Bird's Custard

Bird's Custard is a famous brand known for its special powdered custard mix. Unlike real custard made from eggs, this mix uses cornflour to make a smooth, creamy sauce when you add milk and heat it up. This makes it very easy and quick to prepare, perfect for adding sweetness to desserts or drinks.

The idea behind Bird's Custard was to offer a convenient way to enjoy custard without the need for fresh eggs or long cooking times. Over the years, it has become a popular choice for many families and is enjoyed in various recipes and treats.

Today, Bird's Custard is owned by Premier Foods, and you can find similar products made by other companies as well. Whether you’re making a dessert or just want a sweet sauce, this powdered mix provides a simple and tasty solution.

History

Bird's Custard was first made by Alfred Bird in 1837 in his shop in Birmingham. He made it because his wife could not eat eggs, which are usually used to make custard thick. One night, the egg-free custard was served to guests and everyone liked it. So, Alfred Bird began making it for others.

Later, a businessman named John Monkhouse helped start a company called Monk and Glass, which also made custard powder. The company was bought by Bird's Custard in the early 20th century.

Usage

In places like Australia and the United Kingdom, this dessert is very popular. People there often just call it "custard." When they say "custard," they might mean Bird's custard, not the traditional kind made with eggs.

There are also "instant" versions of custard that come with powdered milk and sugar. You only need to add hot water. Ready-made custard can be found in tins, plastic pots, and cartons.

Alfred Bird and Sons Ltd.

Alfred Bird made a popular custard and started Alfred Bird and Sons Ltd. in Birmingham. The company began making baking powder in 1843 and started selling custard powder all over the country by 1844. During World War I, Bird's Custard was given to the British armed forces.

The company used clever advertising, including a famous "three bird" logo introduced in 1929. After World War II, Bird's was bought by the General Foods Corporation, then taken over by Philip Morris and merged into Kraft Foods. In 2004, Kraft sold Bird's Custard to Premier Foods, who own the brand today. The original factory is gone, but a bigger factory on Gibb Street is now the Custard Factory arts centre.

Ingredients

Bird's Custard used to have something called partially hydrogenated vegetable oil. This ingredient can be bad for your heart, so some places have stopped letting companies use it. Since 2009, Bird's has stopped using this ingredient and now uses a safer kind of vegetable oil in all its custard products.

Physical properties

Cooked custard is a weak gel, which means it is thick and sticky. When you mix uncooked custard powder with water, it becomes thicker if you press on it. This special kind of mixture is called oobleck. It shows how some liquids can act like solids when you push on them. A popular science show called Brainiac: Science Abuse showed this by filling a swimming pool with the mixture and letting someone walk across it.