Not so Milo Hot Cocoa

If you were a Malaysian kid, your childhood would have involved speaking in at least three different languages that involves putting ‘lah’ at the end of every sentence no matter the language. Just asking a simple Why question will equal to ‘Why lah’? in English, ‘Kenapalah’? in Malay, and ‘Zhen Me Lah’? in Chinese. As a Malaysian kid, you’d also have eaten highly complex and intricately woven flavors of food so jumbled up harmoniously that your palate won’t take simple and straightforward tasting dishes anymore. A curse I say. But most importantly, if you were a Malaysian kid, you would have drunk an insane amount of Milo.

This freakishly popular hot chocolate beverage is marketed as an energy drink in Malaysia appealing to the young and old, thin and fat, tall and short and all the adjectives in the world. Apparently, it’s good for health too. Everyone consumes it. What’s for breakfast? Milo. What’s for tea? Milo. Mom, I can’t sleep. Have some Milo. I have a test tomorrow, Dad. Here, drink some Milo. For what? For energy.

I had my daily dose of Milo. And if any opportunity befalls me, I’d sneakily take an extra heaping tablespoon of powder or two directly from the container and eat it off my spoon. Every time I did that, I felt like the smartest kid in the world outsmarting their parents.

Little did most people know that hidden in that wondrous chocolate powder is plenty of caffeine and sugar that if you have Milo in your body, you would have enough power and energy to run in a hamster wheel and supply electricity to the entire world. Besides, who knows what milk powder they put in there. All that milk powder scandal giving me the hibbie jibbies.

These days, I don’t consume Milo anymore. Don’t get me wrong. I love my Milo. A lot. But I’m not in the mood to helping the world produce electricity in my expense. Unless… certain ingredients change. The sugar definitely should lessen…  and that milk powder… ick! Oh, while you’re at it Nestle, make both ingredients organic, ya.

What was I thinking? Of course my call will not be heeded and nothing’s going to change (my love for you, Milo). I still would like to enjoy a cup of chocolaty goodness. I had to make a choice. Hand extract every single sugar and milk powder grain from the powder or I need to get myself a substitute.

Unless I want to be a professional sugar and milk powder extractor, I’ll stick to choice #2. A substitute. Looking at all six unopened boxes of cocoa powder I bought for making brownies and chocolate muffins sitting there for months at end, I thought I’d better find use for it. Oh… no way!! What a coincidence?? Whadaya know. So much cocoa powder on hand and don’t know what to do with them. And here I was looking for a substitute for Milo. My stars are definitely aligning.

Quick Recipe         Serves 2

what you need:

2-3 tbs unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tbs agave nectar (or other sweetener)
1 1/2 cup organic whole milk (or almond milk, soy milk, rice milk..)
Organic whip cream (optional)
Chocolate shavings (optional)

directions:

1. Stir cocoa powder, sugar and milk in a small saucepan over medium heat.
2. Remove from heat when the mixture boils and all the ingredients have dissolved.
3. Serve with whip cream and chocolate shavings or your other toppings like marshmallows.

PS: I know I know.. there’s still sugar… but it a lot LESS. I know.. there’s milk too… but it’s organic!!! And there’s caffeine.. well, that I can’t help it.

What is your favorite chocolate beverage?