29 Tasty Types of Bread From Around the World in 2024
Various types of bread can be found around the world. Each type brings a unique flavor and texture to the table and many of them are perfect for building sandwiches, enjoying appetizers or even sampling when you are in the mood for a sweet treat.
Deciding amongst them is sometimes tricky for even the most knowledgeable foodies. To help with that, we have broken down a list of some of the best varieties of bread from around the world, providing various options that are sure to cater to everyone’s tastebuds.
What are the common breads people enjoy in India, Europe, Mexico and America? What is the healthiest bread I can add to my diet and where does it come from? The answers to these questions and more can be found throughout this article, where we’ll explore 29 varieties of bread from around the world.
Keep reading to learn about varieties of bread for sandwiches, bread recipes for people who love to bake and much more. You might find your stomach grumbling once you're done!
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29 Tasty Types of Bread From Around the World
1. Brioche Bread
Sweet brioche bread hails from France and is rich, buttery and slightly sweet. The texture and taste make it a popular choice for breakfast bread or French toast recipes.
Brioche is a type of bread recipe typically made with flour, eggs, milk, butter, sugar, and yeast. The high butter content gives it its signature richness and tenderness.
A loaf of fresh brioche bread makes a lovely gift for bakers. You can learn how to make it in online cooking classes or French-themed in-person cooking classes near you.
2. Ciabatta Bread
What are 10 different types of bread used in sandwiches? Foodies would say that ciabatta definitely makes the list. This delicious bread hails from Italy. Its light, airy interior and crusty exterior make it an often-picked type of bread for sandwiches that include plenty of meat, vegetables and other hearty fillings.
Another delicious option is to toast ciabatta and top it with olive oil and balsamic vinegar. The essential ingredients for ciabatta are flour, water, yeast, salt and extra virgin olive oil. Long fermentation is key to developing the bread's unique flavor and airy texture.
3. Cornbread
Cornbread is a classic type of bread that originated in Native American cuisine. It is now very popular in the Southern United States and is enjoyed as a delicious appetizer alongside other Southern cuisine. It’s a slightly sweet bread that pairs well with barbecue and other Southern meals.
Cornbread is made of cornmeal, all-purpose flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. It’s a delicious type of bread that is great on its own or as an appetizer. It is the perfect bread to add to your menu next Thanksgiving or whenever you’re in the mood for some good old-fashioned Southern food!
4. Fresh Tortillas
Fresh tortillas are an amazing Mexican and Central American type of bread typically used as a shell for tacos, quesadillas or other popular Mexican dishes. They are thin and soft and are made to fold around toppings and fillings easily. They taste amazing when filled with meats, cheeses, salsa, guacamole and other toppings.
There are two main types of tortillas: corn and flour. Corn tortillas have a slightly sweeter taste and more dense texture, though both are delicious. You haven’t had good tacos until you’ve tried homemade tortillas and they are easy to make than you think. Try one, and you’ll never want to go back to store-bought!
5. Cinnamon Rolls
Cinnamon rolls are thought to originate in Sweden. They are made by rolling dough into a circle and adding a sugared cinnamon glaze as a binding. They typically are finished off with a sugary, sweet vanilla frosting overtop.
This type of bread goes by many names, such as kanelbulle in Sweden, kanelsnegle in Denmark or korvapuusti in Finland, among others. They are now widely popular worldwide and are a delicious treat to have with breakfast or just to satisfy your sweet tooth. Perfect for Thanksgiving desserts or to feed a large crowd, warm them up for extra enjoyment.
6. Stollen
Stollen is a German bread that contains dried fruits, candied peel and almonds. Typically eaten during Christmas in Germany, it’s a light fruitcake with a nutty texture complimented by delicious spices. Although it is a lesser-known type of bread worldwide, it is delicious and a must-try if visiting Germany around the holidays.
7. Rosca de Reyes
Rosca de Reyes was made in Spain and quickly traveled to Mexico and the southern United States through colonization. It is a type of bread that is eaten on Dia de Reyes, or the Epiphany, a day during Christmas in Mexico that celebrates when the Three Wise Men brought gifts to baby Jesus.
It is a sweet bread made with multicolored dough and red and green glazed fruits. It is now enjoyed on Christmas as well and is a delicious type of bread to be enjoyed during Christian festivities.
8. Sourdough Bread
Sourdough originated in Ancient Egypt and spread to Ancient Greece, later spreading to the rest of the world. It is a delicious type of bread first baked at home by women and later brought into bakeries. Sourdough is slightly bitter due to the fermentation process and tastes great on its own or in a sandwich.
Sourdough is perfect for those looking for that bit of extra flavor in their bread. Bake your own using a starter containing wild yeast and lactic acid bacteria.
9. Arepas
Arepas originated in Colombia and are now popular among Latin American and Hispanic cultures. This type of bread is flat and made of maize dough. It is stuffed with filling and makes a delicious meal. Arepas are stuffed with bacon, eggs, cheese, avocado, tomato and more. They can be baked or fried and taste slightly different depending on the region. While every variation of the recipe is different, all of them are delicious.
10. Anpans
Anpans are Japanese sweet rolls commonly filled with brown sugar-enhanced red bean paste. This type of bread can be stuffed with various fillings, most of which are other types of beans. Enjoyed especially during Christmas in Japan, they are one of the most traditional sweetbreads from the country and are a delicious, slightly sweet dessert.
They are quite different from traditional Western sweets and are a must-try for anyone who’d like to broaden their taste buds.
11. Pita Bread
Pita bread is a popular Middle Eastern type of bread. Its exact country of origin is unknown. Pita is a flatbread and may be one of the oldest forms of bread known. It can be eaten on its own, with hummus or as a wrap. It is a delicious, fluffy bread that pairs well with many things and is a great addition to your meal planning. Whole wheat pita is a good source of fiber, offering important health benefits.
12. Naan
Naan is an Indian type of bread similar to pita in texture but is crispy and has a butterier flavor. It can be made in a variety of flavors, such as plain, garlic, spicy and more. It’s an oven-baked flatbread known for its fluffy texture and golden brown spots. It is incredible on its own but even better paired with some rice, samosas and chicken tikka.
13. Hoagie Rolls
Hoagie rolls originated in Philadelphia and are most commonly used for the Philadelphia cheesesteak sandwich. They were created during World War One by Italian immigrants in Philadelphia at the time. This type of bread is slightly sweet in flavor and is similar to a sub roll but harder and denser in texture. They taste delicious as a sandwich bun and pair well with meats and cheeses.
14. Kaiser Rolls
Kaiser rolls originated in Austria and are similar to your typical American hamburger bun, except they are harder and crispier on the outside and softer on the inside. They are also typically a bit larger than regular buns. This type of bread is delicious and perfect for a sandwich, a burger or on its own.
15. Rye Bread
Rye bread dates back to the Middle Ages and is from Central and Eastern Europe. It is similar to your typical type of bread but is made with rye flour. It has an earthy and slightly sour flavor that is perfect for more savory bread fans. It goes great with sandwiches and is a delicious bread to add to your diet.
16. Pretzel
A pretzel is a classic twisted type of bread typically known to be soft, fluffy, and covered in salt. Pretzels also come in more chip-like forms and can be a great crunchy snack. It is often seen as a carnival food and tastes great dipped in melted cheese or mustard. Pretzels originated in Bavaria, Germany and were invented by European monks. They are a delicious type of bread that is now enjoyed in many places worldwide and are a classic snack to enjoy.
17. Roti
Roti is a flatbread from India typically eaten with curry or cooked vegetables. It is unleavened and made without yeast, giving it a flat shape and a more dense texture. It is very similar to naan, but it is thicker and less crunchy on the outside. It is a delicious type of bread and a fantastic side dish to enjoy with delicious Indian cuisine.
18. Baozi
Baozi is a meat-filled bun that originates in Northern China and closely resembles a dumpling. The buns are small and steamed and can be eaten alone or as an appetizer dish. They are made by wrapping a thin dough around the filling of your choice and forming it into a circular shape. They are a delicious type of bread that anyone who is a fan of dumplings or potstickers will likely be a fan of.
19. Croissant
It may surprise you that croissants are believed to have originated in Austria, not France! These delicious puff pastries are known for their crescent shape and flakey texture. Enjoy them alone or as a sandwich bread with some ham and cheese inside. Perfect if you're looking for delightful tea party ideas, this type of bread is a classic and is widely loved and enjoyed throughout the world.
20. Panini
Paninis originated in Lombardy, Italy and were originally a lunch meal for working-class citizens. A panini is a type of grilled bread made with ciabatta or focaccia bread. It is filled with melted cheese and other various ingredients and is a delicious lunchtime meal.
21. Focaccia Bread
Focaccia is an Italian bread that is delicious on sandwiches or its own as a side dish. Its savory flavor is often enhanced by herbs, garlic and olive oil. Some variations of this type of bread even include fruit to give it a sweeter taste. This type of bread is versatile and delicious and is a must-try.
22. Bagel
Bagels are a classic breakfast choice that pair great with cream cheese. There are tons of flavors, such as the classic, everything bagels, cinnamon, blueberry and more. This type of bread originates in Jewish communities and is now popular throughout North America and Poland.
23. Matzah
Matzah is a type of bread from Ancient Egypt. The story behind it is that when the Israelites left Egypt in a hurry, they went so quickly that their bread dough didn’t even have time to rise fully. Because of this, Matzah is a very flat and thin bread that is now very popular amongst Jewish cuisine.
24. Barmbrack
Barmbrack means ‘speckled loaf’ in English. It originated in Irish and Celtic cultures and is a yeast bread with sultanas and raisins mixed inside. It is typically eaten around Halloween. With the spooky season approaching, this type of bread is the perfect sweet and delicious treat to try.
25. Challah Bread
Challah bread is a braided type of bread with a golden brown crust and a fluffy interior. The texture is the best of both worlds, allowing for that perfect crunch on the outside and the mouth-watering fluffiness on the inside.
It is a staple of Jewish cuisine and is often eaten during Sabbath and other major Jewish holidays. According to Fuller Seminary, “The essence of the Sabbath command is that Israel set aside one day of the week to observe as a “holy” day.” It is a holiday of rest and delicious food is a huge part of the celebration.
26. Potato Bread
Potato bread is from Ireland and originated because it is hard to grow soft wheat there due to the weather. Thus, potatoes are used as a replacement. It became even more popular during the Irish potato famine. Potato bread is sweeter and slightly denser than regular bread. It is a unique type of bread that is a must-try for anyone.
27. Irish Soda Bread
Irish Soda Bread originated in Ireland, as the name implies. It is a type of bread that uses sodium bicarbonate to rise instead of yeast. This type of bread tastes very similar to a biscuit, though many people add things to it such as raisins, seeds, rye flower or Guinness stout. It is a versatile bread that can be enjoyed in many different ways to satisfy everyone’s taste buds.
28. Fry Bread
Fry Bread is a type of Native American cuisine that originated in Native American and Alaskan Native tribes. It was created because it was cheap and easy to find resources, which was needed for Natives to survive during colonization.
This type of bread is a flat dough that is deep-fried. It’s relatively easy to make, but don’t let that fool you into not experiencing how delicious it is! It is served with everything from honey and sugar to beef and beans and is a very versatile food.
29. Monkey Bread
Monkey bread was originally created in Hungary and moved to the United States through immigration. This delicious bread variety is made by laying out balls of dough and coating them in a sugary mixture, then adding a buttery glaze overtop. Monkey bread is a pull-apart bread and is a great choice for potlucks or family gatherings. It’s a classic dessert everyone will enjoy and is perfect to share.
Bread is a vast category of food with many options to choose from. It can be savory or sweet, eaten on its own or used for sandwiches. As this list shows, bread comes in many forms and can be enjoyed in many ways. Every culture does bread differently and even within specific cultures there are multiple types of bread.
Bread can be found in every continent and varies in every country. Some cultures prefer it flat and crispy, while others like it fluffy. Some like it sweet, while others like it savory. Some cultures add filling or toppings to their bread. There are so many different types of bread; anyone would be delicious to make. Try as many as you can and experience a world of flavors! Which one sounds best to you?
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