Postum is a powdered beverage mixture.
You mix it up with hot water, just as you would instant coffee. You can also use hot milk.
It is made from wheat, bran and molasses.
History Notes
Postum was developed by Charles William Post in 1894 (born 1854 in Illinois – 1914.)
He made it as a coffee substitute, and called it “Postum Food Coffee.” While other homemade coffee substitutes had chicory in them, he felt that his combination was more tasty.
He first promoted it in 1895 in Grand Rapids, Michigan. In 1897, he would go on to develop Post Grape-Nuts cereal, which is still sold today. In 1907, he had made enough money to found his own city in Texas, called “Post.” His daughter, Marjorie Merriweather Post, inherited the business. Because women at the time were not allowed to sit on Boards of Directors, she had to send her husband to meetings on her behalf. She spent years trying to persuade the Board to buy up another business, and only in 1929 did she succeed — that business was Birdseye’s General Foods Company, which became just General Foods. Post is now (2005) owned by Kraft.