Taste Test

Nondairy coffee creamers disappoint

By Kathy Saunders, Times Correspondent
Published October 17, 2007

Nondairy coffee creamer rankings:
1. Publix Rich & Creamy
2. Borden Cremora
3. Wal-Mart Great Value

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Maybe they work on the office coffee shelf, but nondairy coffee creamers probably should be reserved for the lactose-intolerant, according to our tasters.

Four Taster's Choice panelists stirred six brands of the unflavored, powdery creamers into their coffees, and only one judge said he would buy any of the creamers.

The Publix Rich & Creamy store brand $1.59 for 11 ounces received the highest score from our tasters - 60 out of 100 possible points.

The Publix creamer was very white. One judge described it as "White Sands, New Mexico." Another said it tasted the most like cream.

However, the one judge who said he would buy nondairy creamers said he probably wouldn't select the Publix brand.

Instead, he raved about the second choice: Borden Cremora ($3.99 for 16 ounces from Albertsons).

"It tastes gentle like a visit from your favorite aunt from out West - California or Arizona. You are happy to see her and a little sad when she leaves," he said.

Overall, the Borden brand scored 53 points.

Three of the four judges said the taste was "plain" and the color was a bit too dark for their liking.

The same judge had favorable comments about Wal-Mart's Great Value coffee creamer ($1.08 for 12 ounces). He described the texture as smooth like "liquid velvet" and appreciated the bright, white color.

The flavor, he said, was "easy on the taste buds."

Judges gave the store brand 51 points.

Also sampled were Hannaford ($2.09 for 8 ounces from Sweetbay); Albertsons ($2.59 for 16 ounces); and Nestle's Coffee-mate ($1.99 for 6 ounces).

Panelists were: Nan Jensen, registered dietitian with Pinellas County Cooperative Extension; Bob Devin Jones, artistic director of Studio@620; John Hehn, foodie and owner of All Brite Lighting & Power Design Inc.; and personal chef and mother of four, Julie Overton. All foods were tasted blind.

Send suggestions for product tastings to Taste, St. Petersburg Times, P.O. Box 1121, St. Petersburg, FL 33731 or e-mail them to jkeeler@sptimes.com. Please put TEST SUGGESTION in the subject line. To read past columns, go to www.sptimes.com/food.

[Last modified October 15, 2007, 17:20:09]