Malted milk
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Malted milk is a powdered food product made from a mixture of malted barley, wheat flour, and whole milk, which are evaporated until it forms a powder.
Malt powder comes in two forms: diastatic and non-diastatic. Diastatic malt contains enzymes that break down starch into sugar; this is the form bakers add to bread dough to help the yeast rise and create a good crust. Non-diastatic malt has no active enzymes and is used primarily for flavor, mostly in beverages. It sometimes contains sugar, coloring agents, and other additives.
Contents |
[edit] History
London pharmacist James Horlick developed ideas for an improved, wheat and malt-based nutritional supplement for infants. Despairing of his opportunities in England, James joined his brother William, who had come to Racine to work at a relative’s quarry. In 1873 James and William formed a company to manufacture their brand of infant food. Ten years later they earned a patent for a new formula enhanced with dried milk. The company originally marketed its new product as “Diastoid,” but trademarked the name “malted milk” in 1887.[1][2]
Despite its origins as a health food for infants and invalids, malted milk found unexpected markets. Explorers appreciated its lightweight, non-perishable, high-calorie qualities and took malted milk on treks worldwide. William Horlick became a patron of Antarctic exploration, and Admiral Richard E. Byrd named a mountain range in Antarctica after him. Back at home, people began drinking Horlick’s product for the taste. Malted milk became a standard offering at soda fountains, and found greater popularity when mixed with ice cream in a “malt.” “Malt shops” owe their very name to the Horlick brothers.[1]
William Horlick received a patent for malted milk in 1883.[3]
Malted milk powder was distributed in the 1950s by Carnation. Years later Carnation was purchased by Nestlé, the chocolate manufacturer.[citation needed]
[edit] Uses
- Malted milk biscuits
- Malted milkshakes
- Malted hot drinks such as Horlicks
- Malted milk balls: malted milk is used in the popular candy confections Whoppers (manufactured by Hershey's) and Maltesers (manufactured by Mars, Inc)
- Ice cream: malted milk is used as a topping for some types of Sundaes.
