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The story of the bagel
Discover the surprising history, science, and global journey of the world's favorite chewy bread roll.
4 chapters74 assets
by sonia · Jul 26, 2026
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Chapter 1
The European roots of the bagel
1The Polish royal decree of 1610
2The ancient braided obwarzanek of Kraków
3Street vendors of the shtetl
4The symbolic circle of life
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Chapter 2
The great North American rivalry
1The soft water of New York
2Montreal wood-fired sweetness
3The powerful Union Local 338
4Shaping by hand versus machine
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Chapter 3
The chemistry of the perfect chew
1Why we boil before we bake
2The magic of barley malt
3High-gluten flour and long fermentation
4The functional hole in the middle
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Chapter 4
Bagels around the globe
1London Beigel Bake of Brick Lane
2Jerusalem ka'ak and sesame rings
3The modern Japanese steamed bagel
4The invention of the everything bagel
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