by Lori Baltazar
This is where I buy my milk and dairy.
I’ve always been in love with the milk they use for the Cocoa Steamer at McCafé, and I so adore the milk at Starbucks that I desire to wrap myself in the steamed milk foam that crown its lattés. But it isn’t until I regularly start drinking coffee however, that I begin to dislike the milk I have at home.
I’ve gone through almost all the ultra heat pasteurized (UHT) and homogenized milk brands in the supermarket looking for a milk that will give me a coffee shop latté (or something close to it) ”“ but at home. After much tasting, I settle on Nestlé Premium, both Full Cream and Premium Low-Fat Milk but it doesn’t come close. With every homemade latté I make, I resent the distinct “cardboard-like” taste that penetrates through the liquid. Ick.
So I ditch the tetra packs and set my sights on the chillers where the more expensive and hopefully better-tasting brands lie: Country Fresh and Darigold. The latter also tastes like cardboard (albeit imported cardboard) but Country Fresh is promising, a local brand of a dairy cooperative, Katipunan ng mga Kooperatiba ng Manggagatas Inc. (KKMI) from the Calabarzon region. I can’t help but smile back at the cheery cow on its blue label; Country Fresh also has a fresher taste than all the other milk I try, but like everything else bought in an enclosed, air-conditioned area, it possesses that “supermarket taste” — if you know what I mean.
I’m beginning to believe that I’ll have to take my milk search out of the supermarket. And so I do. An afternoon spent researching local dairies has me convinced that I’ll need to make a weekly trip to Batangas milk farms to stock up on my dairy supply. Yikes! Daunting but doable … I think. Anything for good milk!
Then I stumble upon the website of Rizal Dairy Farms and a bell peals in my brain. I’ve come across these products before but never gave them more than a cursory once-over. Seeing that they have a branch at Market! Market! I hie over there…
… and find my holy grail of milk.
Upon opening the (plastic ”“ though I wish it were glass!) bottle, I smell the rich scent of cream – full yet delicate. There’s even a “creamline,” something not seen these days – the top cream layer that people back in the day used to judge milk’s richness by. And its taste! Devoid of unpronounceable ingredients and spared being processed to a fare-thee-well, the milk dazzles in its constellation of flavors: sweet, subtle, luscious … MILK.
Admittedly, drinking milk so pure requires a mental readjustment. After years of nonfat and skim milk in addition to being bombarded with information that “dairy is death!”, drinking whole milk once again is not only more natural, it feels more natural, akin to eating only when I’m hungry (whatever time it may be), and stopping when I’m full (even if my plate hasn’t been licked clean). And Rizal Dairy’s Low-Fat Milk is great too.
Rizal Dairy Farms
See website for store locations and more information.
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A friend told me that starbuck’s sells milk from a local dairy…
Called up the Starbucks near your neighborhood Lori =) They do sell the milk they use at 395 per gallon. You can call it in and they’ll add it to the branch’s milk order. Don’t know if this is an “open secret” service for their regulars- I don’t think they’re promoting it openly…
Hi!
I’ve been a constant reader of your website for quite some time now. I have never left a comment on any of your posts, however good they are. But after reading this post, I couldn’t resist recommending you my most favorite milk of all, the fresh milk that’s sold in UP Los Baños – Dairy Research & Training Institute. Check out this site: http://community.uplb.edu.ph/ca/dtri/Dairy_Products.htm
If you want really fresh milk, try this. =)
here’s another purveyor of fresh milk
http://heart-2-heart-online.com/2009/02/04/hollys-really-farm-fresh-dairy-products/
i know they do carabao milk and carabao mozzarella somewhere in laguna too.
and while i’m not exactly a big milk drinker, i absolutely love Meiji Milk. i hope somebody brings this in.
I love Alpine canned milk and Sunny Boy powdered milk – I’m so cheap, hahaha! =)
Love Rizal Dairy Farm! Have been a big fan of their Greek Yogurt for a while now…it’s the creamiest I’ve found and local to boot (so fresher too!) 🙂
I also get dairy from another supplier that sells here (in Manila) for a carabao dairy farm…they have all sorts of dairy products (and fantastic mangoes when in season). If you want the contact just email me! 🙂
Dairy rocks! 🙂
Joey,
Glad to know you’re a dairy lover too and that someone else loves RDF’s Greek yogurt as much as me.
Hi! May I know the contact details for the carabao milk products and the mangoes also? Im exploring my options for potential suppliers kasi. you can contact me at alden.daveson.ong@gmail.com. thanks!
haloo marj 🙂 can you also email me the contact details of the carabao milk supplier 🙂 my email add is kathleen_choy@yahoo.com..:) thanks much! :p
I’m looking for a good reliable supplier of fresh carabao’s milk for my products. I am from Los Banos, but DTRI, which does indeed produce one of the best milks in the Philippines, unfortunately cannot assure me of a regular supply. Please do send me info on Rizal Dairy Farms thru e-mail: e.pillowtalk@gmail.com. Thanks!
I remember there was a brand of very fresh milk called Giselle back in the early to mid-1980s. If I remember correctly, it was sold in huge plastic bags and not in either cartons or bottles, but it was gorgeously rich, creamy, and good.
It’s great to know that there are still people out there who sell high-quality milk and dairy products.
I love Giselle milk. They had it in different flavors! It was sooo good! We bought it at Pops and Momsin greenhills. I wonder what happened to it.
Joey turned me on to Rizal Dairy Farms’
Greek Yogurt — it’s the thickest, creamiest I’ve had! Hey, remember when I gave you the contact for real buttermilk (Pia)? She sells lots of other carabao milk dairy products, which you can just pick up in Forbes. And there’s a dairy purveyor in Laguna or Tagaytay that’s supposedly good — Mr. Moo, I think? It’s got the cute pink logo with a cow. Also, when I was a kid and we were made to drink milk every day, my mom used to order from a supplier that used to deliver it every week. The milk was in bags, and it was so fresh that we had to keep it in the freezer and drink it in several days or it would go bad. Wonder if they’re still around? That would be the most convenient for you!
i love the dairy from UPLB! i remember going there and buying several liters of fresh milk. i finished one liter on the way home and felt so bloated! but it was gooood! =)
im interested in the milk from rizal dairy farm and will get myself a bottle this weekend. lori, i agree, the glass bottle would have been great! reminiscent of the magnolia fresh milk ;P
I was just talking to Jacqui today about my blogging her the day before. Haven’t seen this post, till today 🙂 She will be thrilled!
Lori, I know you have written about your favorite cocoa at McCafe. After reading this last night, I headed to McCafe at Katipunan early today. Had your Cocoa Steamer….a tad to sweet for me, but it was good. But then, I like the dark bitter taste of chocolates, even for my drinks 🙂
Texted Jacqui to read this blog, this article specifically…and down to comments 🙂
If you need her number, let me know so I can forward to you. Geezzz…you two may will have to do sign language, as you won’t hear one another from all the excited voices.
Hi Lori,
Am an avid lurker from LB. Yep, you should drop here one time to try DTRI’s milk and other products. You could also get some more (milk, cheese, yogurt, etc) from Philippine Carabao Center UPLB Office, you’ll find it several meters before you reach DTRI. I believe carabao’s milk is also supplied to Starbucks, a rich and creamy ingredient. Another milk source is Hacienda Macalauan (a dairy farm in Calauan,Laguna) which may have several kiosks in leading supermarkets. Actually there are several dairy farms here in Laguna. Now, these are real sources of fresh milk. 😉
hi,just wanna ask.how will you know if the carabao’s milk is already spoiled?how does it taste and look like?thanks.
Aside from Rizal Dairy, I order carabao milk from someone who sells it for a Nueva Ecija coop. Sooo rich, sweet, with a cream line to boot! I can email you contact details, if you want. I use the milk for my pastillas de leche ice cream.
Hi CJ,
Please send me contact details for the Nueva Ecija coop. I need several reliable suppliers for my products too. Thanks!
hi,
try Hacienda Macalauan ( Calauan,Laguna). Its real good source of fresh milk. They also have different kinds of creams, cheeses, sour cream, yogurt flavored. You can contact their Makati Office for ordering at 818-1264/811-5673.
I noticed that Starbucks has been using ALASKA Skim Milk for their lattes in some branches in the South. The one in recent memory is at the Starbucks branch in Shell along SLEX near Mamplasan=)
I have to ask if this is the milk you say is best at Starbucks or is there a different brand of milk they use?=)
Hi Lori, I ordered the steamed milk from Starb and when I commented on how good it is, they said they can sell it by the gallon. The brand is Milkjoy and it is local. (Hurray.) This was at Leviste branch, but I did see one do see more and more branches using Harvey Fresh.
Article here: http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleid=412016
We use waterbuffalo milk…our cook used to buy it at the Palenke but now we have an old lady deliver it to the door.
High creme. Yum.
hi, Lori, you can contact the supplier of Starbucks milk at 0927 833 5000.
Good Day!!!
I looking for a supplier of milk and cream for my recipe that I’m going sell in my future store. I’ve been searching for the contact info for milk supplier but most of them are no longer active. I saw hacienda macalauan, hapicows and milk joy here on net but cant find a way how can i contact them. Maybe you could help and share to me their contact details. Thank you so much in advance.
Regards,
Koko
hi koko,
i can supply you pasteurized milk. whole, low fat, non fat, choco milk, yoghurt and kesong puti. i am a dealer of milk queen. it is a sister company of milk joy in lipa batangas. you can call me at 0920-9021301
HI,
I was just curious if Hacienda Macalauan sells Double Cream? I’ve used Double Cream during my visit to Europe and It was really rich, thick, and SUBLIME. Yet I haven’t found a suitable substitute. Hope someone could help as my Caramel Croissant Pudding requires Double Cream.
THANKS!
Hi, I have been buying Hacienda Macalauan Fresh Milk from Shpwise in Makati, but they no longer stock it, Rustans also only had 3 bottles which I bought. Any other shops in Makati that sell fresh milk product? I buy approx 10 litres a week, being from Australia, fresh milk was the one thing I missed and finding your product was a relief to me and my wife.
Hi Lori!
I hope you can also email me where else I can buy FRESH Milk! I am currently pregnant and is CRAVING for more milk!!
THANKS IN ADVANCE!!
hi ms. lori,
i would like to know where did you buy the cute cow saucer.
thanks.
I absolutely love Greek yogurt from Rizal Dairy Farm. It’s the best I’ve ever had. But also looking for local milk here aside from the same company, preferably raw. Where did you buy country Fresh? I’m also looking for other local brands of milk. Can you please help me find them? Thank you. Divina
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No it isn’t. I just checked the site.
Hello. I know this blog is from years ago..but I was just wondering if anyone can give me the details regarding the carabao milk producer/supplier. I just badly need it for a report for my agricultural marketing subject. thanks.
Hello. I’m looking for a supplier of carabao’s milk. If anyone can please tell me contact details of suppliers here in metro manila, I’d be very grateful. Thanks so much.
We are jacobs dairy and we do supply pasteurized fresh milk from goats, carabao and cow. You may have further inquiries just give us a call 09178831971