Drinking half and half?

February 24, 2009 4:48 PM

In your experience, how common or uncommon is the practice of drinking half and half (half milk and half cream) as a beverage?

Some back story - I live with my brother who I generally find to be a slovenly pig most of the time, and he has an insatiable appetite for milk, so much so that he can easily go through a gallon a day.

Recently I found out that sometimes when he's finished off the milk, he'll start drinking half and half and can apparently go through a half a quart at a time. When I found this out, the idea of drinking the stuff by the glassful was so foreign to me I found it to be disgusting. Of course after that I had to try it to see what it was like, so I poured about a shot glass worth and drank it. Needless to say, it was not a pleasant experience. It tasted like ice cream mix (which is fitting since you can make ice cream with it) and was way way too rich to actually enjoy.

So what do you guys think? Do you or anyone you know drink half and half as a beverage? Is it weird that I find the practice disgusting? In this specific case I kinda liken it to a drunk going after the nyquil after he finished off all the brandy (less extreme of course) but that may be more related to my situation with my brother than actually drinking the stuff.

I'm in Texas btw.

posted by dead cousin ted to food & drink (54 comments total)

When I worked at a Barnes & Nobles cafe in Tennessee about 7 or 8 years ago, there was a drink called a "breve" which was a latte made with half & half instead of milk. People ordered them hot or iced. I wouldn't do it myself, since I thought they weren't very good.
posted by motsque at 4:54 PM on February 24 [1 favorite]

I've only ever heard of half & half as a beverage when it included kaluha, ice and vodka.

Drink it straight? Do not want.
posted by EatTheWeak at 4:56 PM on February 24

I have occasionally seen this happen, but never regularly and only by fat people. I can rival your brother's milk-drinking habits (3-4 gallons a week by my lonesome) but I would never, ever, drink half and half straight. (But I find 2% pretty thick and gross, so YMMV.)
posted by phunniemee at 4:56 PM on February 24

I have occasionally seen this happen, but never regularly and only by fat people.

The only person I have seen drink half-and-half (and only because we were out of milk and you can't eat chocolate cake alone...) was my very petite, skinny friend. She has also been known to eat pints of Hagan Daaz ice cream in a sitting.
posted by i_am_a_fiesta at 4:59 PM on February 24

If you put an egg, sugar, and a little nutmeg in it, you've got eggnog. Some people put it in their protein shakes when they're trying to bulk up. Other than that, not so much.
posted by aquafortis at 5:00 PM on February 24

Not at all common. As a mixer, yes, but then straight cream is a mixer, too. As a beverage? Good god, no.
posted by Miko at 5:06 PM on February 24

My sister drinks it straight out of the little tubs at diners.

Yeah. Ewwwwwwwwww.
posted by deezil at 5:06 PM on February 24

I used to steal half and half packets from restaurants and drink them while I was walking through the mall. As a child. I doubt I would drink a whole glass, but I don't understand why it's "disgusting", either.
posted by Coatlicue at 5:06 PM on February 24

No it is not common, yes you are creepy for having a problem with it. Sort out your "situation" with your brother. Have a nice day.
posted by rhizome at 5:06 PM on February 24 [4 favorites]

The only person I've ever known to do this is my grandmother. She lived in Baltimore and the specific incident I'm thinking of was late 80s or early 90s, but I suspect it was a habit she'd had a long time. She was also completely crazy, so I wouldn't exactly use her as proof of what any normal person might do.
posted by Stacey at 5:09 PM on February 24

My sister drinks it straight out of the little tubs at diners.

I used to do that. Tasty. but a whole glass? Ew!
posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 5:10 PM on February 24

It's a chatty question, but no, I don't know anyone who does this.
posted by fixedgear at 5:14 PM on February 24

when i worked the diary section of the supermarket in highschool i used to sometimes drink the little pints of light cream and eat raw cookiedough on my lunch breaks.

it was more out of the necessity of only being able to steal food from my own department on some days and not particularly out of a love for light cream.

as soon as i quit that job, i stopped doing it.
posted by judge.mentok.the.mindtaker at 5:17 PM on February 24

Do you or anyone you know drink half and half as a beverage?

As a mixer, sure. Beverage, nope. Clearly, though, people do--just nobody I know.

Is it weird that I find the practice disgusting?

I think you find your brother disgusting.
posted by box at 5:18 PM on February 24

It's disgusting and you have every right to be disgusted by it.

Your brother must be huge.
posted by fire&wings at 5:24 PM on February 24

As other people have mentioned, half-and-half is often used as a mixer in "cream" drinks: mudslides, grasshoppers, pink squirrels and so forth. The traditional recipes call for cream, but many people think it tastes greasy and unappealing, not to mention the calorie content. Cream spoils quickly as well. Skim or low-fat milk doesn't give the drinks the richness they need, though, so the favored solution is half-and-half.

Despite this, most people don't drink the stuff straight. I know some people like to drink buttermilk, though.
posted by Faint of Butt at 5:25 PM on February 24

When I was little (like maybe 5-6 years old) I would only eat my cereal if it was with half & half instead of regular milk. I think it was a habit I picked up from my most frequent babysitter, my grandma's youngest brother - half & half was the only dairy product he ever kept in the house.
posted by elizardbits at 5:27 PM on February 24

The opportunity to drink all the little containers of half-and-half that came with the room was the highlight of a particular hotel stay when I was 7, and I still love the stuff now, as an adult. I like drinking heavy cream even more. I'll pour myself small cup fulls when I have some left over from making cream sauces.

For the record, I'm far from huge, eat a relatively healthy diet, exercise a lot, and prefer my regular milk to be skim or 1%.
posted by capsizing at 5:32 PM on February 24

I remember watching one of those shows on TLC or Discovery or whatever in which the host helped a family deal with bad eating habits.. the couple on this episode put half-and-half in their cereal instead of milk..

I have no idea why but the idea of drinking half-and-half strikes me as less gross than drinking lots of milk..

It doesn't seem like this is a big deal unless 1) he is not in good health/quite overweight and this is a factor or 2) you are paying for it, because it can't be cheap to go through that much.
posted by citron at 5:35 PM on February 24

Half and half with a really salty hard pretzel is like liquid Ben and Jerry's.
posted by The Straightener at 5:38 PM on February 24

Wow, I can't believe there are so many half and half haters here! I love the stuff almost as much as I love butter and ice cream... I used to work in a cafe and I would make cafe breves (espresso and half and half) or just use it to make hot chocolate (with a bit of fresh ground cardomom... its heaven)

Also, we used to serve these to ppl too.. a co-worker once told me itwas part of low carb diet, but I can't necessarily back that up.

If you're wondering, no I am not anywhere near fat, actually I'm damn near skinny, but then again, I have a physical job outdoors that keeps me burnin'calories (about 4000 a day) and that means I can eat all the awesome food that most sedentary types freak out about.

In fact this has inspired me to go eat some more dairy fat. yum
posted by tev at 5:42 PM on February 24

I love dairy, and will have no truck with skimmed milk, but honestly this had never occurred to me. I've never heard of such a thing.

(to me, 'half and half' is what some would call a 'black and tan')
posted by pompomtom at 5:46 PM on February 24

It doesn't sound so gross to me.
posted by Simon Barclay at 5:49 PM on February 24

Like motsque upthread I also worked for a chain coffee shop and we would serve coffee drinks made with half and half instead of milk. If I had to take a guess based on memory I would guess 1 in 100 lattes were breve. I didn't think it was disgusting. We did have a women who came in every morning who was on Atkin's and she would order a 20oz latte with heavy cream instead of milk - that was a little much for me.
I was also a drunk who would go through 2 bottles of Nyquill a week and could never figure why I wasn't getting over my cold so ymmv.
posted by Bango Skank at 5:50 PM on February 24

I doubt I would drink a whole glass, but I don't understand why it's "disgusting", either.

Probably for the same reason that a glass of ketchup would be disgusting.
posted by Civil_Disobedient at 5:53 PM on February 24

I don't understand why it's "disgusting", either

It's called excessive indulgence. Some find it disgusting, others don't. YMMV.

We're talking about someone drinking a gallon of milk in a day then moving onto this, it should be repulsive to anyone who has the slightest notion of what a healthy diet constitutes.
posted by fire&wings at 6:04 PM on February 24

I don't buy it in large containers because I'll do just what your brother does, only worse!

I'll pour a bowl full and add a lot of sugar and then eat it with a spoon like it's liquidic ice cream.

If you've never had a bowl of uber-cold half-n-half and sugar, you simply must. It's ambrosia!
posted by elpiconeroalcognac at 6:16 PM on February 24

I lived near a dairy when I was a kid (Knowlton's, for you San Antonians). You could bring your empty containers to the dairy and fill them with raw milk for roughly half the price milk sold for at the grocery store. It was half and half, I'm pretty sure. The cream would separate and you'd have to shake it vigorously each time you wanted to pour yourself some. I remember going to quite a few friends houses who didn't skim the cream off either.
posted by Bernt Pancreas at 6:19 PM on February 24

Probably for the same reason that a glass of ketchup would be disgusting.

I actually thought of including that rationale in my post as to why I find it disgusting. Basically taking something like an additive or condiment and consuming it in large amounts, like a glass of ketchup or a bowl of sugar.

I think you find your brother disgusting.

That's true, but I would find the practice gross if anyone else was doing it as well.

yes you are creepy for having a problem with it.

I find your use of the word "creepy" pretty confusing. How do you see me being creepy by being grossed out by this, if I might ask?

I did some googling beforehand and it seemed like kids do a lot of this, which is reflected here and makes sense in a way.

Also, thanks for the answers so far everyone. Very interesting stuff.
posted by dead cousin ted at 6:28 PM on February 24

I've only ever had occasional small glasses mixed liberally with sugar.
posted by Picklegnome at 6:30 PM on February 24

(to me, 'half and half' is what some would call a 'black and tan')

We called it "half and half" made with Harp or another lager, "black and tan" made with Bass or another ale.
posted by Miko at 6:33 PM on February 24

It was half and half, I'm pretty sure. The cream would separate and you'd have to shake it vigorously each time you wanted to pour yourself some.

That's just how whole unhomogenized milk is.
posted by Miko at 6:34 PM on February 24

I have known a few people who drink small amounts of half and half, but not large quantities. On the other hand, I have known a number of people who drink buttermilk, which is excellent for baking, but an order of magnitude more disgusting than half and half for straight consumption.
posted by TedW at 6:39 PM on February 24

Drank it while in Japan, where I was assured it was sold as "10% Milk". The carton came with a straw on the side, so we figured it was for drinking.

The son of a colleague snaffles those little cream packets, stabs them with a stir stick and drains them. It's quite gross, but I'll admit to having tried it.
posted by scruss at 6:44 PM on February 24

My dad always used half and half on his breakfast cereal instead of milk. Bleh.
posted by justlisa at 6:47 PM on February 24

I work for Starbucks and we occasionally get orders for breve (half-and-half), or worse, table cream lattes. The customers I've seen do this usually aren't obese and from what I've heard, this sort of drink is some sort of Atkins/South Beach Diet hack. It doesn't seem that odd to drink cream with a bit of espresso and Splenda, but straight half-and-half is just overpoweringly creamy.
posted by thisjax at 6:55 PM on February 24

what the??? I never realized there were so many of you grossed out... I use half and half as a milk substitute for everything over here in the US- coffee, on cereal, etc.

I grew up on a farm in Ireland and Half and Half is the closest I can get to real milk out of the tank...What you call milk I refer to as milkwater, what you call 2% - I call water and use it for shaving. Also I am not what you would call fat...at all.
posted by clarkie666 at 6:55 PM on February 24 [2 favorites]

I wonder if there is anything about the milk nutritionally that your brother's body is craving. Unless it's some kind of emotional thing, maybe he's got a medical problem. I've read where milk cravings are related to the onset of diabetes.

I couldn't imagine drinking half and half (and cream is definitely greasy). But buttermilk? I could drink that all day!
posted by Piscean at 6:59 PM on February 24

It's higher in protein and lower in sugars/carbs than milk, so it's not as if it's bad for you. I think we're so indoctrinated with the low-fat dogma here in the U.S. that we forget that people once put *cream* on things like cereal and bowls of berries.
posted by chez shoes at 7:15 PM on February 24 [3 favorites]

Sometimes if I'm hungry, I'll drink a couple sips of straight half-and-half because it will tide me over for a half over or so. My mom does this too. I can't really stomach more than that, because it's too creamy tasting by itself.

If I'm really hungry and use it in place of a meal, I'll get a drink from a coffee place made breve though. I don't do this very often, though, since it's pretty unhealthy with all the sugar too.
posted by Nattie at 7:41 PM on February 24

I'm amazed how many people think this is disgusting. It's very rare that I buy half-and-half, let alone drink it straight, but that's because I know I don't need it, not because I don't love it.

The pint your brother drinks might be a bit much for me, but I could (and occasionally have) easily drink an 8 oz. glass. Sooooo tasty.
posted by DevilsAdvocate at 7:53 PM on February 24

Everybody has food issues. Some more than others. Some are aware of the issues. most are not. At risk of practicing armchair psychiatry, I'd say he has an emotional issue that he is seeking to placate through the consumption of dairy products (which are very comforting). I had a similar habit in the past. I have managed it, and it will likely never go away completely, but being conscious of it and of its roots helps.
posted by allelopath at 7:53 PM on February 24

I also worked at a coffee shop, and I would make myself hot chocolates with half half-and-half, half milk. (Quarter - three quarters?) Delicious. We would also eat whipped cream and chocolate syrup out of espresso cups. The joys of making your own drinks.

My SO came back from a trip to Ireland saying that the milk over there was more like cream, so I think it might just be a north american gross-out. I've never thought it was weird to put whipping cream on top of berries, with some sugar, and drink whatever was left over at the bottom.
posted by OLechat at 8:49 PM on February 24

When I go to restaurants with my best friend, she will drink the little half and half packets straight. I don't think she would really choose it over milk, though, but she does prefer drinking whole milk. I've always found it gross, and I don't know anyone else who does it, but I don't think it's particularly abnormal.
posted by you zombitch at 8:55 PM on February 24

...

Ok, I had trouble believing this was a real question, and not a joke, and furthermore, that the commenters weren't joking.

Count this as a reference point -

I find the idea kind of delicious, but as I'm getting the impression half&half is some kind of american pre-made mix, would probably prefer the real deal - milk & cream. And yes, it would be delicious to drink, it's creamy. That's the point.

Some people have different taste buds and perceptions of taste sensations - creamy is therefore delicious & good. To others, it would be unpleasant, fatty or oily.

I can further testify that the US milk I tasted while in the Pacific Northwest & Nevada, seemed kind of watery.



Only mentioning this as you specifically asked why someone perceived it that way.
- but I also find it creepier that you are that disgusted by it & looking for external validation, than whatever your brother is doing. I'd make analogies to someone making a big fuss over - OMG! That guy eats pickles with chilli sauce! Or kidneys/liver/pig-skin(rind)/pigs-ear-salad! Or wears her shoes *inside* when I don't! Or fucks his boyfriend! (where I can't see him!)

Basically, if you're not being forced to do something, and it's not a harmful thing for someone else to do (is it relatively any worse than eating a quart of icecream? *), then making a big deal of something, expressing outright disgust in person, and to others, seems like an increasingly neurotic or bigoted thing to do.
A polite, tolerant, or well-travelled person would generally ignore it -
how does it go? Oh yeah:

One mans meat is another man's poison...


*And go check out the number of bodybuilders that drink gallons of milk a day - it's something you can do without having a weight problem, so whether your brother or not is aside from your main stated issue.

Addendum: I'm pretty healthy/skinny. I don't drink much milk as it is, but as a drink, I'd prefer it with cream.
posted by Elysum at 9:22 PM on February 24 [2 favorites]

I tried putting condensed milk in my tea recently thinking that milk - water = cream = condensed milk but I can conclude that is not true. But maybe your brother would like it.
posted by cranberrymonger at 9:27 PM on February 24

P.S. I wasn't meaning my first comment as an insult to the original poster or other commenters, I just meant it to illustrate that the original viewpoint isn't universal, and that I'm far over in the other quadrant. ;P

On the other hand, I dislike pineapple on pizza, waldorf salad, peanut butter & cheese sandwiches (My whole childhood, every few months, I'd get peanut butter & cheese sandwiches and tell my mother I didn't like them, and get "Really? Oh, I used to love those as a child!". *Sigh* I know where I get my memory from...)

But I don't tell other people the practice (of mixing extremely sweet/tart like pineapple/raisins with savoury things) is disgusting, even I find the taste & texture unpleasant. I know it's individual.
posted by Elysum at 9:31 PM on February 24

This would be like drinking four or five eggnogs everyday... Yes, it's disgusting along the lines of someone eating pure fat regularly, and irresponsible healthwise, unless you're Michael Phelps. :-)
posted by xammerboy at 9:33 PM on February 24

My father, also a Texan, BTW, used to drink it. That's the only data-point I have for you. I think he started it when he was up in years, as it had more flavor (I think his taste buds had become quite a bit less sensitive, as he made lots of weird culinary choices late in life).

I certainly wouldn't think of it as a healthy meal choice, though.
posted by wheat at 4:14 AM on February 25

I make my coffee *really* strong and then take it with a ton of half-and-half and no sugar. I go through a few quarts of the stuff a week (probably make two pots of coffee a day, maybe three when working from home uninterrupted).

I don't drink half and half straight--I've been pretty unhappy when I've been forced to have cereal with it-- but I do like berries with whipped heavy cream (the real stuff) or creme fraiche. And I like lots o' sour cream in my baked potatoes, omelettes, etc.

I do use some 1/2 and 1/2 when making certain kinds of mashed/whipped potatoes, because I buy 2% milk and sometimes want a little more fat than that when cooking.

I think part of the gross-out potential of straight half and half is its cloying sweetness given its liquid texture, as much or more than its richness. Thickened and flavored--as in eggnog--it starts to more obviously resemble other desserts, like custards or ice cream.
posted by snuffleupagus at 7:37 AM on February 25

Oh, ew, no. Never, ever seen it as a beverage. The craziest thing I've ever done is use it instead of good ol' milk-milk on cornflakes. As a beverage? Human perversity knows no limit.

I bet my grandma has or does drink it straight, though. Now that I think about it. She's from Montana, if it matters. I'm in Texas but I'm not a native Texan.
posted by Neofelis at 3:32 PM on February 25

Erm, no I've never seen anyone drink half and half as a beverage. I have however taken one of those little tubs of half and half in a restaurant, buried it in a glass of ice (after consuming the liquid obviously) and then sprinkled salt over the ice. Five minutes later you have the world's smallest helping of ice cream.
posted by katyggls at 7:43 AM on February 26

If cows naturally gave skim milk, nobody would have ever thought to milk them. Instead we'd have a sheep- or goat-based dairy industry. Not too long ago skim milk was a waste product fed to pigs.
posted by ryanrs at 11:17 PM on March 3

Thanks to this post, I couldn't resist the temptation of buying a small container of (liquid) cream as I was walking home. I sipped it while eating a pear & an apple.
It was dee-licious.

I must now scrub that event from my brain so I don't go - Mmmmmm... and do it more.

Thanks metafilter.
;P
posted by Elysum at 9:48 PM on May 13