Monosaccharides

Monosaccharides or simple sugars are the most basic form of carbohydrate. Familiar forms of monosaccharide are glucose and fructose (fruit sugar). Many other forms of carbohydrate are made of long chains of monosaccharides linked together.

Yeast requires glucose as a source of food and relies upon the activity of enzymes to break the carbohydrate in flour down into simple sugars in order for fermentation to take place.

Want to find out more? Look at the chapter on ingredients in the book flour and water.

Back to the glossary.