Devendra Kumar
The world record for baking the longest handcrafted baguette has been shattered in France, requiring a monumental task that demonstrated “true spirit and collective sportsmanship”. The new Guinness World Record was set in Suresnes, Paris, on Sunday, where 18 bakers mobilized to break the previous record held by Italy since 2019. The colossal baguette measured an astonishing 140.53 metres, surpassing the previous record of 132.62 metres.
The undertaking required an enormous amount of resources, including 90kg of flour, 60 litres of water, 1.2kg of salt, and 1.2kg of yeast to cook the massive 152kg dough. Preparations began at 3am to ensure the baguette was at least 5cm thick to qualify for the official record. The dough was kneaded, shaped, and baked on site in a custom rolling tent oven, watched by a curious public.
The feat is a testament to the skill and dedication of artisan bakers, who worked tirelessly for 10 hours to achieve this remarkable record. According to Dominique Anract, president of the National Confederation of French Baking, “A record for the longest handcrafted baguette requires true spirit and collective sportsmanship. In this year of the Olympics, congratulations to all our artisan bakers. Bread is an engine of performance, our baguette is an essential part of our gastronomic heritage.”
The accolades didn’t stop there, as Guillaume Boudy, mayor of Suresnes and vice-president of the Council of Hauts-de-Seine, praised the city’s bakers who participated in the record-breaking attempt, saying, “Suresnes is proud to have been the scene of this record for the longest baguette in the world, which promotes a national symbol of our gastronomy as well as the artisans who perpetuate their know-how. I congratulate the bakers from Suresnes who participated in the baking and maintain the daily sharing traditions essential to the conviviality of our city.”
After the record was set, pieces of the massive baguette were distributed among the gathered crowd, providing a sweet and satisfying conclusion to the day’s celebrations. The new record is a proud achievement for French baking and a testament to the country’s rich culinary heritage.