A Guide to Coffee and Tea Condiments

If you like to alter the flavor of your coffee or tea through the use of sweeteners, creamers, or flavored syrups, this guide is for you! Never before have we had so many choices when it comes to sweetening brewed beverages. The possibilities for coffee and tea creations are endless.

Let's take a look at the various types of sweeteners on the market today.

White Sugar:
There are many types of granulated sugar, but the most common form available to consumers is "Regular", "Extra Fine", or "Fine Sugar". White sugar is available in individual packets, canisters, 1- to 10-pound bags, and sugar cubes.

Buying in bulk is the most economical way to purchase sugar. Individual packets and sugar cubes generally cost more per pound, but provide additional convenience. Personally, I think serving sugar cubes with tea or coffee is much more elegant than dumping in a teaspoon or two. The choice is completely up to you, as each form is effective in sweetening either coffee or tea.

Raw Sugar:
Raw sugar is a natural, unrefined sugar made from sugar cane. Juice is extracted from the sugar cane, than crystallized through evaporation. The crystals are rinsed with a small amount of water to remove the sticky resin produced by the cane. Raw sugar is also referred to as Turbinado sugar. It is available in individual packets, 1-pound box and bulk. Raw sugar is available in some major grocery chains. Bulk raw sugar can be found in most health food stores.

Liquid Sugar:
Liquid sugar is made from pure cane sugar and comes in a variety of types including white sugar, Turbinado sugar, and organic sugars. Liquid sugar is sold under the name of "SugarShots" and is available only through select retailers. It's convenient and easy to use; although it's a little on the expensive side. A 12-ounce bottle retails for about $7.00 and provides approximately 24 servings.

Honey:
Honey is the perfect addition to nearly any cup of freshly brewed tea. Honey is primarily composed of fructose, glucose and water. It also contains other sugars as well trace enzymes, minerals, vitamins and amino acids.

Honey is manufactured by bees. Bees gather nectar from as many as two million flowers to make just one pound of honey. The color and flavor of honey depend on blossoms from which the nectar is obtained. There are more than 300 types of honey in the United States alone. In general, lighter colored honeys are mild in flavor; while darker honeys are usually more robust in flavor.

Honey is available in glass jars, plastic squeeze bottles and honey sticks. Many health food stores sell honey in bulk, which can result in significant savings. Honey sticks are the most convenient form; albeit the most expensive.

Artificial Sweeteners:
Five artificial sweeteners have been approved for use in the United States. They include: acesulfame K, aspartame, neotame, saccharin, Sucralose. All are chemically manufactured molecules; meaning there is nothing natural about them.

Artificial sweeteners are available in powder or liquid form. Most are packaged in individual packages or squeeze bottles.

Acesulfame K, also known as acesulfame potassium or ace K, is approximately 200 times sweeter than sugar. Acesulfame K is sold under the brand names of Sunett, Sweet One, and Sweet & Safe.

Aspartame is approximately 200 times sweeter than sugar. Aspartame is marketed under the NutraSweet,Equal and Sugar Twin brands.

Neotame is about 40 times sweeter than aspartame. It is manufactured by The NutraSweet Company, which also manufactures aspartame. It is said that one teaspoon of neotame is equivalent to 8,000 teaspoons of cane sugar.

Saccharin was discovered more than 100 years ago, making it the oldest of artificial sweeteners. Its sweetness depends on how it is used, and ranges from 200 to 700 times sweeter than sugar. Saccharin is sold under such brands as Sweet 'N Low, Sweet Twin and Necta Sweet.

Sucralose is 600 times sweeter than sugar and sold under the brand name Splenda. Sucralose is the most heat stable of the artificial sweeteners and can be used in a broad range of foods and beverages.

Although the Food and Drug Administration claims artificial sweeteners are safe for human consumption, there is also considerable controversy as to whether they actually are. If you are using, or considering using, artificial sweeteners, I encourage you to do some research. To learn more, type in "dangers of artificial sweeteners" at your favorite search engine.

Stevia:
Stevia is a natural sweetener derived from an herb cultivated in Paraguay. Stevia can be up to 30 times sweeter than sugar. It's available in liquid or powder form and is sold as a food supplement in most health food stores. Stevia has not been approved as a sweetener by the FDA; therefore it cannot be sold as a food product.

Stevia is not conducive to baking, as it does not provide the same bulk as white sugar and requires a considerably less amount. When cooking with stevia, recipes will need to be adjusted. A conversion chart for stevia vs. sugar can be found at Stevia.com.

Agave Syrup:
Agave syrup (or nectar) is a natural product derived from the juice of the blue agave plant. The blue agave is a desert succulent, native to Mexico. Agave syrup can sweeten any type of beverage or food. When cooking with agave syrup, use about 1/3-cup of nectar for every one cup of sugar. When using agave syrup to sweeten tea or coffee, use approximately 1/3-teaspoon for every teaspoon of sugar you would normally use. Agave syrup has many health benefits and is an excellent choice for people who are diabetic.

Creamers:
It used to be that if you wanted to add cream to your coffee, you either used milk, half-and-half, or cream. Today, there are numerous varieties of creamers for both coffee and tea. You can get non-dairy creamers, non-fat creamers, dry creamers, liquid creamers, and even flavored creamers.

Creamers are available in individual plastic containers, pints, quarts, canisters, and single-serve packets. They are generally located in the coffee aisle in the grocery or drug store; or in the dairy case next to the milk and eggs.

Powdered creamers are convenient to store and have a very long shelf-life. Dairy creamers require refrigeration and generally expire with a week or two after opening. Let's review some of the most popular creamers:

Coffee Mate: One of the more popular creamers is Coffee Mate. Coffee Mate is a non-dairy creamer manufactured by Nestle®. It was introduced in 1961 and has undergone many transformations since.

Coffee Mate creamer is available in powder, liquid, liquid concentrate, and soy. Coffee Mate flavors include: Chocolate Raspberry, Hazelnut and Irish Cream. You can oftentimes find discount coupons and special offers at the Coffee Mate website.

International Delight : International Delight was the first flavored, liquid, non-dairy creamer. It originally came in three flavors and was available only in individual portion control sizes. Today International Delight is available in eight tempting flavors; four fat-free flavors; and two reduced-sugar flavors.

International Delight can be purchased in quarts, pints, 10.5-ounce and single serve portion control sizes. It can be found in the dairy section at most major grocery chains. This creamer needs to be stored in the refrigerator after opening, and used within two weeks.

Half and Half: Half and half is a mix of half milk and half cream. It is a very stable product that can be used in hot or cold beverages. When using Half and half, you should use about half the amount of other creamers. For instance, if you use a teaspoon of milk or instant creamer, use half a teaspoon of Half and half. When mixed with coffee or tea, Half and half produces a rich, creamy texture. Half and half must be refrigerated, but has a relatively long shelf life.

Flavored Syrups:
Flavored syrups can be added to lattes, iced tea, hot tea, coffee drinks, smoothies and cocktails. Flavored syrups use natural flavors from fruits, nuts, and spices.

Flavored syrups are available in a wide variety of flavors. You can enjoy everything from traditional flavors such as chocolate or vanilla, to exotic flavors like bosenberry and kiwi. Flavored syrups are generally sold in 16- or 32-ounce glass bottles. They should be stored at room temperature and away from direct sunlight. Flavored syrups can be found in supermarkets, coffee shops and specialty stores. You can also buy flavored syrups on-line and have them delivered to your home or office.