Non-dairy creamer

Coffee Mate brand non-dairy creamer

Non-dairy creamers are liquid or granular substances intended to substitute for milk or cream as an additive to coffee or other beverages. They do not contain lactose and therefore are commonly described as not being dairy products (although many contain a milk-derived protein). Some parts of the world require the alternate term non-dairy whiteners so as not to imply the presence of real cream.

History

The first commercial powdered creamer was "Pream," first marketed in 1952 and made from dehydrated cream and sugar. It had the problem of not dissolving easily because of the protein in the milk.^[1] Six years later, in 1958, the Carnation Company developed a product that easily dissolved in hot liquid because it replaced most of the milk protein with dried vegetable oil. The new product was marketed under the Carnation label with the brand name "Coffee-Mate".^[1]

Ingredients

To replicate the mouthfeel of milk fats, non-dairy creamers often contain vegetable-based fats, although non-fat non-dairy creamers/whiteners also exist. Other common ingredients include corn syrup and other sweeteners or/and flavourings (such as French Vanilla and Hazelnut); as well as sodium caseinate, a milk protein derivative (from casein) that does not contain lactose. The use of a milk derivative prompts some individuals and organisations - such as vegans and Jewish dietary law authorities - to classify the product as dairy rather than non-dairy. Those who rely upon this classification will either not consume the product (e.g. vegans) or will not use or consume it in conjunction with any meat products (e.g. observant Jews).^[2]

Non-traditional Uses

Experiments have been conducted to see if powdered coffee creamer would ignite in midair, and people have found that large quantities make beautiful, and pleasant-smelling, fireballs. The amateur film scene has jumped on this opportunity to create Hollywood-style explosions on a low budget. All one needs is non-dairy creamer, an ignition source such as a burning coal or a road flare, and such a way to propel the creamer as compressed air or a bicycle pump. One of the key advantages in using coffee creamer is that it only burns in midair; as soon as the creamer touches the ground, it goes out, making energy derived from coffee creamer a much safer alternative to using gasoline.^[3]

Coffee creamer has also been used to whiten clothes (after mixing it with water to form a soaking solution), defoam fish tanks, clean dry erase boards as well as fake snow in television and movies.^[1]

See also

• Whipped topping

References

1. ^ ^{a b c} Carolyn Wyman. Better than homemade: amazing foods that changed the way we eat. Quirk Books, 2004. p. 61. http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=VgG9e8-r42oC&pg=PA61&dq=Non-dairy+creamer&hl=en&ei=u_5PTaKPD8KnhAfZ7uzKDg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CEYQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=Non-dairy%20creamer&f=false. Retrieved 2011-02-07. 
2. ^ "Wired 15.01: START". www.wired.com. http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/15.01/start.html?pg=5. Retrieved 2011-02-07. 
3. ^ "Detonation Films - Why Coffee Creamer?". http://www.detonationfilms.com/Fireball_demo.htm. Retrieved March 20, 2011. 

External links