# What is milk called when it's poured on cereal **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** soda-softdrinks\ **Created:** [November 11, 2010, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-milk-called-when-its-poured-on-cereal/560371 "2010-11-11T23:47:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2010, 7:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-milk-called-when-its-poured-on-cereal/560371/121 "2010-11-16T07:11:26Z")
> [@devilsknew](#): > > I suppose in brewing terms, one might consider it the [wort](http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wort). That’s _really_ stretching the definition. “Wort” is specifically the malt solution that’s fermented to make beer. As the milk in cereal is neither a malt solution nor meant for fermenting, I really don’t see how “wort” could applied here. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2010, 7:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-milk-called-when-its-poured-on-cereal/560371/122 "2010-11-16T07:18:33Z")
Missed the edit: Although I guess the angle you’re playing is the cereal grain + liquid solution. Like I said, stretching… (ETA: I should say “beer or a mash for whiskey” in the post above.) ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2010, 11:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-milk-called-when-its-poured-on-cereal/560371/123 "2010-11-16T11:41:45Z")
> [@Tabby\_Cat](#): > > Cappy, you so _fine_… and crunchy… 😃 > > Isn’t spume the foam though, like the foam you get on some frou frou amuse bouche, or something? I don’t think the purpose of milk on cereal is foam. > > How about base? Like using chicken stock, consomme, or water as a base for a soup. Crunchberry Punch… cap’n. Yes and no, not strictly foam, spume could be simply kinetically agitated milk from pouring and repeated spooning, foamieness is simply a matter of degree. In modern applications the classic agitators are gaseous compression (CO2) and steam pressure, however vigorous spumante can also be achieved through [string pouring](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l67EzIbSY4I) like this expert chai maker or whipping. Or in the case of cereal spuma, pouring and spooning… the remnants are the scum of the cereal. As regards wort, although one classically does not ferment the remnant of milk and cereal particulates, there is certainly no reason one couldn’t. Crunchberry (alcoholic) Milk Punch. Cap’n. ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2010, 11:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-milk-called-when-its-poured-on-cereal/560371/124 "2010-11-16T11:53:12Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Missed the edit: Although I guess the angle you’re playing is the cereal grain + liquid solution. Like I said, stretching… (ETA: I should say “beer or a mash for whiskey” in the post above.) [Kefir for example](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kefir), is made with a milk and kefir wort, for all intents and purposes. ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2010, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-milk-called-when-its-poured-on-cereal/560371/125 "2010-11-16T12:28:25Z")
Or maybe, you could make a [kumis](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kumis) with cap’n crunch inoculated melkwirt, it should have a more suitable sugar content, and the end product will have more of a kick. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2010, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-milk-called-when-its-poured-on-cereal/560371/126 "2010-11-16T15:16:41Z")
> [@devilsknew](#): > > If you’re trying to be clever and hyper-literal then I suppose it is a condiment or compliment to your cereal… so, none of the above. When you pour it, it is an aquaeaous protein and lipid solution in hydrokinesis. Interesting. Is the cereal “in solution” as regards the milk? The flakes don’t break down, but they don’t distribute evenly throughout the mixture either; and settle out of solution almost immediately after being stirred. I think it’s only a solution if it’s left out all day untilt he cereal has thoroughly incorporated all the liquid. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2010, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-milk-called-when-its-poured-on-cereal/560371/127 "2010-11-16T15:30:39Z")
> [@devilsknew](#): > > [Kefir for example](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kefir), is made with a milk and kefir wort, for all intents and purposes. Yes, but you wouldn’t call that solution “wort” any more than you would call kefir, kumis, or yogurt “beer.” I mean, better analogy, would you call the prefermented/fermenting juice for wine “wort”? No, it’s “must.” ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2010, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-milk-called-when-its-poured-on-cereal/560371/128 "2010-11-16T15:37:31Z")
milk : cereal rice : General Tso’s chicken luchi (puri) : alu-phulkopir torkari (alu-gobi/potato and cauliflower) roll : hamburger patty sliced rye bread : corned beef and pastrami tortilla : meat, cheese, rice, and beans ---
**Author:** ![prettydorky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f04885/32.png) [@prettydorky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/prettydorky)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2010, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-milk-called-when-its-poured-on-cereal/560371/129 "2010-11-16T15:52:21Z")
I vote for topping. Or medium. Or… vehicle? ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2010, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-milk-called-when-its-poured-on-cereal/560371/130 "2010-11-16T21:53:00Z")
> [@TruCelt](#): > > Interesting. Is the cereal “in solution” as regards the milk? The flakes don’t break down, but they don’t distribute evenly throughout the mixture either; and settle out of solution almost immediately after being stirred. I think it’s only a solution if it’s left out all day untilt he cereal has thoroughly incorporated all the liquid. At the time of pouring it has not interacted with the cereal, it is simply a stream of solution in movement in midair - this [page](http://www.newton.dep.anl.gov/askasci/gen99/gen99499.htm) has three differing and sort of agreeing opinions that milk is a solution, colloid, and suspension. What’s the straight dope on that? ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2010, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-milk-called-when-its-poured-on-cereal/560371/131 "2010-11-17T22:46:10Z")
From [Colloid - definition of colloid by The Free Dictionary](http://www.thefreedictionary.com/colloid) > [@](#): > > colloid (kloid) > A mixture in which very small particles of one substance are distributed evenly throughout another substance. The particles are generally larger than those in a solution, and smaller than those in a suspension. Paints, milk, and fog are colloids. > [@](#): > > sus·pen·sion (s-spnshn) > n. > > 1. Chemistry A system in which microscopically visible particles are dispersed throughout a less dense liquid or gas from which they are easily filtered but not easily settled because of system viscocity or molecular interactions. > [@](#): > > solution (s-lshn) > > 1. Chemistry A mixture in which particles of one or more substances (the solute) are distributed uniformly throughout another substance (the solvent), so that the mixture is homogeneous at the molecular or ionic level. The particles in a solution are smaller than those in either a colloid or a suspension. Suspension is macroscopic particles that are intermingled because of disturbance. Colloid has smaller particles that stay intermingled better. A solution has even smaller particles, the intermingling is at the atomic/molecular level. ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2010, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-milk-called-when-its-poured-on-cereal/560371/132 "2010-11-18T00:09:08Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Yes, but you wouldn’t call that solution “wort” any more than you would call kefir, kumis, or yogurt “beer.” I mean, better analogy, would you call the prefermented/fermenting juice for wine “wort”? No, it’s “must.” Yes, must is specific to winemaking and distilling with fruit generally and wort is specific to brewing and distilling with malted grain generally. I guess the question is if you were making a wine with anything other than grapes would you still call it ohh.. cherry must? Why not Milk wort? Malted cereals and milk could very easily be called milk wort… the language does allow us to do that, and the meaning is quite clear. ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2010, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-milk-called-when-its-poured-on-cereal/560371/133 "2010-11-18T00:22:03Z")
Or, for example, more generally would it be errant or confusing I were making cherry juice in a juicer with no intentions of winemaking, and offhand referred to the pith and remnants left in the juicer as “cherry must”? If that is allowed, why not “cereal or milk wort” to refer to the bottom of a bowl of cereal? ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2010, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-milk-called-when-its-poured-on-cereal/560371/134 "2010-11-18T04:45:21Z")
…and have some Cherry Wine… Un hunH! ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2010, 6:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-milk-called-when-its-poured-on-cereal/560371/135 "2010-11-18T06:26:57Z")
> [@acsenray](#): > > milk : cereal > > rice : General Tso’s chicken > > luchi (puri) : alu-phulkopir torkari (alu-gobi/potato and cauliflower) > > roll : hamburger patty > > sliced rye bread : corned beef and pastrami > > tortilla : meat, cheese, rice, and beans milk: cheese rice: La Choy luchi: vindaloo roll: My aunt’s and Grandma’s Parkerhouse… rye: gotta be a reuben tortilla: puffy tacos ---
**Author:** ![jackdavinci](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackdavinci/32/3259_2.png) [@jackdavinci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackdavinci)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2010, 7:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-milk-called-when-its-poured-on-cereal/560371/136 "2010-11-18T07:54:32Z")
Milk as an agent is often called a creamer or whitener. But I think mostly, milk is also the generic term for any substance used in such a way. ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2010, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-milk-called-when-its-poured-on-cereal/560371/137 "2010-11-18T21:02:17Z")
I usually see it opposite - “creamer” is the generic, replacement for milk or cream (or half and half). Hadn’t seen “whitener” until not long ago on this board. ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2010, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-milk-called-when-its-poured-on-cereal/560371/138 "2010-11-20T03:14:27Z")
> [@devilsknew](#): > > milk: cheese > > rice: La Choy > > luchi: vindaloo > > roll: My aunt’s and Grandma’s Parkerhouse… > > rye: gotta be a reuben > > tortilla: puffy tacos Actually, I suppose if we are working with the parmaeters of this undersided autistic poll… it would go Milk: cheese rice: ricecake or mochi luchi: Stuffed luchi… don’t know what they are called … basically a luchi with a lentil daal spread between layers and fried or baked Or what do Indians make to use up leftover chiapatti?. roll: Thanksgiving stuffing tortilla: chilaquiles ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2010, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-milk-called-when-its-poured-on-cereal/560371/139 "2010-11-20T03:22:44Z")
> [@Irishman](#): > > From [Colloid - definition of colloid by The Free Dictionary](http://www.thefreedictionary.com/colloid) > > Suspension is macroscopic particles that are intermingled because of disturbance. > > Colloid has smaller particles that stay intermingled better. > > A solution has even smaller particles, the intermingling is at the atomic/molecular level. That doesn’t answer my question? Which is milk? The replies from three scientists on that linked page claim that Homogenized milk is a suspension , a colloid, and a solution? Which is it… or does it depend on each scientists’ prejudices and application? ---
**Author:** ![Ignatz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/3be4f8/32.png) [@Ignatz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ignatz)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2010, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-milk-called-when-its-poured-on-cereal/560371/140 "2010-11-20T04:15:40Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > My cereal makes it’s own gravy! It’s a white powder until I pour water over it to reconstitute it. “it’s” always means “it is” or “it has”. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-milk-called-when-its-poured-on-cereal/560371.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-milk-called-when-its-poured-on-cereal/560371.md?page=8)