Creamer, commonly called coffee creamer or tea whitener is a non-dairy product. It comes in liquid and granulated form post-production and is a substitute for milk and cream as an additive to beverages.
Beyond making rich and creamy coffee, creamer has more uses. Find out in this article.
What is a creamer?
Creamer is a powder or liquid that is added to coffee or black tea instead of milk or cream. It is also called a coffee creamer or tea whitener.
Most creamers are dairy free, made with sugar or sugar substitute, oil, and thickeners. The non-dairy product comes in powdered and liquid forms.
They are added to coffee, tea, hot chocolate, and more treats. Creamers have a longer shelf life than milk products and the powdered form lasts longer than liquid creamers.
What is creamer used for?
1. To flavor hot chocolate
It is not limited to coffee and tea. You can flavor your cup of hot chocolate with it. Put in a tablespoon or two after mixing the cup and adjust to your taste.
2. As an add-in to hot cereal
For breakfast, you can add regular or flavored creamers to hot cereal. Add less water than you would typically use and let the coffee creamer substitute as the liquid. Vanilla-flavored creamer will be the best for oats.
3. As an add-in to waffles or pancakes
You can add a cup of tea whitener to your waffle or pancake mix instead of liquid, that is, milk or water. The change of fluid will affect the taste of your food and the smell of your kitchen in the best way.
4. To cream mashed potatoes
Add a cup of creamer to your mashed potatoes for extra creaminess. Make sure you use unflavored non-dairy creamer.
5. Pour over fresh fruit
How do you know you love food if you don’t experiment with it? If you love fruit with yogurt on the side, fruits and creamer should be easy to try. Try sweet cream flavor with bananas and enjoy.
6. Use in tea
Tea whitener is not strange to anyone. Hot tea drinkers would enjoy the added flavor of this tea whitener.
What is keto creamer?
Keto creamers are keto-friendly creamers made with medium-chain triglyceride (MCT) oil, ghee, coconut oil, cacao butter, and sunflower lecithin.
These creamers are low in carbs but high in protein to suit a keto diet.
Is creamer healthy?
Overall, creamers are not healthy. They are high in trans fat. And an accumulation of these fats and the additives in this dairy product will load your body with unhealthy chemicals.
An overconsumption of creamers is associated with health risks such as coronary artery disease and other heart diseases.
Here are some healthy ways to enjoy creamers
- Reduce the amount you consume. Don’t just use the creamer without measurement. Be intentional about it and cut back a little once in a while.
- Cut back on your sugar intake. Shave off half a spoon of sugar till you’re okay, even without it.
Healthy creamers to buy
1. Califia Farms Dairy-free Better Half Original
This creamer is available in four flavors – unsweetened, original, hazelnut, and vanilla. The producers made them based on coconut cream and almond milk which gives the creamer a thick consistency.
The dairy-free product has no added sugars and mixes well with coffee and tea.
2. So Delicious Organic Coconut Milk Creamer
This brand is everything. With just five ingredients, it comes in vanilla and caramel flavors. This product is sweetened with organic cane sugar and is free of added sugars and oils.
3. Chobani Sweet Cream Coffee Creamer
Certainly, you want to be mindful of your portions here because it’s higher in added sugars. One of the best things about this brand is its short ingredients list: milk, cane sugar, cream, and pure natural flavors.
4. Elmhurst Unsweetened Oat Creamer
Elmhurst is entirely sugar-free. Particularly, it has a short ingredient list. They include water, whole grain oats, hemp seeds, less than two percent natural flavors, and added minerals.
The coffee creamer is shelf-stable until opened and comes in vanilla, chai, and hazelnut flavor.
5. Nut Pods Original Unsweetened Creamer
This creamer contains blended coconut and almonds to achieve its creaminess. The dairy-free option is available in four flavors: original, French vanilla, hazelnut, and caramel.
In addition, nut pods put out limited edition flavors like a classic chocolate and cinnamon swirl. This brand is free of artificial sweeteners and added sugars.
FAQs
Can creamers boost your calorie count?
Yes, they can. At first, it doesn’t, but once you start taking in large quantities, the fat and calories pile up.
Can creamers go bad?
Yes, it can. Although dairy-free products last longer than milk, they have an expiry date. Check the package of the brand for the best advice.
Do all creamers contain trans fat?
Yes, they do. The primary source of creaminess in this dairy-free product is trans fat.
Conclusion
Creamer tastes heavenly. You can’t deny that beverages like tea, hot chocolate, and coffee taste great, but once you try them with creamer, you can’t return. The coffee creamers have many flavors like hazelnut, vanilla, and sweet cream.
Brands produce it in different forms like dairy, non-dairy, powdered, and liquid. You can even find a keto version. With all this variety, you can be sure you’ll get the exact flavor you want.
Above all, as you enjoy the milk substitute, remember how unhealthy it can be and pay attention to the brands you buy and their ingredients.
Do not buy creamers with added sugars and minerals. A short natural ingredients list is what you want.
Thanks for reading.
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