Cream Of Tartar Health Benefits and Nutrition Facts

Nutritional summary

Cream of tartar (potassium bitartrate) is a byproduct of the wine-making process that serves as a leavening agent by reacting with sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) to produce carbon dioxide gas .
Because it is a potassium salt of tartaric acid, the ingredient is notably high in potassium, a mineral that many institutional guidelines identify as being under-consumed in modern diets .
No adverse effects on the nutritional quality of food have been identified when cream of tartar is used as a leavening agent or additive .
Safety evaluations of potassium tartrates note that while they are generally recognized as safe, regulatory bodies monitor them for trace impurities of heavy metals like lead and mercury to ensure they remain below health-based exposure limits .

Interesting fact

Known scientifically as potassium bitartrate, this substance crystallizes on the inside of wine barrels during fermentation and was first isolated by a chemist in 1769.

Standout nutrients

EPIC

SOURCE

Potassium

N/A

239

kcal per 100g

Seasonality

Not available

Diet

VeganVegetarianPescatarianGluten FreeDairy FreeKetoLow FodmapPaleo

Sustainability

Lighter footprint

As a byproduct of the wine industry, it utilizes material that would otherwise be waste.

Confidencemedium

Storage

Cool Dark Place

2+ years

Store in an airtight container away from humidity and heat to maintain potency.

Airtight Container

2+ years

Prevents moisture absorption, which can degrade effectiveness.

Flavour

Data & Sources

Harmonized from 1 validated source

McCance & Widdowson

1 contributing source food

Claim citations

[PDF] Tartaric Acid - Agricultural Marketing Service

[1]www.ams.usda.govams.usda.gov

[PDF] Subcommittee Review Handling Substances § 205.605(a ...

[2]www.ams.usda.govams.usda.gov

Re‐evaluation of l(+)‐tartaric acid (E 334), sodium tartrates (E 335), potassium tartrates (E 336), potassium sodium tartrate (E 337) and calcium tartrate (E 354) as food additives - PMC

[3]pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

[PDF] USDA Food and Nutrient Database for Dietary Studies 2011-2012

[4]www.ars.usda.govars.usda.gov

Contribution of Food Groups to Energy and Nutrient Intakes in Five Developed Countries - PMC

[11]pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Coverage

Nutrients

FoodCompass

41.1

Version

Similar flavours

Explore flavour space →