Sugar packet

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A sugar packet is a folded, and edge sealed, paper package containing one 'serving' of sugar. Sugar packets are commonly supplied in restaurants and coffee bars in preference to sugar bowls or sugar dispensers for reasons of neatness, spill control, and to some extent portion control.

[edit] Statistics

A typical sugar packet contains 4 grams of sugar. This, however, does not hold true in all places. Some sugar packets in countries such as Poland contain 5 to 10 grams of sugar. Sugar packet sizes and weights differ throughout different areas of the world.

While some people escew sugar packets for artificial sweetener packets, so that they can feel they're watching their weight, in reality a typical four gram packet only has 15 calories, and therefore is insignificant, even if one were on a low-carb diet.[1]

[edit] History

The sugar packet was invented by Ben Isenstadt, the founder of Cumberland Packing, the Sweet'N Low firm. He had been a tea bag factory worker in his youth, and became irritated by the task of refilling and unclogging all the sugar dispensers in his Brooklyn cafeteria, opposite the Brooklyn Navy Yard. He failed to patent the idea however, and after discussions with larger sugar companies, lost market share steadily. The idea to package artificial sweeteners (saccharine, initially) in similar packets came later, was patented, and was intended for use in medical environments. It began a very considerable business, founded on the characteristic pink packets.

[edit] Collecting

Some collect them for certain types of sugar or brand names. Some producers even use the sugar packet as art or show offs, and these are also collectible.