Sugar is a natural carbohydrate that provides energy and calories. Sweetener refers to sugar substitutes that can be natural or artificial and provide a sweet taste for coffee and tea with few or no calories. Artificial sweeteners can include aspartame and sucralose, while plant-derived sweeteners can include options like stevia.

If you want to put something in your coffee instead of creamer, you can use other dairy products like regular milk or plant-based milks like almond and soy milk. You can use milk or half-and-half as a direct replacement for creamer to lighten your coffee. You can also try evaporated milk or sweetened condensed milk. For plant-based options, oat milk, soy milk and almond milk offer different flavours and textures for your coffee that mimic dairy milk.

A sugar packet is a small, single-serving paper pouch that holds a measured portion of sugar or a sugar substitute sweetener. A standard packet contains around 3 to 4 grams (roughly 1 teaspoon) of sugar or sweetener. Sugar packets are a good option for managing portion size and are convenient for people to use. They are also a hygienic option because each packet is clean, untouched and individually portioned, which helps prevent contamination compared to shared sugar bowls or dispensers.

Creamers should be stored in the refrigerator after they have been opened. Sugar and sweetener packets and containers should be stored in cool, dry spaces. Dairy and plant-based creamers should be stored in the main body of the refrigerator and put back immediately after they’re used. Sugar and sweetener packets should be stored in their original sealed boxes at room temperature.