Must Leib (Estonian Dark Rye Bread)

The cornerstone of Estonian food culture — a dense, dark, slightly sweet sourdough rye bread eaten at every meal. Estonian rye bread is tangier and denser than Scandinavian equivalents, made with a long fermentation that gives it a complex depth of flavour. Every region has its own style. Estonians consider their rye bread a mark of national identity, and a fresh-baked loaf from a village bakery, eaten warm with butter, is one of the country's great simple pleasures.