A new bakery opened on 9 October in Igarashi, Nishi-ku, Niigata City, not far from the Niigata University Igarashi campus. The name of the shop is Wholemeal Bakery Poppo's Bread.

Poppo's Bread is a bakery in the village of Saruhachi on Sado Island, specialising in 100% natural yeast, good ingredients, healthy wholegrain flour and rye, and since its establishment in 1996 it has been sold in various places on Sado Island ( A Co-op, Kiemon in Sawada, Hearty Woods in Ryotsu, etc - sales days vary by shop). Some stores sell on different days) and are well-known on Sado Island.

Just opened, first physical shop.

This is the first time I've been to Poppo's Bakery. We headed there with the help of a navigation system, and it is located in a rather easy-to-find place.

About 20-30 minutes by car from the city centre of Niigata City, at the Igarashi I intersection, which is towards Terao from the Nishi Odori/Shindai Iriguchi intersection, turn towards the Nishi Sogo Sports Centre (turn at the corner of Gusto) and you will find it immediately on your right.

The building looks like an ordinary converted house, but you can easily recognise it because of the sign posted.

The entrance is on the other side of the street. When you go around to the entrance, you see, what a stylish entrance. It's not an open café as you'd expect, but it has a very nice atmosphere.

The sales space is not that large. It is not more than a few square metres, and when three or four customers enter, it is already full. However, there are many different kinds of bread on display. Even on Sado Island, it is difficult to find such a large variety. The handwritten pop-ups explaining what kind of bread each one is are also a delight.

It was around noon on a weekday, 10 days after the shop opened, and the number of customers coming to buy was constantly changing.

What is natural yeast bread?

Poppo's Bread uses 100% natural yeast without yeast, wholemeal flour, domestic wheat (from Iwate and Sado), German rye as a base, French sun-dried salt and well-chosen secondary ingredients.

This time I bought a selection of rather basic breads. From left to right: 100% wholemeal rye bread, 100% wholemeal bread, soft plain and chocolate bread (front). I bought a lot of bread, but it will last for a day or two and can be stored in the freezer for up to a month. (For shorter periods, they can be stored in the vegetable compartment of the fridge.)

Quickly tasted in person!

This is 100% rye wholemeal bread, shaped like a loaf of bread, but it is best eaten in thin slices. Taste it right away. It's chunky and quite heavy. It's not that big, but it's very substantial, so it should be very satisfying. You can eat it as it is, but if you warm it up a little in the toaster oven, it becomes savoury and tastes even better.

100% wholemeal German bread, made from natural and domestic wheat. The outside looks hard like German bread, but the inside is moist. It is easier to eat if sliced thinly.

Bagels also looked good, although we did not purchase any this time!

Poppo's Bread has been selling its products on the internet for some time.

The natural yeast and additive-free bread has gained support and orders are coming in from all over the country, with more than half of all orders now coming from online sales.

Previously, they used to ship from Saruhachi, Sado, but due to cancellations of shipping services due to bad weather, they decided to bake and ship their products in Niigata City. As a result, most of the products can now be purchased freshly baked at the actual shop in Niigata City.

The shop is open from 11am until all products are gone (closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays). They can be booked earlier if possible or in advance.

People in the suburbs of Niigata City are welcome to try Poppo's Bread from Sado and Saruhachi!

Spotlight.

Wholemeal bakery Poppo's bread

• Own website: http://popponopan.ocnk.net/
• LUMINE® Market: http: //www.rakuten.ne.jp/gold/popponopan/
• (Actual shop in Niigata City) 6911-5, Ichi-no-machi, Igarashi, Nishi-ku, Niigata City
• Opening hours 11:00 - until all products are gone.
• Closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays