What is banana milk and how is it made?

What is banana milk?

Banana milk is a drink with a banana flavor. It comes in two main forms:

• Flavored dairy milk: cow’s milk with sugar and banana flavoring or puree. The best-known example is Korean banana-flavored milk from Binggrae, launched in June 1974 and sold in a chubby, jar-shaped bottle. Korea.net describes it as about 80 percent milk with banana flavoring, created when bananas were hard to import into Korea. Other sources disagree on how much real banana or milk it contains, so check the current label.
• Plant-based banana milk: bananas blended with water, sometimes with oats or other plant ingredients, sold as a dairy alternative.

Bananas do not produce milk. The name is used the way almond milk and oat milk are used.

Does banana milk contain dairy?

Some do and some do not. Flavored banana milks are usually made from dairy and are not suitable for people who avoid milk. Plant versions are dairy-free, but check the label for added milk, as well as for allergens such as nuts or oats.

How is banana milk made?

Factory versions mix a banana ingredient or flavoring with milk or water, add sugar, stabilizers or flavor if used, then heat-treat and bottle the drink. We found no single official recipe and each brand differs.

How do I make banana milk at home?

1. Peel one ripe banana (the more brown spots, the sweeter it is).
2. Add it to a blender with about 1 cup (240 ml) of cold milk or water.
3. Blend for about 30 seconds until smooth.
4. For a thinner drink, strain it. Add a little vanilla or a pinch of cinnamon if you like.

Drink it fresh. As our own advice, if you store it, keep it covered in the refrigerator and use it within a day, since it browns and separates. Shake before pouring.

Is banana milk healthy?

Homemade banana milk with plain milk or water has the nutrients of the banana and the milk. Store-bought flavored versions can contain added sugar, so compare labels. Calcium or vitamin D are present only if the milk is dairy or the product is fortified. For dietary advice, ask a doctor or dietitian.