Cream of wheat

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Original icon design from 1895

Box design of Cream of Wheat as it appears today

Cream of Wheat is a hot breakfast cereal invented in 1893 by wheat millers in Grand Forks, North Dakota. The cereal is currently manufactured and sold by Kraft Foods. It is similar in texture to grits, but made with farina (ground wheat) instead of ground corn.

Cream of Wheat is prepared by boiling water and slowly pouring in the farina while stirring. As you stir, the farina starts to thicken and mix with the water, creating a mixture that thickens depending on the ratio of liquid to farina. Some choose to use milk instead of water or both, to give the resulting food a more creamy taste. Currently there are two original mixes that you can choose from; the only difference being the time it takes to prepare.

Cream of Wheat is also sold in single-serving packets. These are prepared by mixing with hot water and allowing to set in a bowl (about two minutes).

It is common to customize the hot cereal with the addition of sugar, fruit, or nuts. As a result, several flavored varieties are sold: Original, Apples 'N' Cinnamon, Maple Brown Sugar, and Cinnamon Swirl.

Package design

The original boxes of Cream of Wheat were hand-made and lettered, and emblazoned with the image of an African-American chef produced by Emery Mapes. The character was named Rastus, and the image was included on all boxes and advertisements until 1925, when it was replaced by the more stylised version used on today's boxes. Using an African-American icon was uncommon for U.S. commercial brands at the time of the cereal's creation, but analogous to Aunt Jemima and Uncle Ben.

External links

[Kraft's current Cream of Wheat lineup]
[Discussion and history of black chef in advertising] - includes example

References

[Frequently Asked Questions], Kraft Foods website. Last accessed 15 June, 2006.

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