Condensed Milk – which is the best brand?

Since my article on the best evaporated milk brands, we’ve been getting questions asking for the best condensed milk brands.

So, this round, we put some of the most common condensed milk products to the test.

Take note that this was not a scientific experiment, everything written below is based on our opinion.

Also, taste is subjective; there is no ‘perfect’ recipe. You should be open to tweaking your kopi recipes to your own liking.

P.S. Alliance Coffee serves local kopi and teh as part of our traditional kopi cart service.

Our Condensed Milk Taste Test

In this test, we look out for the following characteristics in a condensed milk product:

• Body: It should taste ‘thick’ and provide body to the final drink.
• Taste: Condensed milk is basically a sweetener, but we ideally want one that also provides a milky taste.

How we ran the test

6 different condensed milk products were purchased at the nearest supermarket.

Two rounds of tasting were done, focusing on different purposes;

1. Condensed milk taste test – we tasted the condensed milk on its own
2. Beverage taste test – we tasted kopi and teh assembled using the different condensed milk products

Condensed Milk brands used

Fairprice Full Cream Sweetened Condensed Milk
Ingredients: Sugar, Water, Milk Solids, Anhydrous Milk Fat, Vitamins (A, B1, D3)

Marigold Dawn Sweetened Beverage Creamer
Ingredients: Sugar, Milk Solids, Vegetable Fat, Stabiliser, Vitamins (A, B1, D3)

Lady General Full Cream Condensed Milk
Ingredients: Sugar, Milk Solids, Milk Fat, Vitamins (A, B1, D3)

Teapot Sweetened Creamer
Ingredients: Sugar, Milk Solids, Refined Palm Oil and Stabilisers

F&N Sweetened Creamer
Ingredients: Sugar, Milk Solids, Refined Palm Oil and Stabilisers.

Milkmaid Full Cream Sweetened Condensed Milk
Ingredients: Sugar, Milk Solids, Milk Fat, Vitamins (A, B1, D3)

Quick Note:

• Processed milk labelled as ‘creamer’ tends to contain a variety of vegetable oils and the addition of stabilisers,
• Those labelled as ‘condensed milk’ contain milk fat instead of vegetable fat,
• Vitamins A, B1 and D3 are commonly added.

We also noticed a slight difference in the flow rate when pouring; holes on cans were around the same size.

(Not in video) Those labelled as ‘Creamer’ tend to (kind of) thicken after being stored in the fridge (4°C), they have a goopy texture. If storing in the fridge, use a container with a mouth that’s easily accessible.

However, Sweetened Creamers and Condensed milk tend to be used interchangeably in many local coffee shops. Two popular brands we have noticed in coffee shops are F&N’s Sweetened Creamer and Marigold’s Dawn Sweetened Creamer. Side note #2, sweetened creamers come at a lower cost.

Discloser: we use the Marigold Dawn Sweetened Beverage Creamer to brew drinks at our traditional kopi cart service.

Taste Taste Part I: Condensed Milk

First, we tasted the condensed milk, straight from the can.

In a nutshell:

What we think

Fairprice Full Cream Sweetened Condensed Milk
Light caramel sweetness, medium body.
Milk taste isn’t very noticeable.

Marigold Dawn Sweetened Beverage Creamer
Caramel sweetness, medium body, slight toffee-like aftertaste.
Noticeable milky-ness.

Lady General Full Cream Condensed Milk
Caramel sweetness, good body, good amount of milky-ness.

Teapot Sweetened Creamer
Good level of sweetness, slight dark caramel taste with a tannic finish.

F&N Sweetened Creamer
Caramel sweetness, medium body,
slight creamy perception, noticeable milky-ness.

Milkmaid Full Cream Sweetened Condensed Milk
Caramel sweetness, thick body, good amount of milky-ness, creamy perception.

Best condensed milk? From the can, Milkmaid definitely wins.

Also noteworthy is that Fairprice, Marigold Dawn and F&N taste very similar, except for their aftertaste.

p.s. Milkmaid also makes the best caramel drizzle (some use it as Dulce de Leche).

Taste Test Part II: lim kopi

We brewed a range of beverages (namely, kopi, kopi c, teh, teh C), using different condensed milks.

Drinks in the same category were brewed using the same concentrate, in a single seating.

Our drink recipes are shared here.

In this part of the test, we tasted the assembled beverages and compared the differences.  

Fairprice Full Cream Sweetened Condensed Milk
Drinks may taste a little ‘thin’, acceptable if drunk without comparison.

Marigold Dawn Sweetened Beverage Creamer
Makes a balanced Kopi and Teh. Milk doesn’t overpower the taste of kopi.
Milo may feel a little ‘thin’ with this, increase the dose of creamer.

Lady General Full Cream Condensed Milk
Makes kopi and teh that feel more ‘gao’.
Sweetness can overpower the kopi or teh,
start with more kopi/teh concentrate if brewing with this.
Makes a good Milo, less sweet and thick compared to Milkmaid.

Teapot Sweetened Creamer
Helps to cover bitterness from kopi. Drinks may taste a little ‘thin’, with a dry astringent aftertaste.
Not the best option to brew Milo with.

F&N Sweetened Creamer
Makes a balanced Kopi and Teh. Milk doesn’t overpower the taste of kopi.
Milo may feel a little ‘thin’ with this; increase the dose of creamer.

Milkmaid Full Cream Sweetened Condensed Milk
Milk comes through in the kopi or teh, reduce the dose for more balance.
This helps to cover up bitterness, good for those with a sweet tooth.
Makes a sweet, thick, and overall satisfying cup of Milo. (Best option if brewing Milo)

Best Condensed Milk?

Disclaimer: taste is subjective; you are welcome to share your thoughts in the comments below if there are brands we didn’t cover.

In our opinion, the F&N and Marigold Dawn Creamers are tied for the top spot.

On their own, they were average, but in the final kopi drink, they helped to bring out the best features of the kopi – good body, average sweetness, ability to cut through the kopi concentrate without overpowering it, and an overall balanced drink. Plus, they are versatile enough to be enjoyed with our tea dust and even in our Milo drinks.

Milkmaid was great on its own; however, the resultant kopi was a little too sweet. If you’re using our recipes, you may want to reduce the amount used.

Some common questions we get

Can I use fresh milk instead of condensed milk?

Yes, you can.

Do note that condensed milk has a thicker body, which contributes to how thick or ‘gao’ your final drink is. If using fresh milk, expect a kopi that tastes ‘thinner’ (not diluted, but thinner).

We’ve also noticed that fresh milk does not seem to cut through the kopi concentrate as well. You will need to tweak the recipe to your preference.

Can I use coconut condensed milk?

We have not tried it, but yes, you can. Tweak your recipe accordingly.

More?

You could be here because you want to brew kopi at home. If so, here are some resources that you may find useful:

• Guide: How to brew kopi (3 ways)
• Best Evaporated Milk Brand
• Kopi Recipes: How to brew Kopi O, Kopi and Kopi C
• Buy Kopi

Cheers! ☕