Discover Korean Banana Milk

Have you heard of Banana Milk? Banana Milk is a banana-flavored milk product first created in South Korea and now sold in many countries. Today we will see curiosities, origin, and history about this Korean drink.

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Natural Banana Milk

It is worth mentioning that there is also plant-based banana milk that does not contain milk in its composition. Banana Milk can be made from just ripe bananas, water, and other optional ingredients, such as coconut milk, sugar, or powdered milk.

It has a pale yellow color and a sweet and mild banana flavor. It is a vegan or lactose-free alternative to cow’s milk and can be used similarly in culinary recipes.

The history of banana milk is unknown, but it is likely that it was developed a long time ago in regions where bananas are grown.

Binggrae’s Banana Milk

Binggrae’s Banana Milk was first produced in 1974 and has never left the top of sales, with an average of 800,000 units sold per day. It was the first unique milk product to surpass 100 billion won in sales and profits.

The history of Banana Milk is surprising; in the 1960s, the South Korean government sought to increase milk consumption in the country, but milk was rare and expensive, and many children experienced stomach pain when consuming it.

So, Binggrae launched Banana Milk, a processed milk with a banana flavor, which was very successful among children and students, as bananas were a rare and expensive fruit in South Korea.

A curious fact is that at launch, Banana Milk did not contain banana in the mix, but rather a mixture of vanilla extract and other ingredients. Nowadays, the product is required to contain 1% banana in its composition.

The product is so famous that during the Asian Financial Crisis of 1997, Binggrae managed to increase Banana Milk sales by launching low-priced sales packages.

The packaging of Banana Milk is known for being easy to carry and for its iconic design, comparable to the iconic Coca-Cola bottle. Its design was inspired by moon jars called Moon Jar, traditional in Korea.

Alternatives to Banana Milk

In addition to the original banana milk flavor, there are other flavors available such as: chocolate, vanilla, caramel, strawberry, and other fruity flavors.

There are other products similar to Binggrae’s banana milk. These include other brands and varieties of banana milk, as well as other flavored plant-based drinks. Some include:

• Banana almond milk: It is a plant-based drink made with almond water and banana flavor.
• Banana coconut milk: It is a plant-based drink made with coconut water and banana flavor.
• Banana soy milk: It is a plant-based drink made with soy milk and banana flavor.
• Banana smoothie drinks: These drinks are usually made with a mix of fruits and vegetables and may contain milk, plant-based milk, or water as a base.

There are other brands that produce Korean banana milk besides Binggrae. Due to exclusivity, there are changes in composition, name, or packaging. Some of the brands include:

• Lotte: One of the largest food and beverage companies in South Korea.
• Namyang: One of the leading dairy companies in South Korea.
• Maeil: Another large dairy company in South Korea.
• Paldo: One of the largest food and beverage manufacturers in South Korea.
• Vitasoy: A Hong Kong company that manufactures plant-based drinks.

Banana Allergy Monkey

Oh My Girl is a South Korean band formed in 2015 by WM Entertainment, the group consists of 8 members and “Banana Allergy Monkey” is one of the hit songs of their career.

The name and lyrics of the song have a relation to banana milk, and even make use of a play on words in Korean “Banana” and “Allergy” relating to the joy of drinking Banana Milk.

The song is a romantic comedy and is an example of how banana milk is popular and recognized in Korean culture and how it is used as a reference in Kpop music.

Where to buy Korean Banana Milk?

Korean Banana Milk can be found in convenience stores, supermarkets, shops, and commercial areas specializing in Korean products, usually in countries with Korean communities.

If you do not live near a Korean community, there are some options to buy Korean banana milk online, but this may vary depending on your location. Some options include:

• e-commerce websites specializing in Korean or Asian products.
• Resale websites, such as Amazon and eBay, where you can find sellers importing Korean banana milk from Asian countries.
• Binggrae’s official website.
• Websites like Tiendamia, Aliexpress, and GMarket;

It is important to note that availability and prices may vary depending on your location, and in some cases, it may be necessary to pay additional import and shipping fees.