spoiler
Xanthan gum (/ˈzænθən/) is a polysaccharide with many industrial uses, including as a common food additive. It is an effective thickening agent and stabilizer that prevents ingredients from separating. It can be produced from simple sugars by fermentation and derives its name from the species of bacteria used, Xanthomonas campestris.
This is a drink I discovered on accident in 2019, before the meme of thick gatorade existed. I unfortunately forgot to dissolve the xanthan gum in an oil before putting it in the drink this time, so I have to wait 24-48 hours for it to dissolve into the water. I was attempting to emulate how I remember the lizard milk from Sobe tasted and felt, which was kinda thick and fruity. Idk if that was even correct, but it was covid and I was hankering for early thousands to forget my worries. Also the first tony hawk pro skater controls like shit but the soundtrack is still bomb.
Anyway, I decided to do it again for a lark. I was feeling thirsty and I thought if I trapped the water and electrolytes in some kind of non water soluble matrix, the slower release would keep me from being thirsty for longer.
Anyway, this has been KnilAdlez's science corner. Tune in next week when try the same thing with mtn dew game fuel and make The Worst Drink Imaginable.
I love xanthan gum. Actually we're almost in warm enough weather here for daiquiris and it'll soon be time to whip out the xanthan for some tasty blended treats
I put it in my frozen coffee drinks because I love those blended frozen coffee drinks as much as I hate the primary purveyor of said beverages. It makes the consistency "right".
I’ve been wondering about this because instant coffee has additives that when blended make it really smooth. How much xanthan gum do you use per serving?
Less than I thought. It's something like a quarter tsp for ~16 oz of coffee before freezing.
Interesting. I just started looking around and most advice says a little goes a long way or just use a pinch and adjust from there. I also saw that combining guar gum with xanthan gum makes both work more effectively together so you can you use less in total.