Vitus: The Sourdough Starter That Traveled Through Time and Canvas
10 Jun 2025
From the Puratos Sourdough Institute, home to the world’s only Sourdough Library, to the pages of a book and the brushstrokes of an artist, Vitus is no ordinary sourdough starter.
A Sourdough with Soul | Vitus Sourdough #101
Among the hundreds of sourdough cultures preserved at the Sourdough Library as part of the Puratos Sourdough Institute in St. Vith, Belgium, one has captured the imagination of bakers, artists, and storytellers alike: Vitus.
With a complex flavor profile that reveals notes of grape and honey alongside a gentle acidity, Vitus is a natural fermentation culture rooted in tradition yet brimming with modern relevance. It is a sourdough that doesn’t just rise—it inspires.
But it’s not just the taste that makes Vitus special. It’s the journey.
From Personal Sourdough Starter to Global Phenomenon
The story of Vitus began in 2017, when German journalist and sourdough enthusiast Martina Goernemann brought her ailing starter to the Sourdough Library for help. She fondly referred to Karl De Smedt, the Sourdough Librarian, as her "personal trainer" for teaching her how to revive and care for the culture.
Together, they nurtured it back to life. From there, Martina embarked on a heartfelt journey—traveling with the revived starter in a flea market cooler across Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, the UK, Sweden, and the United States.
Along the way, the starter was baptized Vitus—a name that has since become symbolic of resilience, creativity, and the magic of fermentation.
This adventure was beautifully chronicled in Martina’s book: Sourdough: Four Days to Happiness.
A Sourdough Painted Into History
One of the most remarkable chapters in Vitus’s journey took place in Nobleboro, Maine, where Martina met the celebrated painter, John Whalley. Inspired by the beauty and symbolism of sourdough, Whalley created what is likely the first and only painting in history dedicated to a sourdough starter.
Titled “Bread of Life,” the painting features Vitus surrounded by freshly baked bread, an old Bible, and a wooden barrel. Using the traditional Flemish egg tempera method, Whalley honored Vitus with a technique as timeless as the starter itself. He even used Vitus to bake a loaf with spelt flour, honey, beer, and maple syrup from his garden, bringing art and fermentation together in a wholly unique way.
The Taste of Vitus Sourdough
According to its flavor profile, Vitus delivers:
A moderately sweet and mildly sour taste
Hints of grape, honey, and fruit in the aroma
Notes of fermentation, cereal, and slight lactic sharpness
This makes it versatile for a variety of breads, especially those where a gentle tang and complex aroma elevate the crust and crumb.
Discover the full flavor and aroma profile in the visual taste radar charts in our Virtual Sourdough Library.
A Starter That Teaches Friendship
Today, Vitus continues its journey—no longer as a fragile culture in need of help, but as a “friendship sourdough” used within Puratos to help people learn how to bake and bond through fermentation. It stands as a reminder that bread is not just food—it’s a narrative, a community, and in the case of Vitus, a work of living art.
About the Sourdough Institute
The Puratos Sourdough Institute, home to the Sourdough Library, is the world’s only organization dedicated to preserving natural fermentation cultures. Under the stewardship of Karl De Smedt, the Library now protects over 150 starters from around the globe—each one a unique expression of its origin and tradition.
The Journey of Vitus Continues...
From fermentation to fine art, from a book’s pages to the ovens of bakers worldwide, Vitus continues to inspire.
Stay tuned for the next chapter in the journey of Vitus… Coming soon.
