Ethan Brooks
The oldest breakfast cereal is a far cry from the sugar-laden cereals of today. Granula, created in 1863 by Dr. James Caleb Jackson, was the first manufactured breakfast cereal. Jackson, a doctor and health reformer, believed that sickness stemmed from the digestive system and so he began experimenting with cold cereal as a cure for various illnesses. Granula was made from graham flour dough that was rolled into sheets, baked, broken into pieces, baked again, and then broken down again into smaller pieces. The resulting cereal was so hard that it had to be soaked overnight in milk before it could be eaten, earning it the nickname 'wheat rocks.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Granula |
| Year Created | 1863 |
| Creator | Dr. James Caleb Jackson |
| Place of Origin | Dansville, New York, USA |
| Still Available | No |
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What You'll Learn
- The first breakfast cereal was Granula, created in 1863
- Granula was made from graham flour and had to be soaked overnight
- John Harvey Kellogg was inspired by Granula to create his own version, Granola
- Kellogg's All-Bran, launched in 1916, is one of the oldest wheat bran cereals
- Force Wheat Flakes, launched in 1902, was the first ready-to-eat breakfast cereal in the UK
The first breakfast cereal was Granula, created in 1863
Granula was made from Graham flour dough that was rolled into sheets and baked. These dried sheets were then broken into pieces, baked again, and broken down again into smaller pieces. As a result of this process, Granula was very tough and had to be soaked in milk overnight before it could be eaten. It earned the nickname "wheat rocks" due to its hard texture.
Despite its unappealing texture by modern standards, Granula was a hit and inspired John Harvey Kellogg, another health advocate who ran a health spa. Kellogg created his own version of Granula, adding oatmeal and cornmeal to the mix. Jackson sued Kellogg for copying his product, and Kellogg changed the name of his version to "Granola."
Granula was a significant departure from the traditional American breakfast of the time, which typically included cholesterol-laden hot meals such as eggs, bacon, sausage, and beef or chicken, along with cooked grains, biscuits, toast, butter, and jam. The introduction of Granula marked the beginning of the evolution of breakfast cereals, which have now become a staple in many households.
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Granula was made from graham flour and had to be soaked overnight
Granula, the oldest breakfast cereal ever created, was made from graham flour and had to be soaked overnight. It was invented in 1863 by Dr. James Caleb Jackson, who ran a health spa in upstate New York. At the time, the standard American breakfast was a heavy, cholesterol-laden hot meal, including eggs, bacon, sausage, and beef or chicken. Jackson believed that sickness originated in the digestive system and that a proper diet could cure various diseases.
Granula was created as a treatment for patients at Jackson's spa, then called a "sanitarium." It was made from Graham flour dough, which was rolled into sheets and baked. These dried sheets were then broken into pieces, baked again, and broken down again into smaller bits. As a result of this process, Granula was very tough and earned the nickname "wheat rocks." It was only edible after being soaked in milk overnight.
Despite its unappealing texture by modern standards, Granula was a hit and inspired a high-powered knockoff by John Harvey Kellogg, who added oatmeal and cornmeal to the mix. Kellogg's version became so popular that it led to the entire category of snacks and breakfast cereals known as "granola."
Granula was a significant departure from the traditional breakfasts of the time and set the stage for the development of the breakfast cereal industry as we know it today. While it may not resemble the cereals we eat today, Granula's legacy lies in its role as a precursor to modern granola and its influence on subsequent cereal innovators like Kellogg.
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John Harvey Kellogg was inspired by Granula to create his own version, Granola
John Harvey Kellogg was a 19th-century physician, inventor, businessman, and advocate of the Progressive Movement. He was born in Tyrone, Michigan, in 1852 and was the son of John Preston Kellogg, who established a broom factory in the state. John Harvey Kellogg was a medical student in New York City in 1874-75 when he became convinced of the need for ready-cooked foods, particularly ready-to-eat cereals.
Kellogg was inspired by Granula, the first manufactured breakfast cereal created by James Caleb Jackson in 1863. Jackson was a health reformer who believed that sicknesses originated in the digestive system. He experimented with cold cereal as a cure for illnesses at the health spa he ran in upstate New York. Granula was made of graham flour, baked into brittle cakes, crumbled, and then baked again. It was so hard that it had to be soaked in milk overnight to be edible.
Inspired by Granula, Kellogg created his own version, Granola, at the Battle Creek Sanitarium in Battle Creek, Michigan, which he directed. Granola consisted of a mixture of oatmeal, cornmeal, and wheat meal made into cakes with water and exposed to a temperature sufficient to dextrinize the starch, making it more digestible. This was considered important as certain forms of indigestion were relieved by the use of dextrinized foods. After trying granola at the sanitarium, many guests wanted to eat the cereal at home, so Kellogg established the Sanitas Food Company in 1890 to make and sell the product.
Kellogg and his brother, Will Keith Kellogg, also went on to invent Kellogg's Corn Flakes, which were mass-produced and boxed in 1906, revolutionizing the breakfast cereal industry.
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Kellogg's All-Bran, launched in 1916, is one of the oldest wheat bran cereals
Breakfast cereals have come a long way since the first manufactured breakfast cereal, Granula, was developed in 1863 by doctor and health reformer James Caleb Jackson. Granula was a far cry from the cereals we eat today, with a rock-hard texture that had to be soaked in milk overnight before it could be eaten.
In 1916, Kellogg's launched All-Bran, one of the oldest wheat bran cereals still on the market. The cereal was an evolution of the company's Bran Flakes, released in 1915, which Kellogg's claimed was the first high-fibre cereal. All-Bran has continued this legacy, providing up to 44% of an adult's daily recommended fibre intake per serving.
All-Bran was originally sold in a red and green box, typical of most Kellogg's cereals at the time. After achieving success in the US, Kellogg's expanded its distribution to the United Kingdom and other markets in 1922. Today, All-Bran is available in various countries under different names, including All-Bran Original, All-Bran Bran Flakes, and All-Bran Flakes.
In addition to its high fibre content, All-Bran is also a good source of vitamins and minerals. It provides an important source of six B-vitamins, iron, and vitamin D. The entire All-Bran product family contains wheat bran, which is known for its rich fibre content.
Kellogg's has long marketed All-Bran as a healthy breakfast option. A 1932 book published by The Kellogg Company of Canada touted All-Bran as the key to living a life "free of constipation". The cereal was also a pioneer in celebrity endorsements, featuring actress Joan Crawford in its print ads during the 1930s.
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Force Wheat Flakes, launched in 1902, was the first ready-to-eat breakfast cereal in the UK
The concept of breakfast cereal has evolved over the years, with the earliest forms of cereal being hot cereals or porridges. The first manufactured breakfast cereal, Granula, was developed in 1863 by Dr. James Caleb Jackson, a doctor and health reformer. Jackson believed that sicknesses were rooted in the digestive system, and so he began experimenting with cold cereal as a cure for various illnesses.
Granula was made from graham flour dough that was rolled into sheets and baked. These dried sheets were then broken into pieces, baked again, and broken down again into smaller pieces. Due to this process, Granula was very tough and had to be soaked in milk overnight before it could be eaten, leading to the nickname "wheat rocks".
In 1902, Force Wheat Flakes became the first ready-to-eat breakfast cereal introduced in the United Kingdom. The cereal was originally created in 1901 by the Force Food Company, owned by Edward Ellsworth, and was one of the earliest cereals to be advertised with a popular mascot, a cartoon man named Sunny Jim. Force Wheat Flakes achieved wide success in Britain, with sales of 12.5 million packages in one year at its peak in 1930.
The success of Force Wheat Flakes and the Sunny Jim character played a significant role in the emergence of the breakfast cereal industry in the UK. The cereal's popularity also influenced the marketing strategies of other cereal manufacturers, such as Kellogg's, who introduced the first in-box prize in the early 1900s.
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Frequently asked questions
The oldest breakfast cereal is Granula, which was developed in 1863 by Dr. James Caleb Jackson.
Granula was made from graham flour dough that was rolled into sheets and baked. These sheets were then broken into pieces, baked again, and broken down further into smaller pieces.
Granula was very tough and had an unappealing texture by modern standards. It was nicknamed "wheat rocks" and had to be soaked overnight in milk before it could be eaten.
Granula did not take off with the public. However, it inspired John Harvey Kellogg, who created his own version by adding oatmeal and cornmeal. Kellogg's version became popular and is now known as granola.
Some of the oldest cereals that are still produced and consumed today include Corn Flakes, Frosted Flakes, and Shredded Wheat.
