Half and half is the name of various beverages and foods made of an equal-parts mixture of two substances, including dairy products, alcoholic beverages, and soft drinks.
Alcoholic beverages
Belgium
In some cafés in Brussels, a "half en half", Dutch for "half and half", is a mixture of white wine and champagne." Originally, it was a mixture of two different typical beer types from Brussels: 50% lambic and 50% faro."
Denmark
If you order a "half and half" in a Copenhagen bar, you will get a mixture of dark beer and pilsner. The dark beer is a Danish version of an Imperial stout-type beer – in Denmark simply called "porter", which is a little sweeter than a Guinness.
In Britain, a half and half may mean a mixture of mild ale and bitter. In the North East of England, a request for a half and half would more commonly produce a combination of Scotch ale and India pale ale. This drink fell from favour when the Scottish & Newcastle brewery were obliged to sell many of their tied public houses and McEwan's Scotch and IPA disappeared from public bars across the North East. In Canada and the United States, Black and Tan refers to Guinness and a lager or ale that will support the Guinness, most commonly Bass Ale, although some Irish-themed bars shun the term for its association with the Royal Irish Constabulary's "Black and Tans" force. A Half and Half is Guinness and Harp. A Guinness and Smithwick's is a Blacksmith.
Scotland
In Scotland, a "hauf an a hauf" is a glass of whisky and a half-pint of beer as a chaser.
"Pola pola" is a slang term for the drink spritzer, made out of equal parts of white wine or rosé wine and carbonated water. Different ratios of wine and carbonated water are named with various slang terms, depending on the region. "Pola pola" is also known as "litra i voda", as well as "Litar-litar" and "Gemišt".
Switzerland
In Switzerland, and more particularly in Valais, a half & half is a mixture of dry and sweet liquor of the same fruit. In the canton of Geneva, a "moitié-moitié" generally refers to a digestif containing one half Williamine liqueur and one half Williamine eau-de-vie. In the canton of Ticino, a mezz e mezz refers to a mixture of one half local Merlot wine and one half gazosa.
Uruguay
In Uruguay there's a beverage called "Medio y Medio" that consists of sweet sparkling wine and dry white wine in equal parts. "Medio y medio" comes in Red, Rosé and White varieties, the latter being the original and most popular. It is massively consumed during the holidays but it can be found in certain places throughout the year as well. The most common "Medio y Medio" is the one produced by Roldós, a local restaurant that claims having invented the mixture. "Medio y medio" is also the name for another cocktail, made with White Vermouth and "Caña", a 35–50% alcoholic beverage distilled from sugar cane. This name, however, is used not in the majority of bars but only in the most traditional ones, probably due to the existence of Roldós' "Medio y Medio".
In Canada and the United States, half and halfalmost always refers to a light cream typically used in coffee. The name refers to the liquid's content of half milk and half cream. Its milkfat content is 12.5%. It is widely available in the United States, both in individual-serving containers and in bulk. It is also used to make ice cream. Non-fat versions of the product are also available, containing corn syrup and other ingredients.
"Half and half" or "Half-and-half" is a mixture of milk and cream, which is often used in coffee. In the United States, half and half is a common liquid product produced by dairy companies in premixed form. It was invented by William A. Boutwell of Boutwell Dairy in Lake Worth Beach, Florida, which distributed the blend regionally between 1927 and 1956. In the United States, half-and-half must contain between 10.5 and 18 percent milkfat. It is pasteurized or ultra-pasteurized, and may be homogenized. The following optional ingredients may also be used:
A milkette, is a single serving of milk or cream in or containers used for coffee and tea. They are a common condiment at coffee shops, cafeterias and on airlines in Canada and the United States. The single cup of milk is stored in a sealed plastic cup of milk or cream with long shelf life but must be refrigerated. They are sold in bulk amounts of 100s. They are usually bought for commercial use, but individual consumers can purchase bulk orders.
Food
In Wales, a half and half is commonly understood to be a side dish of half chips and half rice. A typical order might be "chicken curry half and half" or "chili con carne half and half". In the Netherlands, "half om half gehakt" is commonly used for mixed minced meat, made of equal amounts of beef and pork. The term "Gehacktes halb und halb" is used in Germany, also referring to minced meat. In Switzerland, Moitié-moitié refers to a cheese fondue made with half Gruyère and half Vacherin Fribourgeois. In the United States, a half and half pizza is prepared with different toppings on each side of the pizza.
