Friday, November 07, 2008

Where Is My Condensed Milk?

My latest column in the Nutgraph is a little more self-indulgent, lamenting the extinction of condensed milk off our shores... sob!
Most Malaysians of my generation, or even the generation before, grew up with sweetened condensed milk (susu pekat manis) as an essential additive to our daily beverages. It was an item I could not do without when drinking kopi at my local coffee shop, making my own cup of Milo at home, or having teh tarik at my favourite mamak stall. In fact, the brand of condensed milk could often make or break the taste of your favourite drink.

But alas, sweetened condensed milk faced a slow but inevitable extinction in Malaysia sometime early last year. What all of us are consuming today, and what is available widely in all hyper- and mini-markets, is an inferior substitute called sweetened condensed creamer (krimer pekat manis). You haven't noticed? Well, now you know.
Want to find out why? Check it out at the NutGraph ;-).

10 comments:

Manature said...

Here is a can of Panda brand sweetened condensed milk for our MP who has a sweet tooth for condensed milk.

NEO said...

Malaysia only have 3 major condensed Milk Manufacturer -
Nestle, F&N and Etika Diary

Few years ago, Nestle has decided to sold the manufacturing right in M'sia and Thailand to F&N.

So, now Malaysia only left with 2 manufacturer.

As the Condensed Milk selling price is controlled by Gov, the 2 manufacturer have no choice but to reduce the manufacturing capacity in M'sia.

They prefer to increase the export capacity!

Anonymous said...

You ought to read Agagooga's take on this:

http://gssq.entori.net/writings/malaysia_quality.htm

remie said...

I shall remember to pack a few tins for you when I am next in Singapore.

Anonymous said...

not only are the condensed milk tin almost missing from the shelves... its hard to find evaporated milk too nowadays. however, evaporated creamer tins are available in abundance :(

Ummie said...

Remie's right. I've 2 get them in S'pore the M'sian made condensed milk. Mornings are not the same without them.

Anonymous said...

Condensed milk is bad for health.
Less intake the better

Yin said...

Hey Tony - I thought this was a really neat little article explaining the big economic policies in a little everyday thing everyone can relate to. Should do more of them!

Anonymous said...

Maybe Malaysian condensed milk are tainted with melamine. Its better to go for natural milk as certain MCA MP
did...:))

William said...

Good piece Tony, you make it plain and simple. That's how economy 101 to the mases ought to be. Hope we get more MP's like you in future.