Milo dinosaur

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Milo dinosaur, Milo shake
Cup of Milo Dinosaur June 29, 2013.jpg
Milo dinosaur in Singapore
TypeCold chocolate malt beverage/dessert
CourseDrink
Place of originMalaysia[1][2] and Singapore[3][4]
Region or stateMalaysia and Singapore
Associated national cuisineMalaysian[1][2] and Singapore[3][5]
Serving temperatureCold
Main ingredientsMilo

A Milo dinosaur is a chocolate malt–based beverage most commonly found in mamak stalls, kopitiams and hawker centres in both Singapore and Malaysia, composed of a cup of iced Milo (a chocolate malt beverage) with undissolved Milo powder added on top of it. It is usually served cold to prevent the powder from immediately dissolving in the drink.[5]

Etymology[]

According to a reporter for Singaporean newspaper The New Paper, the "dinosaur" in the beverage's name on its own means "[a] heap of Milo or Horlicks powder on the iced drink".[6]

History and preparation[]

The drink has its shared history of being widely known among Singaporeans and Malaysians. A similarly drink known as Milo Shake was being served in Malaysian roadside stalls and Singaporean hawker centers by the mid-1990s. It is claimed that in 2004 that Milo Shake started to be more chocolatey and creamy than the normal Milo Shake and took the form of the current Milo Dinosaur. Initially, Milo was marketed in British Malaya from the mid-1930s as a convenient ‘fortified tonic food’ for middle-class individuals. At the present time, Malaysia has the world’s highest per capita consumption of Milo.[1] The region is also home to the world’s biggest Milo factory.[2] Milo Dinosaur is considered Malaysia's and Singapore's joint legacy.

Milo Dinosaur is also known as "ta-chiu" by some Singaporeans,[3] The drink is made by adding a generous amount of undissolved Milo powder to a cup of iced Milo.[7] The amount of powder added can be excessive or as little as a spoonful.[8][9][10]

A variant similar to an ice cream float, which is called "Milo Godzilla", comprises a cup or glass of milo dinosaur augmented with a scoop of frozen vanilla flavoured milk ice-cream and/or a twist of cream finely whipped with sugar to the point of emulsification. This however is not as commonly sold as the common variant as it is more classified as a dessert instead of a beverage.

Cultural impact[]

In Hong Kong, Milo Dinosaur is often served as a Malaysian and Singaporean specialty while in Australia, the land where Milo originated from, it is known as either a Malaysian and Singapore-style beverage.[1]

It is typically sold at Hawker centres.[11][12][13] The beverage is considered to be inexpensive in Singapore; As of 2020, its pricing ranges from S$4.50 to S$5.[14][15] The name of the beverage is one of the terms to be guessed in the Singaporean version of the popular board game, Taboo.[16] Milo Dinosaur inspired the creation of "Godzilla Milo", a cupcake sold at a Singapore-based pastry store.[17] According to one Taiwan-based beverage store offering the drink, it is a "super popular" crowd-pleaser for the younger generation.[18]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b c d "Milo Dinosaur: When Southeast Asia's Cultural Heritage Meets Nestlé" (PDF). Yusof Issak Institute. 2019. Retrieved 5 June 2021.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b c "FAR FROM EXTINCT? A HISTORY OF THE "MILO DINOSAUR" IN SINGAPORE" (PDF). Retrieved 8 June 2021.
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b c Luo, Serene (21 August 2006). "RACK YOUR BRAINS". The Straits Times. [...] milo-dinosaur, milo-godzilla, ta-chiu, and I have drunk and loved them all.
  4. ^ Bonny Tan (2013). "Milo dinosaur". National Library Board. Retrieved 30 August 2016.
  5. ^ Jump up to: a b Denise Chia (2014). "Milo Dinosaur: Uniquely Singapore". The Smart Local. Retrieved 29 November 2020.
  6. ^ "Kopi kia gave me winning 4-D numbers". The New Paper. 2 April 2013. Archived from the original on 7 November 2017. Retrieved 26 June 2013.
  7. ^ Kaur, Balli (18 November 2009). "Singapore's 5 best breakfast sets". CNN. Archived from the original on 5 September 2013. Retrieved 26 June 2013.
  8. ^ Leo, Francis (2012). Migration and Diversity in Asian Contexts. Institute of Southeast Asian Studies. pp. 218–. ISBN 9789814380478.
  9. ^ Travel Singapore: Illustrated Travel Guide, Phrasebook, and Maps. MobileReference. 2007. pp. 332–. ISBN 9781605010151.
  10. ^ Choudhary, P.S. (2009). Encyclopaedia Of Southeast Asia And Its Tribes. Anmol. pp. 197–. ISBN 9788126138371.
  11. ^ Chen, Jingwen (2 March 2012). "Tea and coffee worth the long wait at award-winning Mr Teh Tarik". AsiaOne. Archived from the original on 9 May 2012. Retrieved 27 June 2013.
  12. ^ "Prata charms locals and foreigners alike". AsiaOne. 13 August 2011. Archived from the original on 28 June 2013.
  13. ^ "Expat kids give top votes to local book". AsiaOne. 27 March 2010. Archived from the original on 20 March 2014. Retrieved 27 June 2013.
  14. ^ Sim, Walter (22 December 2012). "Under $7 eats at Orchard Road". AsiaOne. Archived from the original on 11 June 2013. Retrieved 26 June 2013.
  15. ^ "Cold Milo Dinosaur". Casuarina Curry. Archived from the original on 20 March 2014. Retrieved 26 June 2013.
  16. ^ "Card game plays on S'poreans' favourite expressions". AsiaOne. 8 November 2011. Archived from the original on 20 March 2014. Retrieved 26 June 2013.
  17. ^ Yeoh, Wee Teck (10 August 2012). "Continue celebrating National Day at restaurants and hotels". AsiaOne. Archived from the original on 12 August 2012. Retrieved 27 June 2013.
  18. ^ Chien, Leanne (17 March 2011). "The Ultra-popular Beverages in Singapore – Milo Dinosaur and OREO Smoothie". TraNews. Taiwan. Archived from the original on 20 March 2014. Retrieved 27 June 2013.
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