Badam Milk, Georgetown.

I love food, I’m a glutton, but I also have a strange mental response to some things edible. There are some things that I just cannot bring myself taste, mental block style.

In January F and I ate our way around Georgetown, Penang. One evening during a 2nd dinner of Tandoori Chicken and average Naan I noticed a cart outside, attached to the restaurant and selling hot milk drinks. Two pots bubbled on hobs, one with pure white milk, the other was more popular and full of a sickly thick yellow liquid. I don’t know, there was just something about the apparent viscosity of the drink and the skin forming on top that made my skin crawl. Maybe it is because it reminds me of baby sheep poo, sorry for the image. F suggested that I try it and I knew then that I just couldn’t. I imagined an overly fatty sour drink, potentially from my scary scarring Tea experiences.

Fast-forward to last week. I’m in Georgetown again, alone this time though I’m doing the eating of a small dinner party. After a ridiculous amount of cendol (more on that later) I decide to take the plunge, overcome my fear and try the yellow milk.

It turns out to be Badam (Almond) Milk. Mixed with sugar and ‘pulled’ from one cup to another to cool, mix and froth it this drink is so different to what I expected. Rich, creamy, hot and nutty it is a decadent pudding-like treat made complete wIth a few plump sultanas and soft cashews and almonds at the bottom. Flavoured with spices I detect an undertone of cardamom straight away, does anyone know what else is added? Badam Milk is delicious and so different to everything else I’ve been eating in Malaysia.

I found this drink very rich and the special baby sized portion was enough for one night, but I saw people downing huge mugs alongside their Tandoori chicken and curry. Now I am sad that I didn’t take the plunge sooner for Badam Milk really is delicious and tomorrow I leave Penang, heading south to Kuala Lumpur.

If you’re interested in my travels check out my other blog.

Badam Milk Seller, Georgetown
Off Lebuh Chulia in Little India.
Baby Sized portion, 1RM.