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Top 22 Rye Breads in the World

Last update: Tue Apr 15 2025
Top 22 Rye Breads in the World
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01
Pain de campagne
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Pain de campagne or country bread is a traditional, rustic bread that is prepared throughout France. It can be found in numerous boulangeries. Most versions of pain de campagne are made with a mixture of white, whole wheat, and rye flour, water, salt, and sourdough starter.


In the past, people would bake huge loaves of country bread in the communal ovens, feeding their families for days or weeks. In the early 20th century, baguette replaced pain de campagne in terms of popularity, but with the rise of artisan breads in the 1970s, pain de campagne grew in popularity once again.

02
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Saldskābmaize is a Latvian term that translates to sweet and sour bread, and it refers to the traditional Latvian rye bread known for its distinct dark color, dense texture, and unique flavor profile that balances both sweet and sour tastes.


The sweet and sour flavor is achieved through a fermentation process that can take several days. The ingredients typically include rye flour, water, sugar, salt, and sometimes malt. The fermentation and the use of rye give the bread its characteristic sour taste, while the added sugar or sometimes honey contributes to its sweetness. 
03
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Chleb prądnicki is a traditionally made brown bread produced within the administrative boundaries of the city of Krakow in Poland since the 15th century. It is a huge and unique bread - the loaves weigh 4.5 kilos, its crust is very thick and it has a long shelf life, staying fresh for at least seven days.


It has a typical flavor and smell of bread made with fermented rye, and just like some cheeses, it develops its unique organoleptic properties after a period of maturation, its full flavor is best appreciated the second day after it has been baked.


Even though it is five times more expensive than standardly-made bread, it is highly popular and during the annual Bread Festival, it is often bought four times more than any other day .

04
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Juoda duona is a traditional bread consisting of ground rye flour, starter, and water. The dough must be kneaded for a long time before baking, and it is always left to ferment overnight. Once it is baked, juoda duona is consumed for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.


Traditionally, bread baking in Lithuania is always done by the eldest woman in the house, and if visitors come over, it is a custom that they stay until the baking process is done.

05
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Characterized by its dark brown color, rúgbrauð is a rich and dense Icelandic bread that was initially prepared solely with rye flour. It was traditionally steamed in underground pits that were located near numerous Icelandic geysers, and which provided heat for steaming.


Nowadays, the somewhat heavy rye flour is usually combined with other flour types, buttermilk, and molasses to produce a lighter version of this classic. Often combined with various spreads and toppings, this subtly sweet bread is also blended with milk or buttermilk and enjoyed as a porridge or a nutritious dessert.

06
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Rugbrød is a brown rye bread from Denmark, typically used as a base for popular Danish open sandwiches. Usually, it is sliced thinly, buttered, and topped with ingredients such as smoked fish, shrimp, boiled eggs, liver pate, cucumbers, or mayonnaise.


The bread is popular for being low in fat, containing no sugar or oil, and it is also very rich in dietary fiber and whole grains. It can be found at most Danish supermarkets or baked at home, and it comes in a few popular varieties: light rye bread, dark rye bread, sourdough rye bread, and coarse rye bread. 
07
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Rupjmaize is a traditional bread consisting of whole-grain rye, baked in a hearth oven and shaped into an elongated loaf. It has a unique flavor that is both sour and sweet. The bread pairs well with smoked fish, cold cuts, and strong, pungent cheeses such as Roquefort.

MOST ICONIC Rupjmaize

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08

Rye Bread

EASTERN FINLAND, Finland
3.9
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Limppu is a whole rye bread that is traditionally prepared in eastern Finland. It typically consists of a sourdough starter, whole rye flour, warm water, and salt, and it is allowed to ferment overnight. Traditionally, the bread calls for using dried pieces of previous bread dough or a lump of dough saved from the previous bake as a starter.


The soft and airy dough is shaped into a cone, and following the change of the cone shape into a flattened round loaf, the bread is baked until it’s nicely colored and produces a hollow sound when tapped on the bottom. The natural fermentation process gives limppu a distinctive, strongly acidic flavor and a slightly sweet nuttiness, while its consistency is rather dense with a soft crumb. 
09

Rye Bread

WESTERN FINLAND, Finland
3.9
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Usually associated with Western Finland, ruisreikäleipä is one of many rye bread varieties present in traditional Finnish cuisine. This dense, rustic bread is traditionally baked in the form of a flat, round loaf with a hole in the middle.


The hole was used to hang the bread on a pole, usually above the oven, allowing it to mature in a warm environment. With its pleasant sweet and sour flavors, it is a perfect accompaniment to hearty Finnish dishes and a common snack that is usually complemented by butter.

10

Rye Bread

LUGANO, Switzerland
3.9
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Pane Valle Maggia is a traditional bread originating from Lugano in Switzerland. The dough is prepared with a combination of water, yeast, rye flour, wheat flour, sourdough starter, and sea salt. The dough is shaped into a boule and it's then baked until it develops a crispy crust.


The crumb should not be very open, but not too dense either. It's recommended to cut the bread into thick slices and serve it with cold cuts and olives on the side.

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13
Rye Bread
SKÅNE COUNTY, Sweden
3.7
14
Rye Bread
CANTON OF VALAIS, Switzerland
3.6
15
16
Sweet Bread
NORTH RHINE-WESTPHALIA, Germany
3.3
17
18
Rye Bread
FRIESLAND, Netherlands
3.2
19
Rye Bread
BERLIN, Germany
n/a
20
Rye Bread
SUNNMØRE, Norway
n/a
21
Flatbread
DALARNA COUNTY, Sweden
n/a
22
Rye Bread
UPPSALA COUNTY, Sweden
n/a

TasteAtlas food rankings are based on the ratings of the TasteAtlas audience, with a series of mechanisms that recognize real users and that ignore bot, nationalist or local patriotic ratings, and give additional value to the ratings of users that the system recognizes as knowledgeable. TasteAtlas Rankings should not be seen as the final global conclusion about food. Their purpose is to promote excellent local foods, instill pride in traditional dishes, and arouse curiosity about dishes you haven’t tried.