If they talk to you about banana milk or banana milk, does it sound like Chinese to you? Well, rather it would have to sound like Korean to you because it is from Korea that this new food trend comes from that has crossed borders and has all the points to become the new Instagram fad (will it unseat celery juice, the supposed miracle drink?) .
And because? Well, because it adds an extra flavor to traditional milk, it is an alternative to vegetable milks and you can make it yourself both with cow's milk and with other ingredients that are not of animal origin if you want it to be a vegan recipe.
A drink with a lot of history behind
It all started in the 1970s, when the Korean government decided to promote the consumption of milk to improve the health of the population. But cow's milk was not something that was part of Korean culture and most people passed by because they found it bland and unappetizing. However, everything changed when in 1974 a Korean company, Binggrae, decided to add a little banana to the milk to make it more palatable.
The choice of banana had not been random. As it is an exotic fruit, not very accessible and expensive for the Korean population, everyone wanted to try it. A hook that, together with the idea of bottling it in conical containers inspired by traditional Korean vases - and that allowed us to see their color (more attractive and visually striking than dry milk) -, made it an overwhelming success and with the time has almost reached the category of object of worship.
The initiative was so successful that it not only became popular in Korea but, little by little, it spread to nearby countries (China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Thailand, Malaysia or Cambodia) and others further afield such as New Zealand, Canada or United States, where he has a legion of followers. Other flavors were added: strawberry and melon. And it became an icon that is used to decorate everything from mobile cases to fun bags (both can be found on Amazon), and an icon that manga fans have rushed to adopt.
And where can it be found?
Well, the truth is that, at the moment, it is not marketed in Spain and they do not send it either. But we have good news. You can make it yourself and thus, rebound, you control what you put and avoid further processing (apart from contributing to not using so many disposable plastic containers, declared enemies of the environment).
How to make banana milk
To make your own banana milk, you have two options, one with cow's milk (the traditional one), and one 100% vegetable (the vegan) in case you are lactose intolerant or do not want to consume milk or any product of animal origin.
Traditional banana milk recipe
- You need: half a banana for every 100 ml of milk (skimmed if you want to lose weight), and to sweeten a little more a pinch of cinnamon since the banana is already sweet in itself, and in this way you avoid adding sugar, one of those responsible that food hooks.
- How to do it. Put the milk and the chopped banana in the mixer or blender. Beat it well until it is well mixed and with a liquid consistency. And if you want, you can add cinnamon to taste. But it is not essential at all.
Vegan banana milk recipe
- You need: two bananas for every liter of water, a little vanilla essence (not vanilla sugar), if you want, three or four dates (in the United States there is a very popular vegan banana milk that uses sunflower seeds instead of dates) , and some ice if you want it to be like a cool shake.
- How to do it. Put everything in the blender or food processor, and beat it well until it is liquid and well mixed. If you want to make it easier for you, you can chop the banana first and hydrate the dates in water for a while and cut them small before adding them to the rest of the ingredients.
Cover photo: The Health Shack Shoreham
