Malaysian drinks names explained: from Michael Jackson to ‘tiger bites lion’

From Milo dino­saur to Michael Jackson, the Malaysian terms for beverages are so varied that they can be baffling to the outsider.

Milo dinosaur gives you an idea of how massive the chocolatey drink is, while Michael Jackson refers to soya milk with cincau, no doubt in reference to the late US pop star’s hit song Black or White.

Kopitiam regulars will no doubt be familiar with drinks like “kopi C” (coffee with sugar and evaporated milk) and “cham” (or ying yong, which combines coffee with tea).

And in the northern part of the Malaysian peninsula, there is hor ka sai (Hokkien for “tiger bites lion”).

Kopitiam owner Yap Swee Tin, 74, explained that hor ka sai consists of black coffee and Milo, enhanced with condensed and evaporated milk.

“First, the cup is partly filled with Milo, followed by a generous amount of condensed milk,” she said. “Then, black coffee is poured into the drink and finished off with evaporated milk. Hor ka sai is always served cold.”