You only need a few simple ingredients to make bread: flour, water, yeast, and salt. But if you peek at the label on a loaf of sandwich bread, baguette, or other pastry in the supermarket, you might discover many other additions such as high fructose corn syrup, Diacetyl Tartaric Acid Esters of Monoglycerides (also known as DATEM, an artificial emulsifier), or calcium propionate (a preservative). These ingredients might aid with shelf life and texture, but it also means you’re adding potentially harmful chemicals to your diet. This brand knows we don’t all have time to mix, shape, and bake artisan bread at home, but believes you should be able to enjoy a high-quality slice anyway.

The History of Essential

In 1994, George DePasquale and the late Jeff Fairhall started Essential. Fairhall was the founder of a sandwich startup, and DePasquale had recently relocated to Seattle from San Francisco to pursue his twin passions of baking and playing bass guitar. When their paths crossed, the duo started selling DePasquale’s breads at local markets.

The Essential Mission

Essential makes artisan breads and other baked goods using high-quality ingredients, with an eye toward environmental and social responsibility. Its innovative line of “take and bake” loaves are ready-made and delivered in oxygen-free packaging to maintain freshness. That means warm, oven-baked bread can be yours in only 12 to 15 minutes. The brand’s FreshSeal™ packaging provides locked-in freshness for months (sans freezing or preservatives) and is manufactured without BPA.

Benefits of Essential

A team of bakers at Essential starts every loaf the same way you would in your own kitchen—by mixing water, flour, sea salt, and naturally occurring yeast. The brand’s original starter is the signature ingredient, and it dates all the way back to the Gold Rush era. Besides the base ingredients, all the loaves have a few other things in common:

Locally sourced ingredients

Dough fermented at controlled temperatures, maximizing texture and flavor

Hand shaping and scoring for an extra-artisan touch with and a characteristic crumb

A signature crust developed by baking in a traditional hearth oven

Top Essential Products

You’ll love warming up one of these signature loaves from Essential.

Take & Bake, Garlic Bread

Made without preservatives, this ready-to-bake loaf is loaded with fragrant garlic flavor. Thrive Market member Sheryl from Arkansas calls it her “number one favorite product” when opening her Thrive box.

Organic Bake at Home Sourdough Bread

Enjoy this traditional sourdough loaf with Sunday supper. The recipe uses only four ingredients, and the dough is fermented for more than four hours to enhance the distinctive tang.

Healthy Sandwich Recipes From Thrive Market

A sandwich is really only as good as the bread you use. That’s because this essential ingredient lends flavor, texture, and structure to everything from vegan bites to Italian subs. Here are some of our favorite healthy sandwich recipes from ThriveMarket.com.

Easy Vegan Sandwiches

You’ll never feel deprived when Vegan BLTs or Pulled Jackfruit Sandwiches are on your weekly menu. Head to the blog to get all seven of the easy vegan sandwich recipes.

This Breaded Chicken Sandwich Recipe Is Gluten-Free

This breaded chicken sandwich is tender and crunchy, and made with a gluten-free coating. That means more people can enjoy this crave-worthy dish.

Chocolate and Almond Butter Dessert Sandwich

A sandwich to cap off the meal? Yes, please! These miniature bites are made with creamy almond butter and jam for a spin on PB&J, then dunked in melted chocolate.

Essential, Artisan Thin Crust Pizza