The artisanal baking industry is experiencing a renaissance, with more people seeking out food that is honest, transparent, and made by hand. Consumers today value not only the flavour and quality of their bread but also the story and people behind it. This shift has transformed bakeries into hubs of community, creativity, and connection.
Founded in June 2016, Bohemian Bakery sits at the heart of Sumner, embracing this movement with open arms. Started by Czech-Slovak native Maka Angyalova, the bakery began as a small, three-day-a-week venture but quickly grew thanks to overwhelming local support. Every sourdough loaf is crafted the old-fashioned way, with daily-fed starters and slow fermentation for rich, complex flavours. Their pastries—especially the croissants—are baked fresh every morning using labour-intensive techniques rarely seen today, ensuring each bite is worth the wait.
Baking with Tradition and Care
Bohemian Bakery’s ethos is rooted in quality and honesty—nothing goes into their bread that a grandmother wouldn’t recognise. Their sourdough process, involving long cold fermentation, yields loaves with exceptional taste, longer shelf life, and improved digestibility. From bread to pies and rolls, everything is made on-site, allowing customers to witness the craftsmanship firsthand. The result is more than food; it’s a tangible expression of skill, patience, and respect for tradition
The People Behind the Loaves
Maka leads a diverse, multinational team passionate about pushing the limits of their craft. Head Baker Lex Roh, trained in his father’s bakery in Korea and now a multi-gold-medal winner, brings precision and mastery to every recipe. Operations lead Iveta Šota orchestrates the bakery’s many moving parts, drawing from culinary and marketing experience across Europe. Together, they share one belief: simple, good ingredients in the hands of dedicated bakers create food with pure flavours that nourish both body and soul. For Bohemian Bakery, the journey never ends—there’s always a new recipe to refine and another neighbour to share it with.
To know more visit:
Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/bohemianbakerychristchurch
Website- https://www.bohemianbakery.co.nz
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