Milo dinosaur

Milo dinosaur, Milo shake
TypeCold chocolate beverage
FlavourSweet chocolate beverage
Ingredients

Milo dinosaur or Milo tabur is a Malaysian/Singaporean beverage, composed of a cup of iced Milo (a chocolate malt beverage) with undissolved Milo powder added on top of it.

Etymology

[edit]

According to a reporter for 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".[1]

History and preparation

[edit]

The origin of Milo dinosaur is disputed. A drink, known as Milo shake, was being served in Malaysian roadside stalls in the mid-1990s. Vendors in Singapore say that the Malaysian shake is not as chocolatey and creamy as the Milo dinosaur. Initially, Milo was marketed in British Malaya from the mid-1930s as a convenient ‘fortified tonic food’ for middle-class individuals. At present, Malaysia has the world's highest per capita consumption of Milo.[2] Malaysia is also home to the world's biggest Milo factory.[3] Milo Dinosaur is considered Malaysia's and Singapore's joint colonial legacy.

Milo Dinosaur is also known as "ta-chiu",[4] The drink is made by adding a generous amount of undissolved Milo powder to a cup of iced Milo.[5] The amount of powder added can be excessive[6][7] or as little as a spoonful.[8] The drink is common in Malaysia and Singapore.

A variant, "Milo Godzilla", comprises a cup of milo dinosaur augmented with a scoop of ice-cream and/or whipped cream.[9][10]

Cultural impact

[edit]

In Hong Kong, Milo Dinosaur is often served as a Malaysian speciality while in Australia, the land where Milo originated from, it is known as either a Malaysian and Singapore-style beverage.[2]

Typically sold at Mamak stalls,[11] Milo dinosaur can be accompanied with roti prata.[12][13] The beverage is considered to be inexpensive in Singapore; As of 2013, its pricing ranges from S$3[14] to S$3.50.[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] Milo Dinosaur is also prominent in Malaysia.[19][20]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "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.
  2. ^ a b "Milo Dinosaur: When Southeast Asia's Cultural Heritage Meets Nestlé" (PDF). Yusof Issak Institute. 2019. Retrieved 5 June 2021.
  3. ^ "FAR FROM EXTINCT? A HISTORY OF THE "MILO DINOSAUR" IN SINGAPORE" (PDF). Retrieved 8 June 2021.
  4. ^ 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.
  5. ^ Kaur, Balli (18 November 2009). "Singapore's 5 best breakfast sets". CNN. Archived from the original on 5 September 2013. Retrieved 26 June 2013.
  6. ^ Travel Singapore: Illustrated Travel Guide, Phrasebook, and Maps. MobileReference. 2007. pp. 332–. ISBN 9781605010151.
  7. ^ Choudhary, P.S. (2009). Encyclopaedia Of Southeast Asia And Its Tribes. Anmol. pp. 197–. ISBN 9788126138371.
  8. ^ Leo, Francis (2012). Migration and Diversity in Asian Contexts. Institute of Southeast Asian Studies. pp. 218–. ISBN 9789814380478.
  9. ^ Abu Baker, Jalelah (16 March 2015). "Milo under the spotlight after fake products seized in Malaysia: 10 facts about Milo | The Straits Times". www.straitstimes.com. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
  10. ^ Khor, Samantha (31 March 2016). "'Milo Tower' Needs To Be A Thing At Our Local Mamaks RIGHT NOW". SAYS. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
  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.
  19. ^ "Nestle charting an incredible journey". The Star. 26 March 2012. Archived from the original on 28 June 2013.
  20. ^ "Pretty Murni Draws The Crowds". Free Malaysia Today. 17 June 2011. Archived from the original on 25 August 2011. Retrieved 27 June 2013.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Milo_dinosaur&oldid=1213681650"