Finally finding a supplier for Milo in Taiwan
One of the biggest things I missed when I came to Taiwan was my daily ‘shot’ of Milo. Two massively heaped tablespoons and about 750ml (or whatever your standard milkshake glass holds) and I was in chocolate energy heaven each morning.
Knowing that half of Asia is lactose intolerant I wasn’t exactly sure what I’d find here and for my first few months I ran around in despair as nobody in Taiwan seemed to stock Milo.
After trying numerous random supermarkets, Carrefour, A-Mart, Jason’s supermarkets, Wellcome and Costco I finally had a breakthrough one afternoon when I ventured into an A-Mart store.
Ladies and gentlemen, behold Milo in Taiwan!

Price wise it was nothing special coming in at $119 TWD ($4 AUD) for 500g. Infact from memory it seems to be about on par with what Milo costs back in Australia, needless to say I was kind of disappointed. Guess it could have been worse, at least it wasn’t double or triple the price.
Walking into a supermarket the other day and seeing bog standard beef for $30 AUD a kilogram was a bit of a shock to the system.
Luckily A-Marts are dotted all over the island of Taiwan so finding one shouldn’t be a problem if you’re living here or even just visiting.
Additionally, Nestle in Taiwan seem to be going out of their way to highlight the fact that Milo here has something called ‘Actigen-E’ in it. I’d never seen this red circle advertising Actigen-E back home so I had no idea what it was.
Turns out it’s more then likely already in the Australian Milo formula as this Zoot review mentions Actigen-E in their marketing spiel for Australian Milo;
And now MILO is better than ever. It has been fortified with ACTIGEN-E, a unique combination of “energy-releasing” micronutrients, that help promote the optimal release of energy from food containing proteins, fats and carbohydrates.
The energy-releasing mixture contains essential nutrients such as water soluble B-vitamins, vitamin C, Iron and minerals.
All that’s very well but I hope it doesn’t change the taste, texture or the nice layer of crunchy Milo you get on top of your milk in any way. Buggered if I drink Milo for it’s nutrient properties…
Unfortunately cheap milk still proves to be the elusive missing key to my daily morning Milo equation. Well, that and the fact that I don’t have any glasses nor a kitchen to wash them in here even if I bought some.
Milk isn’t too bad but with me going through nearly a litre a day (probably more in Taiwan’s summer heat) spending $2+ a litre or so would add up very quickly.
First things first though, I need to find myself a kitchen sink…
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July 30th, 2010 at 7:24 pm yi(Quote)
is it the same great tasting Milo as the ones back home?
July 31st, 2010 at 12:43 am ozsoapbox(Quote)
No idea I haven’t tasted it yet… I don’t have a sink to justify the purchase
.
On a sidenote I did stumble across Nestle’s Milo Taiwan site linked from Nestle’s global website, only to discover it’s been hacked.
Slightly amusing given it’s probably been like that for months…
November 17th, 2010 at 9:02 am mrigakshi sharma(Quote)
hey… your write up seems very interesting.. i found it while searching for information on nestle’s market entry strategy in Taiwan… to be honest ive been trying hard to find some information on it..
tried to contact several people linked with nestle taiwan previously too bt unfortunately got no response.. could you please tell me more about nestle in taiwan.. it will be a great obligation to me. i really need this.
November 18th, 2010 at 12:17 am ausGeoff(Quote)
I’m not sure whether you meant a pleasant surprise or a shocker Oz?
“Walking into a supermarket the other day and seeing bog standard beef for $30 AUD a kilogram was a bit of a shock to the system.”
Current online prices Downunder (Melbourne 18/11/10):
Grain-fed rib-eye… $69-50 per kg. (top quality/top price)
Premium scotch fillet… $46-65 per kg. (lower quality/lowest price)
T-bone steak fillet in… $33-30 per kg. (top quality/high price)
And even yer old Aussie favourite — boned leg of lamb…$17-50 per kg.
Ouch!
November 18th, 2010 at 2:34 pm ozsoapbox(Quote)
Hey Mrigakshi,
I don’t know too much about Nestle in Taiwan other then there does appear to be a cross section of products here (mostly related to the Milo brand). Apart from the milk powder the rest is stuff I’ve never seen back in Australia so I’m not sure where they are sourcing it.
@ausgeoff
I used to buy nice cubed beef for cooking at $6-$7 a kg at Victoria Market. I really miss cooking my own big meals sometimes.
November 18th, 2010 at 5:19 pm erica(Quote)
wow! dont you put on weight for drinking that much Mily every morning? beware of diabetes Oz with that much sugar intake. Afterall, Milo is meant for kids not fully grown adults on a everyday basis.
November 18th, 2010 at 8:56 pm ausGeoff(Quote)
I’m wondering the same thing LOL. Milo is around 50% sugar.
Yeeouch!
November 19th, 2010 at 2:08 pm ozsoapbox(Quote)
I think cycling pretty much negated my sugar intake and still does. In Taiwan everything’s loaded with sugar (hence why everyone has such crappy teeth I reckon), so excercise is imperative.
I’m managed to keep a stable weight since arriving here so I’m doing something right. Mind you, it’s not like I’m chugging Milo all day… balance is out with veggies and a balanced lunch and dinner and you should be right.
November 20th, 2010 at 12:16 am ausGeoff(Quote)
As a fellow (casual) cyclist, I’d probably agree Oz…
But, as Erica says, type II diabetes (mature-age onset) can be an issue as a result of mucho refined sugar ingestion as a younger person. Bugger… I’m sounding more like me dear old mum every day LOL.
November 23rd, 2010 at 2:25 pm ozsoapbox(Quote)
Ah well, if it’s a choice between Milo and chocolate and mature age onset diabetes…
…hello diabetes!