Milo dinosaur facts for kids
Milo dinosaur in Singapore
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| Type | Cold chocolate malt beverage/dessert |
|---|---|
| Course | Drink |
| Place of origin | Malaysia and Singapore |
| Region or state | Malaysia and Singapore |
| Associated national cuisine | Malaysian and Singapore |
| Serving temperature | Cold |
| Main ingredients | Milo |
A Milo dinosaur is a Malaysian-Singaporean chocolate malt–based beverage most commonly found in Mamak stall, kopitiam and hawker centres, 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.
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".
History and preparation
The origin of Milo Dinasour is in Malaysia. A similarly drink known as Milo Shake was being served in Malaysian roadside stalls 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 Dinasour. 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. Malaysia is also home to the world’s biggest Milo factory. Milo Dinosaur is considered Malaysia's and Singapore’s joint colonial legacy.
Milo Dinansour is also known as "ta-chiu" by some Singaporeans, The drink is made by adding a generous amount of undissolved Milo powder to a cup of iced Milo. The amount of powder added can be excessive or as little as a spoonful.
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 Dinasour 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.
It is typically sold at Hawker centres. The beverage is considered to be inexpensive in Singapore; As of 2020[update], its pricing ranges from S$4.50 to S$5. The name of the beverage is one of the terms to be guessed in the Singaporean version of the popular board game, Taboo. Milo Dinosaur inspired the creation of "Godzilla Milo", a cupcake sold at a Singapore-based pastry store. According to one Taiwan-based beverage store offering the drink, it is a "super popular" crowd-pleaser for the younger generation.
