We learn more about condensed milk—which has become an integral part of cuisine in many places around the globe—and offer a Vietnamese iced coffee recipe.
As a person of Southeast Asian descent, I grew up seeing condensed milk as an everyday ingredient—a pantry staple that could be used in a multitude of ways. Throughout my parents’ home country, the Philippines—as well as other Southeast Asian countries like Vietnam and Cambodia—condensed milk is a common addition to both food dishes and beverages. Ever had Vietnamese iced coffee? If so, you know that the sweet, syrupy taste of condensed milk serves as the perfect counterpoint to the smokiness of dark-roast robusta coffee, creating a bold beverage that packs as much of a punch with flavor as it does with caffeine.
To most, it’s a bit of a mystery how condensed milk, an American invention, came to be such an integral aspect of Southeast Asian cuisine and the global culinary world at large. Today, we’ll trace the history of condensed milk, the ways in which it’s used around the world, and how you can incorporate condensed milk into coffee beverages at home.
The Origins of Condensed Milk
Canned condensed milk was first invented in the 1850s by an American newspaper publisher and inventor named Gail Borden. At the time, refrigeration was nearly nonexistent. An alternative to fresh milk was needed—especially for parents looking for safe ways to feed their infants. In fact, the invention of canned milk led to a significant drop in infant mortality in the United States.
Throughout the last few decades of the 1800s, canned milk would become a major product in the Western world. In the 1900s, it became known as a wartime food, serving as a go-to amongst soldiers who needed portable, calorie-packed foods during World Wars I and II. Canned milk would then gradually make its way around the globe, becoming especially useful throughout Southeast Asia and other regions that had little access to fresh milk.
Different Uses of Condensed Milk
In Southeast Asia alone, condensed milk is used in a variety of ways—in baked goods, ice cream, shaved ice, and more. You can find condensed milk in both Vietnamese and Cambodian iced coffee. They both use dark-roasted coffee and, at times, other spices like chicory, cloves, and cardamom. You’ll also see condensed milk in regions outside of Asia: Scotland, Brazil, and the United Kingdom, for example, all use condensed milk in a variety of candies and desserts.
Recipe: Traditional Cà Phê Sua Dá
Want to try making cà phê sua dá (Vietnamese iced coffee) at home? All you’ll need is some dark-roast coffee, condensed milk, and ice. I recommend brewing your coffee the traditional way, in a phin filter.
A phin filter consists of three parts: the body (the main cylinder-shaped centerpiece where the coffee grounds go), the filter disk (which goes into the body and lies on top of the grounds), and the lid (which keeps the coffee from losing heat while brewing).
Ingredients:
1-1.5 tablespoons of dark-roast coffee (Traditional cà phê sua dá recipes typically use Café du Monde coffee, but we love Portland Cà Phê’s selection of coffees, which founder and owner Kim Dam sources from Vietnam and roasts herself in PDX.)
2 teaspoons condensed milk (adjust to taste)
1 cup boiling water
Directions:
Preheat your filter by pouring a bit of hot water through it.
Place your filter above your mug/cup and remove the metal filter disk to place your coffee grounds into the body.
Place the filter disk back on top of the coffee grounds, gently pressing down.
Pour in your boiling water until the filter is filled. Place the lid on top of the filter and let the coffee brew until all of the water has dripped down through the filter.
Stir your condensed milk into your coffee and top it with crushed ice. You can also leave the ice out if you prefer to drink your Vietnamese coffee hot.
Condensed Milk Today
Many cafés like Portland Cà Phê are honoring the historical and cultural significance of condensed milk by incorporating it into café beverages. Today, the ingredient remains a long-standing part of the food and beverage world. It’s a reminder that what we consume today is influenced by centuries of invention and trade.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Emily Joy Meneses (she/they) is a writer and musician based in Los Angeles. Her hobbies include foraging, cortados, vintage synths, and connecting with her Filipino roots through music, art, food, and beverage.
This thick liquid is used to make a variety of desserts, including pie, laddu, barfi, payasam, fudge. Condensed milk lends sweet meals a rich, milky flavor while also serving as a binder by binding components together with its gooey consistency. For homes without access to fresh milk, condensed milk is also helpful.
This well-loved dairy product was first introduced by French confectioner and chef Nicolas Appert. He founded the first canning factory in 1804 and produced condensed milk for the first time in 1827.
The theme of the story is survival, especially emotional survival, as the prisoners try to find anything that keeps their spirit from dying along with their overworked and underfed bodies.
Condensed milk has a unique history in Vietnam. Coffee was introduced to the country by the French colonists during the 19th century, and the French also brought condensed milk to Vietnam as they were unable to transport fresh milk.
Condensed milk, also known as sweetened condensed milk, is regular cow's milk that has been concentrated and sweetened with sugar. (Unsweetened condensed milk is simply called evaporated milk.) Once the milk is pasteurized, it's piped into an evaporator, where it's concentrated.
Due to the sugar addition, condensed milk is more durable than evaporated milk. The benefits of regular milk are boosted in condensed milk since it contains more sugar. Condensed milk is a good source of these nutrients in addition to calcium, vitamin D, vitamin B12, vitamin A, riboflavin, phosphorus, and protein.
Condensed milk has about 10%–12% fat and 36% total solids. The milk is initially heated at a low temperature, close to pasteurization temperature, and then subjected to evaporation under partial vacuum (at about 5°C). After treatment, thermoduric microorganisms can survive that subsequently can grow and cause spoilage.
The thick syrup contributes both the sweetness of sugar and the benefits of milk without adding too much liquid since condensing milk removes moisture and concentrates the natural sugars. These sugars then take on toasty notes as they warm up and bake in the dessert.
The theme of a story is the underlying message or concept that the author is trying to convey to the reader. The theme of a story is generally an opinion the writer wants to convey through their storytelling.
Theme is the main or central idea in a literary work. It is the unifying element of a story. A theme is not a summary of characters or events. Rather, it is the controlling idea or central insight of the story.
The conflict is between the narrator and protagonist, a prisoner of forced labor in a Soviet gulag, and Shestakov, a fellow prisoner who has been given a more comfortable job. Shestakov offers a plan of escape, which the protagonist deduces is intended to fail.
At the time, refrigeration was nearly nonexistent. An alternative to fresh milk was needed—especially for parents looking for safe ways to feed their infants. In fact, the invention of canned milk led to a significant drop in infant mortality in the United States.
Gail Borden Jr first condensed milk in 1853 in an attempt to create a milk product that was shelf stable. He opened 2 factories to produce his product, but both ultimately failed, and it wasn't until the 3rd factory opened in 1864 that his condensed milk, sold under the name Eagle Brand, caught on.
Highlander condensed milk was made at a plant at Wallacetown from 1892 until 1964, when production was transferred to Auckland. At a time when most New Zealanders took pride in being part of the British Empire, 'British' could refer to New Zealand as well as to the UK.
Due to the sugar addition, condensed milk is more durable than evaporated milk. The benefits of regular milk are boosted in condensed milk since it contains more sugar. Condensed milk is a good source of these nutrients in addition to calcium, vitamin D, vitamin B12, vitamin A, riboflavin, phosphorus, and protein.
Condensed milk is often used as a coffee cream, but purpose-made coffee creams are not sweetened and contain more fat (10%–20%). They are frequently sterilized and retailed in portion packs.
Today, we'll trace the history of condensed milk, the ways in which it's used around the world, and how you can incorporate condensed milk into coffee beverages at home. Traditional Vietnamese iced coffee uses condensed milk to balance the bold, smoky flavor of dark-roast robusta coffee.
Introduction: My name is Kareem Mueller DO, I am a vivacious, super, thoughtful, excited, handsome, beautiful, combative person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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