Ingredients
Fruit
- 400 gripe papaya flesh, chilled
Milk
- 300 mlwhole milk, very cold
- or 200 ml milk and 100 ml evaporated milk
To sweeten
- 2 tbspcaster sugar, or to taste
- or 2 tbsp sugar syrup
To finish
- a handful of ice cubes
- a squeeze of lime, if wanted
Equipment
- a blender
- tall glasses, chilled
Directions
- Cut the papaya in half lengthways. Scoop out the black seeds and discard them. Scoop the flesh out with a spoon.
- Cut away any greenish flesh near the skin, which is bitter. Chilling everything first is what makes it thick.
- Chill the papaya flesh for at least an hour. Chill the milk thoroughly as well. Cold ingredients give a thicker shake with less dilution.
- Put the chilled papaya in the blender first. Add the sugar to the blender jug. Pour in the very cold milk as well. Add the ice cubes to the jug as well.
- Blend it on high for twenty to thirty seconds. Stop as soon as it is fully smooth.
- Taste it and add sugar a spoonful at a time. Do not add much lime, since acid can curdle the milk. Add more milk if it is too thick to drink.
- Add more papaya or ice if it is thin. Serving it must be entirely immediate. Pour it into chilled tall glasses. Serve it with a wide fat straw. Drink it straight away, within a few minutes.
Technique
- Papain in papaya breaks down milk protein, so it turns bitter if left to stand.
- Blend only until smooth, since long blending warms it and speeds that up.
- Chill everything first, which gives a thicker shake with less dilution.
Substitutions
- Evaporated milk mixed with fresh milk for a richer shake.
- Frozen papaya chunks for a thicker result.
Variations
- Made with condensed milk in place of sugar.
- With a scoop of vanilla ice cream blended in.
- Made dairy-free with oat milk, which avoids the enzyme problem entirely.
History
A staple of Taiwanese juice stalls since the 1960s, when domestic dairy and papaya farming both expanded.
Frequently asked questions
What is Papaya Milk?
Papaya Milk is a drink from Taiwan: papaya blended with chilled milk and sugar; thick night-market shake. A staple of Taiwanese juice stalls since the 1960s, when domestic dairy and papaya farming both expanded.
How long does Papaya Milk take to make?
Papaya Milk takes 10 min of preparation and none of cooking. The recipe makes 2 glasses. It is rated easy to make.
What can I substitute in Papaya Milk?
Yes, within limits. Evaporated milk mixed with fresh milk for a richer shake. Frozen papaya chunks for a thicker result.
What is the most important thing to get right in Papaya Milk?
Taste it and add sugar a spoonful at a time. Do not add much lime, since acid can curdle the milk. Add more milk if it is too thick to drink.
