One of my favorite childhood drinks in Vietnam? Sữa Bắp (Vietnamese Corn Milk) – creamy, lightly sweet, and refreshing. If you love sweet corn and cozy homemade drinks, this one’s for you!
What’s Inside
Vietnam’s Low-Key Corn Obsession
Sure, Vietnam is all about rice… but here’s a little secret: we’re kinda obsessed with corn too. And I mean really obsessed. 🌽
It pops up everywhere—from savoury classics like Xôi Bắp (sticky rice with corn), Bắp Xào (buttery stir-fried corn), and Súp Gà (chicken-corn soup)… to sweet surprises like Chè Bắp (sweet corn pudding) and Bánh Kem Bắp (yep, corn in a birthday cake !).
And let’s not forget Sữa Bắp (or Sữa Ngô if you’re in the North)—Vietnam’s cozy corn milk.
Ingredients
- Corn – In Vietnam, we use waxy corn for savoury dishes, but for sweet treats like this corn milk, sweet corn is the way to go. Juicy, fragrant, and naturally sweet – perfect!
- Pandan leaves – Corn and pandan are basically besties. Can’t find pandan? – just add a splash of vanilla extract instead.
- Cow’s milk – Adds creaminess. Want to keep it vegan? Go with oat milk or almond milk – both work a treat.
- Sweetened condensed milk – Adds that rich, sweet finish we love. For a dairy-free version, just swap in vegan condensed milk.
- Granulated sugar – Just a touch, to bring it all together.
- Salt – A little pinch to balance out the sweetness. Trust me, it makes a difference.
What You’ll Need (Tool-wise)
- Blender – A good high-speed one works best to really blitz the corn into a smooth purée.
- Strainer or cheesecloth – To strain out the solids.
Instructions
- Preparing the corn: Wash the corn thoroughly, including the husks and silk. Remove the kernels but keep the cobs, husks, and silk to simmer with the water for a deeper sweetness.
- Boiling the corn: Add the kernels, cobs, husks, and silk to a pot of water. Simmer for about 15 minutes. Add pandan leaves and continue boiling for other 15 minutes.
- Blending: Remove the cobs, husks, silk, and pandan leaves. Transfer the kernels and the cooking liquid to a blender and blend until smooth.
- Straining: Strain the mixture through a fine mesh sieve or cheesecloth to remove the pulp, leaving you with smooth corn milk.
- Cooking the milk: Pour the strained corn milk back into the pot. Add fresh milk, condensed milk, sugar, and a pinch of salt. Stir well and simmer over low heat until it reaches a gentle simmer (do not boil vigorously to avoid separation).
- Serving: Enjoy warm, or let it cool and refrigerate. Serve chilled over ice if you prefer it cold.
More Vietnamese-Style Drinks to Beat the Heat
Caramel Milk Tea – Sweet, creamy, and with that rich caramel kick.
Vietnamese Milk Tea – Great with tapioca pearls or herbal jelly.
Chikoo Shake – A fun twist with tropical chikoo fruit and coffee – so good, so refreshing.
Vietnamese Avocado Smoothie – Sinh Tố Bơ.
Vietnamese Coffee – endless variations: classic Ca Phe Sua Da, salty-sweet Ca Phe Muoi, creamy Ca Phe Trung, tropical Ca Phe Dua, and sweet Bac Xiu.
Corn Milk (Vietnamese Sữa Bắp)
Equipment
- 1 High-speed blender
- 1 fine mesh sieve or cheesecloth
Ingredients
- 2 ears yellow sweet corn
- 4 cup water (1 liter)
- 3 pandan leaves
- 1⅔ cup milk (about 14 fl oz/400ml)
- 3 tbsp sweetened condensed milk (40g)
- 1½ tbsp granulated sugar (20g)
- 1 pinch salt
Instructions
- Rinse the corn well, including husks and silk. Cut off the kernels and set them aside. Keep the cobs, husks, and silk for simmering – they’ll add a natural sweetness.
- In a large pot, add the kernels, cobs, husks, and silk with water. Simmer for 15 minutes, then add pandan leaves and cook for another 15 minutes until fragrant.
- Remove and discard the cobs, husks, silk, and pandan leaves. Blend the corn kernels with the cooking liquid until smooth.
- Pour the mixture through a fine mesh sieve or cheesecloth to remove the pulp, leaving smooth corn milk.
- Return the strained corn milk to the pot. Stir in milk, condensed milk, sugar, and a pinch of salt. Heat gently over low heat until just starting to simmer – don’t let it boil vigorously.
- Enjoy warm or chilled. Add ice cubes for a refreshing cold version.
