There's a quiet little ingredient sitting in the pantries of professional bakers and some home bakers. It doesn't add flavour. It doesn't add colour. But it does something rather remarkable to your dough — and once you know about it, you'll wonder how you ever baked without it.
We're talking about ascorbic acid — better known as Vitamin C — and Doves Farm have made it beautifully accessible in their 120g powder form.
What Exactly Is Ascorbic Acid?
Industrial production typically starts with glucose or sorbitol as the main raw materials, through either chemical synthesis or fermentation methods. The resulting ascorbic acid is obtained in powder or crystal form after liquid crystallisation — pure, stable, and easy to measure.
Ascorbic acid has the scientific formula C₆H₈O₆. The form used in baking — and in supplements — is L-ascorbic acid, a biologically active version of Vitamin C.
The "L" refers to its left-handed (levo) molecular configuration, which distinguishes it from synthetic D-ascorbic acid, which has no biological activity in humans.
🔗 Sources: ChemAnalyst | Merywood | MDPI | Echemi | Dolchem
What Does It Do in Baking?
Ascorbic acid acts as a dough improver. When added to bread dough, it strengthens the gluten network, helping the dough hold its structure and trap gas more effectively during fermentation. The practical results are:
- Better oven spring and a higher, lighter loaf
- Improved dough elasticity and handling
- A more consistent crumb structure
- Particularly beneficial in wholemeal and spelt baking, where gluten development can be more challenging
It's especially popular with sourdough bakers and those working with heritage or whole grain flours — exactly the kind of baking Doves Farm is made for.
How to Use It
A little goes a long way. According to Doves Farm, for best results add 1 teaspoon of Vitamin C to 1kg of flour, mix together and then follow your usual recipe.
Suitable For
This product is made without the following allergens, making it a great choice for bakers with dietary requirements:
- ✅ Dairy free
- ✅ Egg free
- ✅ Gluten free
- ✅ Milk free
- ✅ Nut free
- ✅ Peanut free
- ✅ Wheat free
Always check product packaging for the most up-to-date allergen and ingredient information.
Why Doves Farm?
Welcome to Doves Farm — the award-winning, family-owned British organic grower, miller and food producer. As the UK's no.1 organic flour brand, they're dedicated to crafting the finest organic flours from sustainably grown ingredients. Their Ascorbic Acid powder is a natural companion to their range of organic flours — from their Organic Rye Wholemeal to their Organic Wholemeal Spelt — helping you get the very best from every bake.
You'll find the full Doves Farm range in our Food Ingredients collection, curated for home bakers who care about what goes into their food.
Meet Doves Farm Brand , also reachable from the top of each of their products
Ready to Try It?
👉 Shop Doves Farm Ascorbic Acid / Vitamin C — 120g Powder