# Why is it called "creme fraiche" when it's soured?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-called-creme-fraiche-when-its-soured/659329>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [May 25, 2013, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-called-creme-fraiche-when-its-soured/659329 "2013-05-25T17:11:12Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Speaker\_for\_the\_Dead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c77e96/32.png) [@Speaker\_for\_the\_Dead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Speaker_for_the_Dead)\
**Post date:** [May 25, 2013, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-called-creme-fraiche-when-its-soured/659329/1 "2013-05-25T17:11:12Z")

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Why is “creme fraiche” (translation: _fresh_ cream) by definition _not_ fresh?

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**Author:** ![ouryL](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ouryl/32/6067_2.png) [@ouryL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ouryL)\
**Post date:** [May 25, 2013, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-called-creme-fraiche-when-its-soured/659329/2 "2013-05-25T19:16:52Z")

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> [@Speaker\_for\_the\_Dead](#):
>
> Why is “creme fraiche” (translation: _fresh_ cream) by definition _not_ fresh?

because it ain’t as sour. creme fraiche won’t separate when it is used in cooking and can be whipped like whipping cream.

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**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\
**Post date:** [May 25, 2013, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-called-creme-fraiche-when-its-soured/659329/3 "2013-05-25T19:49:03Z")

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Question’s answered, so I’ll feel free to comment topically:

When I lived in Japan in 2000 and 2001, at Starbucks, the stuff they put on our frappucinos was apparently whipped Crème Fraiche, no sweetener.