Milo dinosaur orMilo tabur is a Malaysian/Singaporean beverage, composed of a cup of icedMilo (a chocolate malt beverage) with undissolved Milo powder added on top of it.
According to a reporter forThe New Paper, the "dinosaur" in the beverage's name on its own means "[a] heap of Milo orHorlicks powder on the iced drink".[1]
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.[3] Malaysia is also home to the world's biggest Milo factory.[4] Milo Dinosaur is considered Malaysia's and Singapore's joint colonial legacy.
Milo Dinosaur is also known as "ta-chiu",[5] The drink is made by adding a generous amount of undissolved Milo powder to a cup of icedMilo.[6] The amount of powder added can be excessive[7][8] or as little as a spoonful.[9] 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/orwhipped cream.[10][11]
In Hong Kong, Milo Dinosaur is often served as a Malaysian speciality while in Australia, the land where Milo originated from, it is simply the way cold Milo is prepared.[3]
Typically sold atMamak stalls,[12] Milo dinosaur can be accompanied withroti canai/roti prata.[13][14] The beverage is considered to be inexpensive in Singapore; As of 2013[update], its pricing ranges fromS$3[15] to S$3.50.[16] The name of the beverage is one of the terms to be guessed in the Singaporean version of the popular board game,Taboo.[17] Milo Dinosaur inspired the creation of "Godzilla Milo", a cupcake sold at a Singapore-based pastry store.[18] According to oneTaiwan-based beverage store offering the drink, it is a "super popular" crowd-pleaser for the younger generation.[19] Milo Dinosaur is also prominent inMalaysia.[20][21]
