ferments more actively.
Made from organically and sustainably grown grains of rye corn, this flour is milled with meticulous care, using traditional methods and without treatments, such as chemical bleaching.
This stainless steel dough scraper is perfect for all sorts of baking at home. It is the perfect tool to pick up, turn and portion dough. It is also great to clean the work surface afterwards.
We love it to shape high hydration, sticky sourdoughs and also use it for portioning pizza and other items.
This is for a gluten starter like our rye sourdough starter!
This thorough eGuide with 47 pages covers all the basics that you need to know to create great artisan sourdough bread. Please see the table of contents below. This is NOT the same eGuide that comes with the sourdough starter!
It includes instructions how to look after a rye sourdough starter, but not how to make one from scratch. It includes recipes to get you started on this amazing journey. For an example recipe please see this blog post: Bavarian Sourdough Oven Buns
You will get the guide as downloadable pdf so make sure you enter the correct email address when placing your order.