diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index f8689c8cff2..745e60aa5c9 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -42,6 +42,7 @@ ifeq ($(ENABLE_FUNCTIONAL_TESTS), yes)
 makefiles += \
   tests/functional/local.mk \
   tests/functional/ca/local.mk \
+  tests/functional/git-hashing/local.mk \
   tests/functional/dyn-drv/local.mk \
   tests/functional/test-libstoreconsumer/local.mk \
   tests/functional/plugins/local.mk
diff --git a/doc/manual/src/protocols/store-path.md b/doc/manual/src/protocols/store-path.md
index fcf8038fcc3..565c4fa7505 100644
--- a/doc/manual/src/protocols/store-path.md
+++ b/doc/manual/src/protocols/store-path.md
@@ -89,15 +89,20 @@ where
 
       - `rec` = one of:
 
+        - ```ebnf
+          | ""
+          ```
+          (empty string) for hashes of the flat (single file) serialization
+
         - ```ebnf
           | "r:"
           ```
           hashes of the for [Nix Archive (NAR)] (arbitrary file system object) serialization
 
         - ```ebnf
-          | ""
+          | "git:"
           ```
-          (empty string) for hashes of the flat (single file) serialization
+          hashes of the [Git blob/tree](https://git-scm.com/book/en/v2/Git-Internals-Git-Objects) [Merkel tree](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merkle_tree) format
 
       - ```ebnf
         algo = "md5" | "sha1" | "sha256"
diff --git a/package.nix b/package.nix
index d1d14d10ea2..1f895e3010b 100644
--- a/package.nix
+++ b/package.nix
@@ -209,6 +209,10 @@ in {
     (lib.getBin lowdown)
     mdbook
     mdbook-linkcheck
+  ] ++ lib.optionals doInstallCheck [
+    git
+    mercurial
+    openssh
   ] ++ lib.optionals (doInstallCheck || enableManual) [
     jq # Also for custom mdBook preprocessor.
   ] ++ lib.optional stdenv.hostPlatform.isLinux util-linux
@@ -249,12 +253,6 @@ in {
   dontBuild = !attrs.doBuild;
   doCheck = attrs.doCheck;
 
-  nativeCheckInputs = [
-    git
-    mercurial
-    openssh
-  ];
-
   disallowedReferences = [ boost ];
 
   preConfigure = lib.optionalString (doBuild && ! stdenv.hostPlatform.isStatic) (
diff --git a/perl/lib/Nix/Store.xs b/perl/lib/Nix/Store.xs
index 4a928594bd5..1c64cc66b14 100644
--- a/perl/lib/Nix/Store.xs
+++ b/perl/lib/Nix/Store.xs
@@ -259,7 +259,7 @@ hashPath(char * algo, int base32, char * path)
             auto [accessor, canonPath] = PosixSourceAccessor::createAtRoot(path);
             Hash h = hashPath(
                 accessor, canonPath,
-                FileIngestionMethod::Recursive, parseHashAlgo(algo)).first;
+                FileIngestionMethod::Recursive, parseHashAlgo(algo));
             auto s = h.to_string(base32 ? HashFormat::Nix32 : HashFormat::Base16, false);
             XPUSHs(sv_2mortal(newSVpv(s.c_str(), 0)));
         } catch (Error & e) {
diff --git a/src/libexpr/primops.cc b/src/libexpr/primops.cc
index 850cc7a4597..78f7f71ed84 100644
--- a/src/libexpr/primops.cc
+++ b/src/libexpr/primops.cc
@@ -1138,7 +1138,10 @@ drvName, Bindings * attrs, Value & v)
         auto handleHashMode = [&](const std::string_view s) {
             if (s == "recursive") ingestionMethod = FileIngestionMethod::Recursive;
             else if (s == "flat") ingestionMethod = FileIngestionMethod::Flat;
-            else if (s == "text") {
+            else if (s == "git") {
+                experimentalFeatureSettings.require(Xp::GitHashing);
+                ingestionMethod = FileIngestionMethod::Git;
+            } else if (s == "text") {
                 experimentalFeatureSettings.require(Xp::DynamicDerivations);
                 ingestionMethod = TextIngestionMethod {};
             } else
@@ -2089,7 +2092,7 @@ static void prim_toFile(EvalState & state, const PosIdx pos, Value * * args, Val
         })
         : ({
             StringSource s { contents };
-            state.store->addToStoreFromDump(s, name, TextIngestionMethod {}, HashAlgorithm::SHA256, refs, state.repair);
+            state.store->addToStoreFromDump(s, name, FileSerialisationMethod::Flat, TextIngestionMethod {}, HashAlgorithm::SHA256, refs, state.repair);
         });
 
     /* Note: we don't need to add `context' to the context of the
diff --git a/src/libstore/binary-cache-store.cc b/src/libstore/binary-cache-store.cc
index 189d1d305cf..bea2bb370d1 100644
--- a/src/libstore/binary-cache-store.cc
+++ b/src/libstore/binary-cache-store.cc
@@ -305,7 +305,8 @@ void BinaryCacheStore::addToStore(const ValidPathInfo & info, Source & narSource
 StorePath BinaryCacheStore::addToStoreFromDump(
     Source & dump,
     std::string_view name,
-    ContentAddressMethod method,
+    FileSerialisationMethod dumpMethod,
+    ContentAddressMethod hashMethod,
     HashAlgorithm hashAlgo,
     const StorePathSet & references,
     RepairFlag repair)
@@ -313,17 +314,27 @@ StorePath BinaryCacheStore::addToStoreFromDump(
     std::optional<Hash> caHash;
     std::string nar;
 
+    // Calculating Git hash from NAR stream not yet implemented. May not
+    // be possible to implement in single-pass if the NAR is in an
+    // inconvenient order. Could fetch after uploading, however.
+    if (hashMethod.getFileIngestionMethod() == FileIngestionMethod::Git)
+        unsupported("addToStoreFromDump");
+
     if (auto * dump2p = dynamic_cast<StringSource *>(&dump)) {
         auto & dump2 = *dump2p;
         // Hack, this gives us a "replayable" source so we can compute
         // multiple hashes more easily.
-        caHash = hashString(HashAlgorithm::SHA256, dump2.s);
-        switch (method.getFileIngestionMethod()) {
-        case FileIngestionMethod::Recursive:
+        //
+        // Only calculate if the dump is in the right format, however.
+        if (static_cast<FileIngestionMethod>(dumpMethod) == hashMethod.getFileIngestionMethod())
+            caHash = hashString(HashAlgorithm::SHA256, dump2.s);
+        switch (dumpMethod) {
+        case FileSerialisationMethod::Recursive:
             // The dump is already NAR in this case, just use it.
             nar = dump2.s;
             break;
-        case FileIngestionMethod::Flat:
+        case FileSerialisationMethod::Flat:
+        {
             // The dump is Flat, so we need to convert it to NAR with a
             // single file.
             StringSink s;
@@ -331,10 +342,11 @@ StorePath BinaryCacheStore::addToStoreFromDump(
             nar = std::move(s.s);
             break;
         }
+        }
     } else {
         // Otherwise, we have to do th same hashing as NAR so our single
         // hash will suffice for both purposes.
-        if (method != FileIngestionMethod::Recursive || hashAlgo != HashAlgorithm::SHA256)
+        if (dumpMethod != FileSerialisationMethod::Recursive || hashAlgo != HashAlgorithm::SHA256)
             unsupported("addToStoreFromDump");
     }
     StringSource narDump { nar };
@@ -349,7 +361,7 @@ StorePath BinaryCacheStore::addToStoreFromDump(
             *this,
             name,
             ContentAddressWithReferences::fromParts(
-                method,
+                hashMethod,
                 caHash ? *caHash : nar.first,
                 {
                     .others = references,
@@ -450,7 +462,7 @@ StorePath BinaryCacheStore::addToStore(
        non-recursive+sha256 so we can just use the default
        implementation of this method in terms of addToStoreFromDump. */
 
-    auto h = hashPath(accessor, path, method.getFileIngestionMethod(), hashAlgo, filter).first;
+    auto h = hashPath(accessor, path, method.getFileIngestionMethod(), hashAlgo, filter);
 
     auto source = sinkToSource([&](Sink & sink) {
         accessor.dumpPath(path, sink, filter);
diff --git a/src/libstore/binary-cache-store.hh b/src/libstore/binary-cache-store.hh
index 00ab73905e2..7c282830933 100644
--- a/src/libstore/binary-cache-store.hh
+++ b/src/libstore/binary-cache-store.hh
@@ -125,7 +125,8 @@ public:
     StorePath addToStoreFromDump(
         Source & dump,
         std::string_view name,
-        ContentAddressMethod method,
+        FileSerialisationMethod dumpMethod,
+        ContentAddressMethod hashMethod,
         HashAlgorithm hashAlgo,
         const StorePathSet & references,
         RepairFlag repair) override;
@@ -147,7 +148,7 @@ public:
 
     void narFromPath(const StorePath & path, Sink & sink) override;
 
-    ref<SourceAccessor> getFSAccessor(bool requireValidPath) override;
+    ref<SourceAccessor> getFSAccessor(bool requireValidPath = true) override;
 
     void addSignatures(const StorePath & storePath, const StringSet & sigs) override;
 
diff --git a/src/libstore/build/local-derivation-goal.cc b/src/libstore/build/local-derivation-goal.cc
index b373c74b26a..a9b8de12360 100644
--- a/src/libstore/build/local-derivation-goal.cc
+++ b/src/libstore/build/local-derivation-goal.cc
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@
 #include "finally.hh"
 #include "util.hh"
 #include "archive.hh"
+#include "git.hh"
 #include "compression.hh"
 #include "daemon.hh"
 #include "topo-sort.hh"
@@ -1311,12 +1312,13 @@ struct RestrictedStore : public virtual RestrictedStoreConfig, public virtual In
     StorePath addToStoreFromDump(
         Source & dump,
         std::string_view name,
-        ContentAddressMethod method,
+        FileSerialisationMethod dumpMethod,
+        ContentAddressMethod hashMethod,
         HashAlgorithm hashAlgo,
         const StorePathSet & references,
         RepairFlag repair) override
     {
-        auto path = next->addToStoreFromDump(dump, name, method, hashAlgo, references, repair);
+        auto path = next->addToStoreFromDump(dump, name, dumpMethod, hashMethod, hashAlgo, references, repair);
         goal.addDependency(path);
         return path;
     }
@@ -2457,15 +2459,28 @@ SingleDrvOutputs LocalDerivationGoal::registerOutputs()
             rewriteOutput(outputRewrites);
             /* FIXME optimize and deduplicate with addToStore */
             std::string oldHashPart { scratchPath->hashPart() };
-            auto got = ({
-                HashModuloSink caSink { outputHash.hashAlgo, oldHashPart };
+            auto got = [&]{
                 PosixSourceAccessor accessor;
-                dumpPath(
-                    accessor, CanonPath { actualPath },
-                    caSink,
-                    outputHash.method.getFileIngestionMethod());
-                caSink.finish().first;
-            });
+                auto fim = outputHash.method.getFileIngestionMethod();
+                switch (fim) {
+                case FileIngestionMethod::Flat:
+                case FileIngestionMethod::Recursive:
+                {
+                    HashModuloSink caSink { outputHash.hashAlgo, oldHashPart };
+                    auto fim = outputHash.method.getFileIngestionMethod();
+                    dumpPath(
+                        accessor, CanonPath { actualPath },
+                        caSink,
+                        (FileSerialisationMethod) fim);
+                    return caSink.finish().first;
+                }
+                case FileIngestionMethod::Git: {
+                    return git::dumpHash(
+                        outputHash.hashAlgo, accessor,
+                        CanonPath { tmpDir + "/tmp" }).hash;
+                }
+                }
+            }();
 
             ValidPathInfo newInfo0 {
                 worker.store,
@@ -2491,7 +2506,7 @@ SingleDrvOutputs LocalDerivationGoal::registerOutputs()
                 PosixSourceAccessor accessor;
                 HashResult narHashAndSize = hashPath(
                     accessor, CanonPath { actualPath },
-                    FileIngestionMethod::Recursive, HashAlgorithm::SHA256);
+                    FileSerialisationMethod::Recursive, HashAlgorithm::SHA256);
                 newInfo0.narHash = narHashAndSize.first;
                 newInfo0.narSize = narHashAndSize.second;
             }
@@ -2515,7 +2530,7 @@ SingleDrvOutputs LocalDerivationGoal::registerOutputs()
                 PosixSourceAccessor accessor;
                 HashResult narHashAndSize = hashPath(
                     accessor, CanonPath { actualPath },
-                    FileIngestionMethod::Recursive, HashAlgorithm::SHA256);
+                    FileSerialisationMethod::Recursive, HashAlgorithm::SHA256);
                 ValidPathInfo newInfo0 { requiredFinalPath, narHashAndSize.first };
                 newInfo0.narSize = narHashAndSize.second;
                 auto refs = rewriteRefs();
diff --git a/src/libstore/build/worker.cc b/src/libstore/build/worker.cc
index 3a34f4006eb..815ded3d5b0 100644
--- a/src/libstore/build/worker.cc
+++ b/src/libstore/build/worker.cc
@@ -529,11 +529,11 @@ bool Worker::pathContentsGood(const StorePath & path)
     if (!pathExists(store.printStorePath(path)))
         res = false;
     else {
-        HashResult current = hashPath(
+        Hash current = hashPath(
             *store.getFSAccessor(), CanonPath { store.printStorePath(path) },
             FileIngestionMethod::Recursive, info->narHash.algo);
         Hash nullHash(HashAlgorithm::SHA256);
-        res = info->narHash == nullHash || info->narHash == current.first;
+        res = info->narHash == nullHash || info->narHash == current;
     }
     pathContentsGoodCache.insert_or_assign(path, res);
     if (!res)
diff --git a/src/libstore/content-address.cc b/src/libstore/content-address.cc
index 4e3d2f64dc9..4ed4f2de561 100644
--- a/src/libstore/content-address.cc
+++ b/src/libstore/content-address.cc
@@ -11,6 +11,9 @@ std::string_view makeFileIngestionPrefix(FileIngestionMethod m)
         return "";
     case FileIngestionMethod::Recursive:
         return "r:";
+    case FileIngestionMethod::Git:
+        experimentalFeatureSettings.require(Xp::GitHashing);
+        return "git:";
     default:
         throw Error("impossible, caught both cases");
     }
@@ -51,6 +54,10 @@ ContentAddressMethod ContentAddressMethod::parsePrefix(std::string_view & m)
     if (splitPrefix(m, "r:")) {
         return FileIngestionMethod::Recursive;
     }
+    else if (splitPrefix(m, "git:")) {
+        experimentalFeatureSettings.require(Xp::GitHashing);
+        return FileIngestionMethod::Git;
+    }
     else if (splitPrefix(m, "text:")) {
         return TextIngestionMethod {};
     }
@@ -131,6 +138,10 @@ static std::pair<ContentAddressMethod, HashAlgorithm> parseContentAddressMethodP
         auto method = FileIngestionMethod::Flat;
         if (splitPrefix(rest, "r:"))
             method = FileIngestionMethod::Recursive;
+        else if (splitPrefix(rest, "git:")) {
+            experimentalFeatureSettings.require(Xp::GitHashing);
+            method = FileIngestionMethod::Git;
+        }
         HashAlgorithm hashAlgo = parseHashAlgorithm_();
         return {
             std::move(method),
diff --git a/src/libstore/daemon.cc b/src/libstore/daemon.cc
index cf5020dfe08..e1337f51df3 100644
--- a/src/libstore/daemon.cc
+++ b/src/libstore/daemon.cc
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@
 #include "archive.hh"
 #include "derivations.hh"
 #include "args.hh"
+#include "git.hh"
 
 namespace nix::daemon {
 
@@ -400,11 +401,23 @@ static void performOp(TunnelLogger * logger, ref<Store> store,
             logger->startWork();
             auto pathInfo = [&]() {
                 // NB: FramedSource must be out of scope before logger->stopWork();
-                auto [contentAddressMethod, hashAlgo_] = ContentAddressMethod::parseWithAlgo(camStr);
-                auto hashAlgo = hashAlgo_; // work around clang bug
+                auto [contentAddressMethod, hashAlgo] = ContentAddressMethod::parseWithAlgo(camStr);
                 FramedSource source(from);
+                FileSerialisationMethod dumpMethod;
+                switch (contentAddressMethod.getFileIngestionMethod()) {
+                case FileIngestionMethod::Flat:
+                    dumpMethod = FileSerialisationMethod::Flat;
+                    break;
+                case FileIngestionMethod::Recursive:
+                    dumpMethod = FileSerialisationMethod::Recursive;
+                    break;
+                case FileIngestionMethod::Git:
+                    // Use NAR; Git is not a serialization method
+                    dumpMethod = FileSerialisationMethod::Recursive;
+                    break;
+                }
                 // TODO these two steps are essentially RemoteStore::addCAToStore. Move it up to Store.
-                auto path = store->addToStoreFromDump(source, name, contentAddressMethod, hashAlgo, refs, repair);
+                auto path = store->addToStoreFromDump(source, name, dumpMethod, contentAddressMethod, hashAlgo, refs, repair);
                 return store->queryPathInfo(path);
             }();
             logger->stopWork();
@@ -430,30 +443,23 @@ static void performOp(TunnelLogger * logger, ref<Store> store,
                 hashAlgo = parseHashAlgo(hashAlgoRaw);
             }
 
+            // Old protocol always sends NAR, regardless of hashing method
             auto dumpSource = sinkToSource([&](Sink & saved) {
-                if (method == FileIngestionMethod::Recursive) {
-                    /* We parse the NAR dump through into `saved` unmodified,
-                       so why all this extra work? We still parse the NAR so
-                       that we aren't sending arbitrary data to `saved`
-                       unwittingly`, and we know when the NAR ends so we don't
-                       consume the rest of `from` and can't parse another
-                       command. (We don't trust `addToStoreFromDump` to not
-                       eagerly consume the entire stream it's given, past the
-                       length of the Nar. */
-                    TeeSource savedNARSource(from, saved);
-                    NullFileSystemObjectSink sink; /* just parse the NAR */
-                    parseDump(sink, savedNARSource);
-                } else {
-                    /* Incrementally parse the NAR file, stripping the
-                       metadata, and streaming the sole file we expect into
-                       `saved`. */
-                    RegularFileSink savedRegular { saved };
-                    parseDump(savedRegular, from);
-                    if (!savedRegular.regular) throw Error("regular file expected");
-                }
+                /* We parse the NAR dump through into `saved` unmodified,
+                   so why all this extra work? We still parse the NAR so
+                   that we aren't sending arbitrary data to `saved`
+                   unwittingly`, and we know when the NAR ends so we don't
+                   consume the rest of `from` and can't parse another
+                   command. (We don't trust `addToStoreFromDump` to not
+                   eagerly consume the entire stream it's given, past the
+                   length of the Nar. */
+                TeeSource savedNARSource(from, saved);
+                NullFileSystemObjectSink sink; /* just parse the NAR */
+                parseDump(sink, savedNARSource);
             });
             logger->startWork();
-            auto path = store->addToStoreFromDump(*dumpSource, baseName, method, hashAlgo);
+            auto path = store->addToStoreFromDump(
+                *dumpSource, baseName, FileSerialisationMethod::Recursive, method, hashAlgo);
             logger->stopWork();
 
             to << store->printStorePath(path);
@@ -485,7 +491,7 @@ static void performOp(TunnelLogger * logger, ref<Store> store,
         logger->startWork();
         auto path = ({
             StringSource source { s };
-            store->addToStoreFromDump(source, suffix, TextIngestionMethod {}, HashAlgorithm::SHA256, refs, NoRepair);
+            store->addToStoreFromDump(source, suffix, FileSerialisationMethod::Flat, TextIngestionMethod {}, HashAlgorithm::SHA256, refs, NoRepair);
         });
         logger->stopWork();
         to << store->printStorePath(path);
diff --git a/src/libstore/derivations.cc b/src/libstore/derivations.cc
index 305ed5b4291..df14e979fb8 100644
--- a/src/libstore/derivations.cc
+++ b/src/libstore/derivations.cc
@@ -150,7 +150,7 @@ StorePath writeDerivation(Store & store,
         })
         : ({
             StringSource s { contents };
-            store.addToStoreFromDump(s, suffix, TextIngestionMethod {}, HashAlgorithm::SHA256, references, repair);
+            store.addToStoreFromDump(s, suffix, FileSerialisationMethod::Flat, TextIngestionMethod {}, HashAlgorithm::SHA256, references, repair);
         });
 }
 
diff --git a/src/libstore/dummy-store.cc b/src/libstore/dummy-store.cc
index e4f13b8f410..30f23cff91a 100644
--- a/src/libstore/dummy-store.cc
+++ b/src/libstore/dummy-store.cc
@@ -61,7 +61,8 @@ struct DummyStore : public virtual DummyStoreConfig, public virtual Store
     virtual StorePath addToStoreFromDump(
         Source & dump,
         std::string_view name,
-        ContentAddressMethod method = FileIngestionMethod::Recursive,
+        FileSerialisationMethod dumpMethod = FileSerialisationMethod::Recursive,
+        ContentAddressMethod hashMethod = FileIngestionMethod::Recursive,
         HashAlgorithm hashAlgo = HashAlgorithm::SHA256,
         const StorePathSet & references = StorePathSet(),
         RepairFlag repair = NoRepair) override
diff --git a/src/libstore/legacy-ssh-store.hh b/src/libstore/legacy-ssh-store.hh
index ae890177b3d..ca2f115d25e 100644
--- a/src/libstore/legacy-ssh-store.hh
+++ b/src/libstore/legacy-ssh-store.hh
@@ -72,7 +72,8 @@ struct LegacySSHStore : public virtual LegacySSHStoreConfig, public virtual Stor
     virtual StorePath addToStoreFromDump(
         Source & dump,
         std::string_view name,
-        ContentAddressMethod method = FileIngestionMethod::Recursive,
+        FileSerialisationMethod dumpMethod = FileSerialisationMethod::Recursive,
+        ContentAddressMethod hashMethod = FileIngestionMethod::Recursive,
         HashAlgorithm hashAlgo = HashAlgorithm::SHA256,
         const StorePathSet & references = StorePathSet(),
         RepairFlag repair = NoRepair) override
diff --git a/src/libstore/local-fs-store.hh b/src/libstore/local-fs-store.hh
index bf855b67ece..8fb08120012 100644
--- a/src/libstore/local-fs-store.hh
+++ b/src/libstore/local-fs-store.hh
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ public:
     LocalFSStore(const Params & params);
 
     void narFromPath(const StorePath & path, Sink & sink) override;
-    ref<SourceAccessor> getFSAccessor(bool requireValidPath) override;
+    ref<SourceAccessor> getFSAccessor(bool requireValidPath = true) override;
 
     /**
      * Creates symlink from the `gcRoot` to the `storePath` and
diff --git a/src/libstore/local-store.cc b/src/libstore/local-store.cc
index 2c22bfe319d..56f8c5dd85c 100644
--- a/src/libstore/local-store.cc
+++ b/src/libstore/local-store.cc
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 #include "local-store.hh"
 #include "globals.hh"
+#include "git.hh"
 #include "archive.hh"
 #include "pathlocks.hh"
 #include "worker-protocol.hh"
@@ -1097,19 +1098,29 @@ void LocalStore::addToStore(const ValidPathInfo & info, Source & source,
             if (info.ca) {
                 auto & specified = *info.ca;
                 auto actualHash = ({
-                    HashModuloSink caSink {
-                        specified.hash.algo,
-                        std::string { info.path.hashPart() },
-                    };
-                    PosixSourceAccessor accessor;
-                    dumpPath(
-                        *getFSAccessor(false),
-                        CanonPath { printStorePath(info.path) },
-                        caSink,
-                        specified.method.getFileIngestionMethod());
+                    auto accessor = getFSAccessor(false);
+                    CanonPath path { printStorePath(info.path) };
+                    Hash h { HashAlgorithm::SHA256 }; // throwaway def to appease C++
+                    auto fim = specified.method.getFileIngestionMethod();
+                    switch (fim) {
+                    case FileIngestionMethod::Flat:
+                    case FileIngestionMethod::Recursive:
+                    {
+                        HashModuloSink caSink {
+                            specified.hash.algo,
+                            std::string { info.path.hashPart() },
+                        };
+                        dumpPath(*accessor, path, caSink, (FileSerialisationMethod) fim);
+                        h = caSink.finish().first;
+                        break;
+                    }
+                    case FileIngestionMethod::Git:
+                        h = git::dumpHash(specified.hash.algo, *accessor, path).hash;
+                        break;
+                    }
                     ContentAddress {
                         .method = specified.method,
-                        .hash = caSink.finish().first,
+                        .hash = std::move(h),
                     };
                 });
                 if (specified.hash != actualHash.hash) {
@@ -1137,7 +1148,8 @@ void LocalStore::addToStore(const ValidPathInfo & info, Source & source,
 StorePath LocalStore::addToStoreFromDump(
     Source & source0,
     std::string_view name,
-    ContentAddressMethod method,
+    FileSerialisationMethod dumpMethod,
+    ContentAddressMethod hashMethod,
     HashAlgorithm hashAlgo,
     const StorePathSet & references,
     RepairFlag repair)
@@ -1190,7 +1202,13 @@ StorePath LocalStore::addToStoreFromDump(
     Path tempDir;
     AutoCloseFD tempDirFd;
 
-    if (!inMemory) {
+    bool methodsMatch = (FileIngestionMethod) dumpMethod == hashMethod;
+
+    /* If the methods don't match, our streaming hash of the dump is the
+       wrong sort, and we need to rehash. */
+    bool inMemoryAndDontNeedRestore = inMemory && methodsMatch;
+
+    if (!inMemoryAndDontNeedRestore) {
         /* Drain what we pulled so far, and then keep on pulling */
         StringSource dumpSource { dump };
         ChainSource bothSource { dumpSource, source };
@@ -1199,17 +1217,23 @@ StorePath LocalStore::addToStoreFromDump(
         delTempDir = std::make_unique<AutoDelete>(tempDir);
         tempPath = tempDir + "/x";
 
-        restorePath(tempPath, bothSource, method.getFileIngestionMethod());
+        restorePath(tempPath, bothSource, dumpMethod);
 
         dumpBuffer.reset();
         dump = {};
     }
 
-    auto [hash, size] = hashSink->finish();
+    auto [dumpHash, size] = hashSink->finish();
+
+    PosixSourceAccessor accessor;
 
     auto desc = ContentAddressWithReferences::fromParts(
-        method,
-        hash,
+        hashMethod,
+        methodsMatch
+            ? dumpHash
+            : hashPath(
+                accessor, CanonPath { tempPath },
+                hashMethod.getFileIngestionMethod(), hashAlgo),
         {
             .others = references,
             // caller is not capable of creating a self-reference, because this is content-addressed without modulus
@@ -1235,10 +1259,20 @@ StorePath LocalStore::addToStoreFromDump(
 
             autoGC();
 
-            if (inMemory) {
+            if (inMemoryAndDontNeedRestore) {
                 StringSource dumpSource { dump };
                 /* Restore from the buffer in memory. */
-                restorePath(realPath, dumpSource, method.getFileIngestionMethod());
+                auto fim = hashMethod.getFileIngestionMethod();
+                switch (fim) {
+                case FileIngestionMethod::Flat:
+                case FileIngestionMethod::Recursive:
+                    restorePath(realPath, dumpSource, (FileSerialisationMethod) fim);
+                    break;
+                case FileIngestionMethod::Git:
+                    // doesn't correspond to serialization method, so
+                    // this should be unreachable
+                    assert(false);
+                }
             } else {
                 /* Move the temporary path we restored above. */
                 moveFile(tempPath, realPath);
@@ -1246,8 +1280,8 @@ StorePath LocalStore::addToStoreFromDump(
 
             /* For computing the nar hash. In recursive SHA-256 mode, this
                is the same as the store hash, so no need to do it again. */
-            auto narHash = std::pair { hash, size };
-            if (method != FileIngestionMethod::Recursive || hashAlgo != HashAlgorithm::SHA256) {
+            auto narHash = std::pair { dumpHash, size };
+            if (dumpMethod != FileSerialisationMethod::Recursive || hashAlgo != HashAlgorithm::SHA256) {
                 HashSink narSink { HashAlgorithm::SHA256 };
                 dumpPath(realPath, narSink);
                 narHash = narSink.finish();
@@ -1367,7 +1401,7 @@ bool LocalStore::verifyStore(bool checkContents, RepairFlag repair)
             PosixSourceAccessor accessor;
             std::string hash = hashPath(
                 accessor, CanonPath { linkPath },
-                FileIngestionMethod::Recursive, HashAlgorithm::SHA256).first.to_string(HashFormat::Nix32, false);
+                FileIngestionMethod::Recursive, HashAlgorithm::SHA256).to_string(HashFormat::Nix32, false);
             if (hash != link.name) {
                 printError("link '%s' was modified! expected hash '%s', got '%s'",
                     linkPath, link.name, hash);
diff --git a/src/libstore/local-store.hh b/src/libstore/local-store.hh
index ba56d3ead12..7eff1d6905e 100644
--- a/src/libstore/local-store.hh
+++ b/src/libstore/local-store.hh
@@ -180,7 +180,8 @@ public:
     StorePath addToStoreFromDump(
         Source & dump,
         std::string_view name,
-        ContentAddressMethod method,
+        FileSerialisationMethod dumpMethod,
+        ContentAddressMethod hashMethod,
         HashAlgorithm hashAlgo,
         const StorePathSet & references,
         RepairFlag repair) override;
diff --git a/src/libstore/optimise-store.cc b/src/libstore/optimise-store.cc
index 78e4f6d86b2..daaaaf0733e 100644
--- a/src/libstore/optimise-store.cc
+++ b/src/libstore/optimise-store.cc
@@ -151,7 +151,7 @@ void LocalStore::optimisePath_(Activity * act, OptimiseStats & stats,
         PosixSourceAccessor accessor;
         hashPath(
             accessor, CanonPath { path },
-            FileIngestionMethod::Recursive, HashAlgorithm::SHA256).first;
+            FileSerialisationMethod::Recursive, HashAlgorithm::SHA256).first;
     });
     debug("'%1%' has hash '%2%'", path, hash.to_string(HashFormat::Nix32, true));
 
@@ -166,7 +166,7 @@ void LocalStore::optimisePath_(Activity * act, OptimiseStats & stats,
                 PosixSourceAccessor accessor;
                 hashPath(
                     accessor, CanonPath { linkPath },
-                    FileIngestionMethod::Recursive, HashAlgorithm::SHA256).first;
+                    FileSerialisationMethod::Recursive, HashAlgorithm::SHA256).first;
            })))
         {
             // XXX: Consider overwriting linkPath with our valid version.
diff --git a/src/libstore/remote-store.cc b/src/libstore/remote-store.cc
index fadef45ffcc..8dfe8addab7 100644
--- a/src/libstore/remote-store.cc
+++ b/src/libstore/remote-store.cc
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@
 #include "derivations.hh"
 #include "pool.hh"
 #include "finally.hh"
+#include "git.hh"
 #include "logging.hh"
 #include "callback.hh"
 #include "filetransfer.hh"
@@ -508,12 +509,28 @@ ref<const ValidPathInfo> RemoteStore::addCAToStore(
 StorePath RemoteStore::addToStoreFromDump(
     Source & dump,
     std::string_view name,
-    ContentAddressMethod method,
+    FileSerialisationMethod dumpMethod,
+    ContentAddressMethod hashMethod,
     HashAlgorithm hashAlgo,
     const StorePathSet & references,
     RepairFlag repair)
 {
-    return addCAToStore(dump, name, method, hashAlgo, references, repair)->path;
+    FileSerialisationMethod fsm;
+    switch (hashMethod.getFileIngestionMethod()) {
+    case FileIngestionMethod::Flat:
+        fsm = FileSerialisationMethod::Flat;
+        break;
+    case FileIngestionMethod::Recursive:
+        fsm = FileSerialisationMethod::Recursive;
+        break;
+    case FileIngestionMethod::Git:
+        // Use NAR; Git is not a serialization method
+        fsm = FileSerialisationMethod::Recursive;
+        break;
+    }
+    if (fsm != dumpMethod)
+        unsupported("RemoteStore::addToStoreFromDump doesn't support this `dumpMethod` `hashMethod` combination");
+    return addCAToStore(dump, name, hashMethod, hashAlgo, references, repair)->path;
 }
 
 
diff --git a/src/libstore/remote-store.hh b/src/libstore/remote-store.hh
index 87704985b4d..d630adc08b7 100644
--- a/src/libstore/remote-store.hh
+++ b/src/libstore/remote-store.hh
@@ -87,7 +87,8 @@ public:
     StorePath addToStoreFromDump(
         Source & dump,
         std::string_view name,
-        ContentAddressMethod method = FileIngestionMethod::Recursive,
+        FileSerialisationMethod dumpMethod = FileSerialisationMethod::Recursive,
+        ContentAddressMethod hashMethod = FileIngestionMethod::Recursive,
         HashAlgorithm hashAlgo = HashAlgorithm::SHA256,
         const StorePathSet & references = StorePathSet(),
         RepairFlag repair = NoRepair) override;
@@ -184,7 +185,7 @@ protected:
 
     friend struct ConnectionHandle;
 
-    virtual ref<SourceAccessor> getFSAccessor(bool requireValidPath) override;
+    virtual ref<SourceAccessor> getFSAccessor(bool requireValidPath = true) override;
 
     virtual void narFromPath(const StorePath & path, Sink & sink) override;
 
diff --git a/src/libstore/store-api.cc b/src/libstore/store-api.cc
index 4238cbbf5b5..4356296d45a 100644
--- a/src/libstore/store-api.cc
+++ b/src/libstore/store-api.cc
@@ -12,7 +12,9 @@
 #include "references.hh"
 #include "archive.hh"
 #include "callback.hh"
+#include "git.hh"
 #include "remote-store.hh"
+#include "posix-source-accessor.hh"
 // FIXME this should not be here, see TODO below on
 // `addMultipleToStore`.
 #include "worker-protocol.hh"
@@ -119,6 +121,9 @@ static std::string makeType(
 
 StorePath StoreDirConfig::makeFixedOutputPath(std::string_view name, const FixedOutputInfo & info) const
 {
+    if (info.method == FileIngestionMethod::Git && info.hash.algo != HashAlgorithm::SHA1)
+        throw Error("Git file ingestion must use SHA-1 hash");
+
     if (info.hash.algo == HashAlgorithm::SHA256 && info.method == FileIngestionMethod::Recursive) {
         return makeStorePath(makeType(*this, "source", info.references), info.hash, name);
     } else {
@@ -166,7 +171,7 @@ std::pair<StorePath, Hash> StoreDirConfig::computeStorePath(
     const StorePathSet & references,
     PathFilter & filter) const
 {
-    auto h = hashPath(accessor, path, method.getFileIngestionMethod(), hashAlgo, filter).first;
+    auto h = hashPath(accessor, path, method.getFileIngestionMethod(), hashAlgo, filter);
     return {
         makeFixedOutputPathFromCA(
             name,
@@ -192,10 +197,23 @@ StorePath Store::addToStore(
     PathFilter & filter,
     RepairFlag repair)
 {
+    FileSerialisationMethod fsm;
+    switch (method.getFileIngestionMethod()) {
+    case FileIngestionMethod::Flat:
+        fsm = FileSerialisationMethod::Flat;
+        break;
+    case FileIngestionMethod::Recursive:
+        fsm = FileSerialisationMethod::Recursive;
+        break;
+    case FileIngestionMethod::Git:
+        // Use NAR; Git is not a serialization method
+        fsm = FileSerialisationMethod::Recursive;
+        break;
+    }
     auto source = sinkToSource([&](Sink & sink) {
-        dumpPath(accessor, path, sink, method.getFileIngestionMethod(), filter);
+        dumpPath(accessor, path, sink, fsm, filter);
     });
-    return addToStoreFromDump(*source, name, method, hashAlgo, references, repair);
+    return addToStoreFromDump(*source, name, fsm, method, hashAlgo, references, repair);
 }
 
 void Store::addMultipleToStore(
@@ -355,9 +373,7 @@ ValidPathInfo Store::addToStoreSlow(
     NullFileSystemObjectSink blank;
     auto & parseSink = method.getFileIngestionMethod() == FileIngestionMethod::Flat
         ? (FileSystemObjectSink &) fileSink
-        : method.getFileIngestionMethod() == FileIngestionMethod::Recursive
-        ? (FileSystemObjectSink &) blank
-        : (abort(), (FileSystemObjectSink &)*(FileSystemObjectSink *)nullptr); // handled both cases
+        : (FileSystemObjectSink &) blank; // for recursive or git we do recursive
 
     /* The information that flows from tapped (besides being replicated in
        narSink), is now put in parseSink. */
@@ -369,6 +385,8 @@ ValidPathInfo Store::addToStoreSlow(
 
     auto hash = method == FileIngestionMethod::Recursive && hashAlgo == HashAlgorithm::SHA256
         ? narHash
+        : method == FileIngestionMethod::Git
+        ? git::dumpHash(hashAlgo, accessor, srcPath).hash
         : caHashSink.finish().first;
 
     if (expectedCAHash && expectedCAHash != hash)
diff --git a/src/libstore/store-api.hh b/src/libstore/store-api.hh
index 5163070b2e6..5f683a21139 100644
--- a/src/libstore/store-api.hh
+++ b/src/libstore/store-api.hh
@@ -466,14 +466,23 @@ public:
      * in `dump`, which is either a NAR serialisation (if recursive ==
      * true) or simply the contents of a regular file (if recursive ==
      * false).
-     * `dump` may be drained
      *
-     * \todo remove?
+     * `dump` may be drained.
+     *
+     * @param dumpMethod What serialisation format is `dump`, i.e. how
+     * to deserialize it. Must either match hashMethod or be
+     * `FileSerialisationMethod::Recursive`.
+     *
+     * @param hashMethod How content addressing? Need not match be the
+     * same as `dumpMethod`.
+     *
+     * @todo remove?
      */
     virtual StorePath addToStoreFromDump(
         Source & dump,
         std::string_view name,
-        ContentAddressMethod method = FileIngestionMethod::Recursive,
+        FileSerialisationMethod dumpMethod = FileSerialisationMethod::Recursive,
+        ContentAddressMethod hashMethod = FileIngestionMethod::Recursive,
         HashAlgorithm hashAlgo = HashAlgorithm::SHA256,
         const StorePathSet & references = StorePathSet(),
         RepairFlag repair = NoRepair) = 0;
@@ -772,7 +781,7 @@ protected:
      * Helper for methods that are not unsupported: this is used for
      * default definitions for virtual methods that are meant to be overriden.
      *
-     * \todo Using this should be a last resort. It is better to make
+     * @todo Using this should be a last resort. It is better to make
      * the method "virtual pure" and/or move it to a subclass.
      */
     [[noreturn]] void unsupported(const std::string & op)
diff --git a/src/libstore/uds-remote-store.hh b/src/libstore/uds-remote-store.hh
index a5ac9080ad1..8bce8994a3a 100644
--- a/src/libstore/uds-remote-store.hh
+++ b/src/libstore/uds-remote-store.hh
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ public:
     static std::set<std::string> uriSchemes()
     { return {"unix"}; }
 
-    ref<SourceAccessor> getFSAccessor(bool requireValidPath) override
+    ref<SourceAccessor> getFSAccessor(bool requireValidPath = true) override
     { return LocalFSStore::getFSAccessor(requireValidPath); }
 
     void narFromPath(const StorePath & path, Sink & sink) override
diff --git a/src/libutil/file-content-address.cc b/src/libutil/file-content-address.cc
index 2339024a270..471bda6a0fa 100644
--- a/src/libutil/file-content-address.cc
+++ b/src/libutil/file-content-address.cc
@@ -1,16 +1,53 @@
 #include "file-content-address.hh"
 #include "archive.hh"
+#include "git.hh"
 
 namespace nix {
 
-FileIngestionMethod parseFileIngestionMethod(std::string_view input)
+static std::optional<FileSerialisationMethod> parseFileSerialisationMethodOpt(std::string_view input)
 {
     if (input == "flat") {
-        return FileIngestionMethod::Flat;
+        return FileSerialisationMethod::Flat;
     } else if (input == "nar") {
-        return FileIngestionMethod::Recursive;
+        return FileSerialisationMethod::Recursive;
     } else {
-        throw UsageError("Unknown file ingestion method '%s', expect `flat` or `nar`");
+        return std::nullopt;
+    }
+}
+
+FileSerialisationMethod parseFileSerialisationMethod(std::string_view input)
+{
+    auto ret = parseFileSerialisationMethodOpt(input);
+    if (ret)
+        return *ret;
+    else
+        throw UsageError("Unknown file serialiation method '%s', expect `flat` or `nar`");
+}
+
+
+FileIngestionMethod parseFileIngestionMethod(std::string_view input)
+{
+    if (input == "git") {
+        return FileIngestionMethod::Git;
+    } else {
+        auto ret = parseFileSerialisationMethodOpt(input);
+        if (ret)
+            return static_cast<FileIngestionMethod>(*ret);
+        else
+            throw UsageError("Unknown file ingestion method '%s', expect `flat`, `nar`, or `git`");
+    }
+}
+
+
+std::string_view renderFileSerialisationMethod(FileSerialisationMethod method)
+{
+    switch (method) {
+    case FileSerialisationMethod::Flat:
+        return "flat";
+    case FileSerialisationMethod::Recursive:
+        return "nar";
+    default:
+        assert(false);
     }
 }
 
@@ -19,9 +56,11 @@ std::string_view renderFileIngestionMethod(FileIngestionMethod method)
 {
     switch (method) {
     case FileIngestionMethod::Flat:
-        return "flat";
     case FileIngestionMethod::Recursive:
-        return "nar";
+        return renderFileSerialisationMethod(
+            static_cast<FileSerialisationMethod>(method));
+    case FileIngestionMethod::Git:
+        return "git";
     default:
         abort();
     }
@@ -31,14 +70,14 @@ std::string_view renderFileIngestionMethod(FileIngestionMethod method)
 void dumpPath(
     SourceAccessor & accessor, const CanonPath & path,
     Sink & sink,
-    FileIngestionMethod method,
+    FileSerialisationMethod method,
     PathFilter & filter)
 {
     switch (method) {
-    case FileIngestionMethod::Flat:
+    case FileSerialisationMethod::Flat:
         accessor.readFile(path, sink);
         break;
-    case FileIngestionMethod::Recursive:
+    case FileSerialisationMethod::Recursive:
         accessor.dumpPath(path, sink, filter);
         break;
     }
@@ -48,13 +87,13 @@ void dumpPath(
 void restorePath(
     const Path & path,
     Source & source,
-    FileIngestionMethod method)
+    FileSerialisationMethod method)
 {
     switch (method) {
-    case FileIngestionMethod::Flat:
+    case FileSerialisationMethod::Flat:
         writeFile(path, source);
         break;
-    case FileIngestionMethod::Recursive:
+    case FileSerialisationMethod::Recursive:
         restorePath(path, source);
         break;
     }
@@ -63,7 +102,7 @@ void restorePath(
 
 HashResult hashPath(
     SourceAccessor & accessor, const CanonPath & path,
-    FileIngestionMethod method, HashAlgorithm ha,
+    FileSerialisationMethod method, HashAlgorithm ha,
     PathFilter & filter)
 {
     HashSink sink { ha };
@@ -71,4 +110,20 @@ HashResult hashPath(
     return sink.finish();
 }
 
+
+Hash hashPath(
+    SourceAccessor & accessor, const CanonPath & path,
+    FileIngestionMethod method, HashAlgorithm ht,
+    PathFilter & filter)
+{
+    switch (method) {
+    case FileIngestionMethod::Flat:
+    case FileIngestionMethod::Recursive:
+        return hashPath(accessor, path, (FileSerialisationMethod) method, ht, filter).first;
+    case FileIngestionMethod::Git:
+        return git::dumpHash(ht, accessor, path, filter).hash;
+    }
+
+}
+
 }
diff --git a/src/libutil/file-content-address.hh b/src/libutil/file-content-address.hh
index 9a7dae8c6a8..b361ab243f6 100644
--- a/src/libutil/file-content-address.hh
+++ b/src/libutil/file-content-address.hh
@@ -8,37 +8,38 @@
 namespace nix {
 
 /**
- * An enumeration of the main ways we can serialize file system
+ * An enumeration of the ways we can serialize file system
  * objects.
  */
-enum struct FileIngestionMethod : uint8_t {
+enum struct FileSerialisationMethod : uint8_t {
     /**
-     * Flat-file hashing. Directly ingest the contents of a single file
+     * Flat-file. The contents of a single file exactly.
      */
-    Flat = 0,
+    Flat,
+
     /**
-     * Recursive (or NAR) hashing. Serializes the file-system object in
-     * Nix Archive format and ingest that.
+     * Nix Archive. Serializes the file-system object in
+     * Nix Archive format.
      */
-    Recursive = 1,
+    Recursive,
 };
 
 /**
- * Parse a `FileIngestionMethod` by name. Choice of:
+ * Parse a `FileSerialisationMethod` by name. Choice of:
  *
- *  - `flat`: `FileIngestionMethod::Flat`
- *  - `nar`: `FileIngestionMethod::Recursive`
+ *  - `flat`: `FileSerialisationMethod::Flat`
+ *  - `nar`: `FileSerialisationMethod::Recursive`
  *
- * Oppostite of `renderFileIngestionMethod`.
+ * Opposite of `renderFileSerialisationMethod`.
  */
-FileIngestionMethod parseFileIngestionMethod(std::string_view input);
+FileSerialisationMethod parseFileSerialisationMethod(std::string_view input);
 
 /**
- * Render a `FileIngestionMethod` by name.
+ * Render a `FileSerialisationMethod` by name.
  *
- * Oppostite of `parseFileIngestionMethod`.
+ * Opposite of `parseFileSerialisationMethod`.
  */
-std::string_view renderFileIngestionMethod(FileIngestionMethod method);
+std::string_view renderFileSerialisationMethod(FileSerialisationMethod method);
 
 /**
  * Dump a serialization of the given file system object.
@@ -46,26 +47,97 @@ std::string_view renderFileIngestionMethod(FileIngestionMethod method);
 void dumpPath(
     SourceAccessor & accessor, const CanonPath & path,
     Sink & sink,
-    FileIngestionMethod method,
+    FileSerialisationMethod method,
     PathFilter & filter = defaultPathFilter);
 
 /**
- * Restore a serialization of the given file system object.
+ * Restore a serialisation of the given file system object.
  *
  * @TODO use an arbitrary `FileSystemObjectSink`.
  */
 void restorePath(
     const Path & path,
     Source & source,
-    FileIngestionMethod method);
+    FileSerialisationMethod method);
+
 
 /**
  * Compute the hash of the given file system object according to the
  * given method.
  *
- * The hash is defined as (essentially) hashString(ha, dumpPath(path)).
+ * the hash is defined as (in pseudocode):
+ *
+ * ```
+ * hashString(ha, dumpPath(...))
+ * ```
  */
 HashResult hashPath(
+    SourceAccessor & accessor, const CanonPath & path,
+    FileSerialisationMethod method, HashAlgorithm ha,
+    PathFilter & filter = defaultPathFilter);
+
+/**
+ * An enumeration of the ways we can ingest file system
+ * objects, producing a hash or digest.
+ */
+enum struct FileIngestionMethod : uint8_t {
+    /**
+     * Hash `FileSerialisationMethod::Flat` serialisation.
+     */
+    Flat,
+
+    /**
+     * Hash `FileSerialisationMethod::Git` serialisation.
+     */
+    Recursive,
+
+    /**
+     * Git hashing. In particular files are hashed as git "blobs", and
+     * directories are hashed as git "trees".
+     *
+     * Unlike `Flat` and `Recursive`, this is not a hash of a single
+     * serialisation but a [Merkle
+     * DAG](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merkle_tree) of multiple
+     * rounds of serialisation and hashing.
+     *
+     * @note Git's data model is slightly different, in that a plain
+     * file doesn't have an executable bit, directory entries do
+     * instead. We decide treat a bare file as non-executable by fiat,
+     * as we do with `FileIngestionMethod::Flat` which also lacks this
+     * information. Thus, Git can encode some but all of Nix's "File
+     * System Objects", and this sort of hashing is likewise partial.
+     */
+    Git,
+};
+
+/**
+ * Parse a `FileIngestionMethod` by name. Choice of:
+ *
+ *  - `flat`: `FileIngestionMethod::Flat`
+ *  - `nar`: `FileIngestionMethod::Recursive`
+ *  - `git`: `FileIngestionMethod::Git`
+ *
+ * Opposite of `renderFileIngestionMethod`.
+ */
+FileIngestionMethod parseFileIngestionMethod(std::string_view input);
+
+/**
+ * Render a `FileIngestionMethod` by name.
+ *
+ * Opposite of `parseFileIngestionMethod`.
+ */
+std::string_view renderFileIngestionMethod(FileIngestionMethod method);
+
+/**
+ * Compute the hash of the given file system object according to the
+ * given method.
+ *
+ * Unlike the other `hashPath`, this works on an arbitrary
+ * `FileIngestionMethod` instead of `FileSerialisationMethod`, but
+ * doesn't return the size as this is this is not a both simple and
+ * useful defined for a merkle format.
+ */
+Hash hashPath(
     SourceAccessor & accessor, const CanonPath & path,
     FileIngestionMethod method, HashAlgorithm ha,
     PathFilter & filter = defaultPathFilter);
diff --git a/src/nix-env/user-env.cc b/src/nix-env/user-env.cc
index 2f9c988d5f2..8bebe2b9eee 100644
--- a/src/nix-env/user-env.cc
+++ b/src/nix-env/user-env.cc
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ bool createUserEnv(EvalState & state, PackageInfos & elems,
         std::string str2 = str.str();
         StringSource source { str2 };
         state.store->addToStoreFromDump(
-            source, "env-manifest.nix", TextIngestionMethod {}, HashAlgorithm::SHA256, references);
+            source, "env-manifest.nix", FileSerialisationMethod::Flat, TextIngestionMethod {}, HashAlgorithm::SHA256, references);
     });
 
     /* Get the environment builder expression. */
diff --git a/src/nix-store/nix-store.cc b/src/nix-store/nix-store.cc
index 99dbfe6e333..7c8905da636 100644
--- a/src/nix-store/nix-store.cc
+++ b/src/nix-store/nix-store.cc
@@ -555,7 +555,7 @@ static void registerValidity(bool reregister, bool hashGiven, bool canonicalise)
                 HashResult hash = hashPath(
                     *store->getFSAccessor(false), CanonPath { store->printStorePath(info->path) },
 
-                    FileIngestionMethod::Recursive, HashAlgorithm::SHA256);
+                    FileSerialisationMethod::Recursive, HashAlgorithm::SHA256);
                 info->narHash = hash.first;
                 info->narSize = hash.second;
             }
diff --git a/src/nix/add-to-store.cc b/src/nix/add-to-store.cc
index ca2daecabad..02154715f81 100644
--- a/src/nix/add-to-store.cc
+++ b/src/nix/add-to-store.cc
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 #include "common-args.hh"
 #include "store-api.hh"
 #include "archive.hh"
+#include "git.hh"
 #include "posix-source-accessor.hh"
 #include "misc-store-flags.hh"
 
diff --git a/src/nix/develop.cc b/src/nix/develop.cc
index 403178a5d96..c1842f2d57a 100644
--- a/src/nix/develop.cc
+++ b/src/nix/develop.cc
@@ -226,7 +226,7 @@ static StorePath getDerivationEnvironment(ref<Store> store, ref<Store> evalStore
     auto getEnvShPath = ({
         StringSource source { getEnvSh };
         evalStore->addToStoreFromDump(
-            source, "get-env.sh", TextIngestionMethod {}, HashAlgorithm::SHA256, {});
+            source, "get-env.sh", FileSerialisationMethod::Flat, TextIngestionMethod {}, HashAlgorithm::SHA256, {});
     });
 
     drv.args = {store->printStorePath(getEnvShPath)};
diff --git a/src/nix/hash.cc b/src/nix/hash.cc
index 98d227f0e60..f849bf0cfae 100644
--- a/src/nix/hash.cc
+++ b/src/nix/hash.cc
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 #include "shared.hh"
 #include "references.hh"
 #include "archive.hh"
+#include "git.hh"
 #include "posix-source-accessor.hh"
 #include "misc-store-flags.hh"
 
@@ -66,9 +67,11 @@ struct CmdHashBase : Command
     {
         switch (mode) {
         case FileIngestionMethod::Flat:
-            return  "print cryptographic hash of a regular file";
+            return "print cryptographic hash of a regular file";
         case FileIngestionMethod::Recursive:
             return "print cryptographic hash of the NAR serialisation of a path";
+        case FileIngestionMethod::Git:
+            return "print cryptographic hash of the Git serialisation of a path";
         default:
             assert(false);
         };
@@ -77,17 +80,41 @@ struct CmdHashBase : Command
     void run() override
     {
         for (auto path : paths) {
+            auto makeSink = [&]() -> std::unique_ptr<AbstractHashSink> {
+                if (modulus)
+                    return std::make_unique<HashModuloSink>(hashAlgo, *modulus);
+                else
+                    return std::make_unique<HashSink>(hashAlgo);
+            };
+
+            auto [accessor_, canonPath] = PosixSourceAccessor::createAtRoot(path);
+            auto & accessor = accessor_;
+            Hash h { HashAlgorithm::SHA256 }; // throwaway def to appease C++
+            switch (mode) {
+            case FileIngestionMethod::Flat:
+            case FileIngestionMethod::Recursive:
+            {
+                auto hashSink = makeSink();
+                dumpPath(accessor, canonPath, *hashSink, (FileSerialisationMethod) mode);
+                h = hashSink->finish().first;
+                break;
+            }
+            case FileIngestionMethod::Git: {
+                std::function<git::DumpHook> hook;
+                hook = [&](const CanonPath & path) -> git::TreeEntry {
+                    auto hashSink = makeSink();
+                    auto mode = dump(accessor, path, *hashSink, hook);
+                    auto hash = hashSink->finish().first;
+                    return {
+                        .mode = mode,
+                        .hash = hash,
+                    };
+                };
+                h = hook(canonPath).hash;
+                break;
+            }
+            }
 
-            std::unique_ptr<AbstractHashSink> hashSink;
-            if (modulus)
-                hashSink = std::make_unique<HashModuloSink>(hashAlgo, *modulus);
-            else
-                hashSink = std::make_unique<HashSink>(hashAlgo);
-
-            auto [accessor, canonPath] = PosixSourceAccessor::createAtRoot(path);
-            dumpPath(accessor, canonPath, *hashSink, mode);
-
-            Hash h = hashSink->finish().first;
             if (truncate && h.hashSize > 20) h = compressHash(h, 20);
             logger->cout(h.to_string(hashFormat, hashFormat == HashFormat::SRI));
         }
diff --git a/tests/functional/git-hashing/common.sh b/tests/functional/git-hashing/common.sh
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..5de96e74f16
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/functional/git-hashing/common.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+source ../common.sh
+
+clearStore
+clearCache
+
+# Need backend to support git-hashing too
+requireDaemonNewerThan "2.18.0pre20230908"
+
+enableFeatures "git-hashing"
+
+restartDaemon
diff --git a/tests/functional/git-hashing/local.mk b/tests/functional/git-hashing/local.mk
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..ebec019402b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/functional/git-hashing/local.mk
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+git-hashing-tests := \
+  $(d)/simple.sh
+
+install-tests-groups += git-hashing
+
+clean-files += \
+  $(d)/config.nix
diff --git a/tests/functional/git-hashing/simple.sh b/tests/functional/git-hashing/simple.sh
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..74b0220f821
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/functional/git-hashing/simple.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,58 @@
+source common.sh
+
+repo="$TEST_ROOT/scratch"
+git init "$repo"
+
+git -C "$repo" config user.email "you@example.com"
+git -C "$repo" config user.name "Your Name"
+
+try () {
+    hash=$(nix hash path --mode git --format base16 --algo sha1 $TEST_ROOT/hash-path)
+    [[ "$hash" == "$1" ]]
+
+    git -C "$repo" rm -rf hash-path || true
+    cp -r "$TEST_ROOT/hash-path" "$TEST_ROOT/scratch/hash-path"
+    git -C "$repo" add hash-path
+    git -C "$repo" commit -m "x"
+    git -C "$repo" status
+    hash2=$(git -C "$TEST_ROOT/scratch" rev-parse HEAD:hash-path)
+    [[ "$hash2" = "$1" ]]
+}
+
+# blob
+rm -rf $TEST_ROOT/hash-path
+echo "Hello World" > $TEST_ROOT/hash-path
+try "557db03de997c86a4a028e1ebd3a1ceb225be238"
+
+# tree with children
+rm -rf $TEST_ROOT/hash-path
+mkdir $TEST_ROOT/hash-path
+echo "Hello World" > $TEST_ROOT/hash-path/hello
+echo "Run Hello World" > $TEST_ROOT/hash-path/executable
+chmod +x $TEST_ROOT/hash-path/executable
+try "e5c0a11a556801a5c9dcf330ca9d7e2c572697f4"
+
+rm -rf $TEST_ROOT/dummy1
+echo Hello World! > $TEST_ROOT/dummy1
+path1=$(nix store add --mode git --hash-algo sha1 $TEST_ROOT/dummy1)
+hash1=$(nix-store -q --hash $path1)
+test "$hash1" = "sha256:1brffhvj2c0z6x8qismd43m0iy8dsgfmy10bgg9w11szway2wp9v"
+
+rm -rf $TEST_ROOT/dummy2
+mkdir -p $TEST_ROOT/dummy2
+echo Hello World! > $TEST_ROOT/dummy2/hello
+path2=$(nix store add --mode git --hash-algo sha1 $TEST_ROOT/dummy2)
+hash2=$(nix-store -q --hash $path2)
+test "$hash2" = "sha256:1vhv7zxam7x277q0y0jcypm7hwhccbzss81vkdgf0ww5sm2am4y0"
+
+rm -rf $TEST_ROOT/dummy3
+mkdir -p $TEST_ROOT/dummy3
+mkdir -p $TEST_ROOT/dummy3/dir
+touch $TEST_ROOT/dummy3/dir/file
+echo Hello World! > $TEST_ROOT/dummy3/dir/file
+touch $TEST_ROOT/dummy3/dir/executable
+chmod +x $TEST_ROOT/dummy3/dir/executable
+echo Run Hello World! > $TEST_ROOT/dummy3/dir/executable
+path3=$(nix store add --mode git --hash-algo sha1 $TEST_ROOT/dummy3)
+hash3=$(nix-store -q --hash $path3)
+test "$hash3" = "sha256:08y3nm3mvn9qvskqnf13lfgax5lh73krxz4fcjd5cp202ggpw9nv"
diff --git a/tests/unit/libstore/content-address.cc b/tests/unit/libstore/content-address.cc
index 98c1eace368..cc1c7fcc69d 100644
--- a/tests/unit/libstore/content-address.cc
+++ b/tests/unit/libstore/content-address.cc
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ TEST(ContentAddressMethod, testRoundTripPrintParse_1) {
         ContentAddressMethod { TextIngestionMethod {} },
         ContentAddressMethod { FileIngestionMethod::Flat },
         ContentAddressMethod { FileIngestionMethod::Recursive },
+        ContentAddressMethod { FileIngestionMethod::Git },
     }) {
         EXPECT_EQ(ContentAddressMethod::parse(cam.render()), cam);
     }
@@ -23,6 +24,7 @@ TEST(ContentAddressMethod, testRoundTripPrintParse_2) {
         "text",
         "flat",
         "nar",
+        "git",
     }) {
         EXPECT_EQ(ContentAddressMethod::parse(camS).render(), camS);
     }
diff --git a/tests/unit/libutil/file-content-address.cc b/tests/unit/libutil/file-content-address.cc
index 2e819ce408d..294e3980683 100644
--- a/tests/unit/libutil/file-content-address.cc
+++ b/tests/unit/libutil/file-content-address.cc
@@ -4,6 +4,32 @@
 
 namespace nix {
 
+/* ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
+ * parseFileSerialisationMethod, renderFileSerialisationMethod
+ * --------------------------------------------------------------------------*/
+
+TEST(FileSerialisationMethod, testRoundTripPrintParse_1) {
+    for (const FileSerialisationMethod fim : {
+        FileSerialisationMethod::Flat,
+        FileSerialisationMethod::Recursive,
+    }) {
+        EXPECT_EQ(parseFileSerialisationMethod(renderFileSerialisationMethod(fim)), fim);
+    }
+}
+
+TEST(FileSerialisationMethod, testRoundTripPrintParse_2) {
+    for (const std::string_view fimS : {
+        "flat",
+        "nar",
+    }) {
+        EXPECT_EQ(renderFileSerialisationMethod(parseFileSerialisationMethod(fimS)), fimS);
+    }
+}
+
+TEST(FileSerialisationMethod, testParseFileSerialisationMethodOptException) {
+    EXPECT_THROW(parseFileSerialisationMethod("narwhal"), UsageError);
+}
+
 /* ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
  * parseFileIngestionMethod, renderFileIngestionMethod
  * --------------------------------------------------------------------------*/
@@ -12,6 +38,7 @@ TEST(FileIngestionMethod, testRoundTripPrintParse_1) {
     for (const FileIngestionMethod fim : {
         FileIngestionMethod::Flat,
         FileIngestionMethod::Recursive,
+        FileIngestionMethod::Git,
     }) {
         EXPECT_EQ(parseFileIngestionMethod(renderFileIngestionMethod(fim)), fim);
     }
@@ -21,6 +48,7 @@ TEST(FileIngestionMethod, testRoundTripPrintParse_2) {
     for (const std::string_view fimS : {
         "flat",
         "nar",
+        "git",
     }) {
         EXPECT_EQ(renderFileIngestionMethod(parseFileIngestionMethod(fimS)), fimS);
     }