Malted milk
Malted milk is a powdered gruel made from a mixture of malted barley, wheat flour, and evaporated whole milk. The powder is used to add its distinctive flavor to beverages and other foods, but it is also used in baking to help the dough cook properly.
Malt powder comes in two forms: diastatic and nondiastatic. Diastatic malt contains enzymes that break down starch into sugar; this is the form bakers add to bread dough to help the dough rise and create a certain crust. Nondiastatic malt, on the other hand, has no active enzymes and is used primarily for flavor, mostly in beverages. It sometimes contains sugar, coloring agents, and other additives, depending on the commercial preparation.[1]
History
London pharmacist James Horlick developed ideas for an improved, wheat- and malt-based nutritional supplement for infants. Despairing of his opportunities in the United Kingdom, Horlick joined his brother William, who had gone to Racine, Wisconsin, to work at a relative's quarry. In 1873, the brothers formed J & W Horlicks to manufacture their brand of infant food in nearby Chicago.[2] Ten years later, they earned a patent[3] 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.[4][5]
Despite its origins as a health food for infants and invalids, malted milk found unexpected markets. Explorers appreciated its lightweight, nonperishable, nourishing qualities, and they took malted milk on treks worldwide. William Horlick became a patron of Antarctic exploration, and Admiral Richard E. Byrd named Horlick Mountains, a mountain range in Antarctica, after him. Back in the US, people began drinking Horlick's new beverage for enjoyment. James Horlick returned to England to import his American-made product and was eventually made a baronet.[2] Malted milk became a standard offering at soda shops, and found greater popularity when mixed with ice cream in a "malt", for which malt shops were named.[4]
Uses
- Malted milk biscuits
- Malted milkshakes
- Malted hot drinks, such as Horlicks and Ovaltine
- Malted milk balls: malted milk is used in the popular candy confections Whoppers (manufactured by Hershey Co.), Mighty Malts (manufactured by Necco), and Maltesers (manufactured by Mars, Inc).
- Malted milk is used in some bagel recipes as a substitute for non-diastatic malt powder.
In popular culture
"Malted Milk" is the title of a blues song written by Robert Johnson, famously interpreted by Eric Clapton on his album Unplugged.
See also
References
- ^ Bates, Anna Thomas. "Malt, the forgotten flavor and nostalgic treat". Journal-Sentinel. Retrieved 10 November 2015.
- ^ a b Kitchen Lore: The History of Malted Milk Powder
- ^ U.S. patent 278,967
- ^ a b listing at Wisconsin history library
- ^ Image of the Horlick brothers' factory
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