Why is Milk So Pricey In Thailand?

[JensenZ]

8 hours ago, stupidfarang said:

Most milk is imported into Thailand

It's not. It's produced from raw milk from Thailand's contented cows. I used to buy raw milk from a cooperative not far from Pattaya, in 5 litre bags.

[stupidfarang]

15 hours ago, JensenZ said:

It's not. It's produced from raw milk from Thailand's contented cows. I used to buy raw milk from a cooperative not far from Pattaya, in 5 litre bags.

I suggest you do some research, Thailand milk production supplies around half of it's needs, it therefore imports the balance to meet local demand and to secure their export market as Thailand is a major exporter of milk products within asia.

[matchar]

On 8/6/2024 at 5:51 AM, JensenZ said:

I've received the NZ powdered milk and will give my opinion on its taste once I've opened it.

 

When I first arrived in Thailand nearly 20 years ago, there weren't many brands of whole milk available, but it seems new brands are now popping up quite often. They all have distinct flavours. There are several designer formulations available now too, such as extra creamy, barista, organic and more. Also, there's quite a big choice of lactose-free formulations.

So what's the verdict? Does the NZ powdered milk taste as good as Meiji fresh milk?

[scubascuba3]

On 8/2/2024 at 10:36 AM, KhunLA said:

I go with 6L per bag ... 835gr / 165gr ratio.  Rich & Creamy

 

Yes, a bit cheaper if getting a box of 12 bags online, as local price is silly here per bag (Dairy Rich).

฿2699+170 = ฿2869 ÷ 12 ÷ 6 = ฿39.83 / Liter

40 baht a litre so two litres 80 baht, Makro 2 litres milk is around 99 baht so not a big saving for faffing about with powder? 

[KhunLA]

1 minute ago, scubascuba3 said:

40 baht a litre so two litres 80 baht, Makro 2 litres milk is around 99 baht so not a big saving for faffing about with powder? 

Has little to do with the savings, as the flavor is so much better.  If it cost the same, or even more, I'd still mix it myself.

 

I've even went to the 7 L per bag, and still taste great.  Last price for a box was 2565 baht, for 84 Liters of milk, so just over 61 baht for 2L.

 

 

https://aseannow.com/topic/1361392-people-keep-posting-thailand-expensive-but-im-not-seeing-it/#findComment-19816718

 

[SAFETY FIRST]

On 8/6/2024 at 3:16 PM, JensenZ said:

I used to buy raw milk from a cooperative not far from Pattaya, in 5 litre bags

I'd be very careful drinking milk from an unlabelled plastic bag, or a labelled bag that is unknown. 

 

Spend a few more pennies, buy from Big C etc 

[BritManToo]

11 hours ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

I'd be very careful drinking milk from an unlabelled plastic bag, or a labelled bag that is unknown. 

 

Spend a few more pennies, buy from Big C etc 

Its how all the dairies sell raw milk.

An BigC doesn't sell raw milk.

[SAFETY FIRST]

20 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

Its how all the dairies sell raw milk.

An BigC doesn't sell raw milk.

When you say raw you mean unpasteurized and Unhomogenized.

Do people drink that?

 

That would be more dangerous than performing oral sex on a soi 6 girl 

Sorry to those of you who have a wife from Soi 6.

[BritManToo]

2 hours ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

When you say raw you mean unpasteurized and Unhomogenized.

Do people drink that?

 

That would be more dangerous than performing oral sex on a soi 6 girl 

Sorry to those of you who have a wife from Soi 6.

No, it's completely fine to drink, cows do it all the time without dying.

When I lived in town I used to buy it from the Thai-Danish dairy near the zoo, all the time.

[scubascuba3]

14 hours ago, KhunLA said:

Has little to do with the savings, as the flavor is so much better.  If it cost the same, or even more, I'd still mix it myself.

 

I've even went to the 7 L per bag, and still taste great.  Last price for a box was 2565 baht, for 84 Liters of milk, so just over 61 baht for 2L.

 

 

https://aseannow.com/topic/1361392-people-keep-posting-thailand-expensive-but-im-not-seeing-it/#findComment-19816718

 

One advantage of powdered milk is you can make small amounts as required, with bottled milk you are under pressure to drink it, anyway I've ordered some powder to try

[KhunLA]

11 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

One advantage of powdered milk is you can make small amounts as required, with bottled milk you are under pressure to drink it, anyway I've ordered some powder to try

Dairy Rich 'full cream', and do a side by side with you present favorite, and you won't be disappointed.   Some use it as a creamer in their coffee, and really makes sense over the other powdered creamers.

 

 

 

[matchar]

45 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

One advantage of powdered milk is you can make small amounts as required, with bottled milk you are under pressure to drink it, anyway I've ordered some powder to try

I'll be interested to hear your thoughts on the taste. I usually buy the 946ml cartons of Meiji for 50 baht which usually stay fresh for about a week after opening.

[scubascuba3]

1 hour ago, matchar said:

I'll be interested to hear your thoughts on the taste. I usually buy the 946ml cartons of Meiji for 50 baht which usually stay fresh for about a week after opening.

I will report back, I'm sure it will taste fine in coffee and tea but I also like drinking a glass full, that will be the main test

[JackGats]

I guess because it's imported. Count yourself lucky milk is needed by Thai babies as well, otherwise it would be the price of Yogurt.

[scubascuba3]

On 5/24/2025 at 6:46 PM, KhunLA said:

Has little to do with the savings, as the flavor is so much better.  If it cost the same, or even more, I'd still mix it myself.

 

I've even went to the 7 L per bag, and still taste great.  Last price for a box was 2565 baht, for 84 Liters of milk, so just over 61 baht for 2L.

 

 

https://aseannow.com/topic/1361392-people-keep-posting-thailand-expensive-but-im-not-seeing-it/#findComment-19816718

 

and @BritManToo

 

What proportion of milk powder do you use? , I want to do 1 litre at a time, I've got cup measurements rather than scales. So far I tried 1.25 cups and not great yet. So how many cups per 1L water? 

[BritManToo]

Just now, scubascuba3 said:

and @BritManToo

 

What proportion of milk powder do you use? , I want to do 1 litre at a time, I've got cup measurements rather than scales. So far I tried 1.25 cups and not great yet. So how many cups per 1L water? 

I add 70gm milk powder to 620gm of water.

Don't know about cups, I have a digital scale so everything gets weighed.

[3NUMBAS]

Cost of refrigeration I suspect ,milk in los goes off quickly 

[matchar]

1 hour ago, scubascuba3 said:

and @BritManToo

 

What proportion of milk powder do you use? , I want to do 1 litre at a time, I've got cup measurements rather than scales. So far I tried 1.25 cups and not great yet. So how many cups per 1L water? 

It's gonna be tricky without some scales unless someone can measure the density of the milk powder for you.

 

But I have a feeling whatever the ratio, it's not going to taste as good as fresh milk.

[scubascuba3]

1 hour ago, BritManToo said:

I add 70gm milk powder to 620gm of water.

Don't know about cups, I have a digital scale so everything gets weighed.

That's 1.13 cups according to two AI's, I tried 1 cup and wasn't great, 1.25 cups tastes best so far, work in progress, shows potential 

[scubascuba3]

20 minutes ago, matchar said:

It's gonna be tricky without some scales unless someone can measure the density of the milk powder for you.

 

But I have a feeling whatever the ratio, it's not going to taste as good as fresh milk.

certainly tastes better if you add more so it's about getting that right, trial and error. 1.25 cups /litre tastes close to the real thing 

[KhunLA]

1 hour ago, scubascuba3 said:

and @BritManToo

 

What proportion of milk powder do you use? , I want to do 1 litre at a time, I've got cup measurements rather than scales. So far I tried 1.25 cups and not great yet. So how many cups per 1L water? 

875gr water / 125gr powder, so about same as BM2

 

3.7 cups of water = 875 gr

[youreavinalaff]

Quite often in UK, milk is a loss leader. It's used to get customers through the door in the hope, once in, the shoppers will buy other items.