Learn about popular Korean banana milk and make it at home following my easy banana milk recipe!
When I was a child, I went nuts about banana milk. I definitely was one of those kids who didn’t like the regular “white milk”. But I could drink any flavored milk, particularly banana milk, non-stop.
I loved the flavor so much. You see, banana was a luxury food when I was a child. (So was the milk!)
I also particularly loved the banana milk container, which resembles Korean earthenware – hangari, where you store gochujang and kimchi etc. It was just perfect for my little hands to grip. I felt richer when I was holding on to it! Lol.
Anyway, Korean banana milk has been around for more than 40 years now. And, if you’re an avid K-pop fan, I’m sure you’ve seen Korean idols drink it on TV a lot. So what’s the deal? Here goes.
What is Korean Banana Milk?
In essence, Korean banana milk (banana uyu, 바나나 우유) is banana flavored milk. It was first introduced in 1974 by Binggrae and it’s been a steady seller ever since.
Binggrae banana milk contains 85% milk, purified water, sugar, 0.32% banana juice concentrate, carotene, artificial flavors – banana and vanilla. This composition may differ if it is made for export as each countries customs regulations are different. Also, they may have to be adapted for international shipping.
There are other banana flavored milks in Korea and each brand’s ingredients vary. But by far, the most popular banana milk is made by Binggrae. (FYI, If Binggrae sounds familiar, it is also famous for melona – Korean honeydew melon ice pops.)
What does Korean Banana Milk Taste Like?
Like banana? Duh! But you may also taste a subtle vanilla taste too.
Where to get Korean Banana Milk
Check your local Korean grocers! You might be able to find it if you’re very lucky. Not all Korean grocers sell this. Even I couldn’t get it!
My local Korean grocer owner told me that it was due to the strict Australian customs regulations. In case you’re wondering, the above picture was taken by my sister in Korea at my request. 😁
You can also find it on the Amazon US store too. (The container and listed ingredients are different here.)
If all fails, try it when you visit Korea next time. Of course, you can always make a healthier version of it at home using my recipe below. 😉
Other Korean Drinks You Might Like
- Korean Strawberry Milk
- Sweet Potato Latte (without coffee)
- Dalgona Coffee (Whipped Coffee)
Ingredients for Banana Milk
- 1 ripe banana, sliced or broken into pieces
- 1/2 cup regular milk
- 1/2 cup water
- 1 Tbsp maple syrup
- A small drop of pure vanilla extract
*1 Tbsp = 15 ml, 1 Cup = 250 ml
How to Make Korean Banana Milk
Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth and has milk like consistency. Serve immediately.
Storing Homemade Banana Milk
It is best to consume the milk immediately as you will notice the separation and discoloration as time goes by. But if you must store it for later, refrigeration for up to 2 days is OK. Just shake the milk very well before you drink it.
Ingredients Variation Tips
- To go dairy free, replace 1/2 cup milk with water instead. Alternatively, you could use almond milk, but I personally didn’t think the flavor mingled well together.
- If you decide to omit the water and add more regular milk, you will end up with a banana smoothie. (A lot thicker texture.) I find that 1/2 milk and 1/2 water produces the sweet spot consistency.
- You can use honey instead of maple syrup, but I preferred the outcome with maple syrup more. I think it gives a more smooth texture and lighter sweet flavor.
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Korean Banana Milk Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 banana (ripe), sliced or broken into pieces
- 1/2 cup milk , regular
- 1/2 cup water
- 1 Tbsp maple syrup
- A small drop pure vanilla extract
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth and has milk like consistency. Serve immediately.
Notes
Nutrition Info (per serving)
The nutrition information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
Omg I’ve always wanted to make banana milk
i use to use this exact recipe 2 years ago and i came back to it today because i missed it. its one of the best drinks ive ever made and its so simple that even i, a 14 year old boy can make it with ease. also for how sweet it is, it has pretty low calories!
me a 15 yr old girl made it too!
i even made it as a 13 yr old girl
so quick and easy, made no adjustments or changes and it tastes so good. banana milk is quite hard to find where I live, so it’s nice that I can make it from home
I doubled the liquid and used almond milk, it tasted so good to me! I probably put more vanilla than I should though 🙂
great recipie thx, i thought water with a bannana would be weird at first but as soon as i made it and tried it i was pleasantly surprised
It was really easy to make and it was delicious, really loved it ❤️❤️
This is fantastic! I don’t have to buy expensive banana milk anymore when i can make my own. I also don’t end up wasting bananas when they get ripe (I hate banana bread). This milk will go great in my coffee. Thanks so much!
It was very easy to make and it was amazing, really loved it ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
hey i m in sri lanka i m 12 years old and i will come korean and i want learn korean drinks
Soy milk substitute was good I believe.
There’s a cafe in my area that has a drink where they pair cold brew coffee with banana milk. It sounds unusual, but the drink is actually so good because the sweetness of the banana cuts the acidity of the cold brew. However, it’s a bit pricey, so I decided to try out this banana milk recipe to recreate the drink at home. The banana milk came out perfectly, and, paired with my store bought cold brew concentrate, tasted amazing. I will be making this banana milk regularly, thank you for this recipe!
Banana milk + cold brew coffee sounds so delicious! I should try it myself. 🙂
I am trying it just because I am an bts army (from ‘ India ‘ country) and I was not knowing about the banana milk but I saw jungkook drinking it so I thought that I should try it at home (because there is no banana milk store in India) and it taste very very tasty
Now I understood that why jungkook love drinking banana milk thanks for this great recipe I loved it very much
Thanks
OOOO I’m also a 12 years old BTS army from India! And I too clicked the link for jk😁😁