Japanese milk is one of those lucrative areas of consumable goods that just “hits different.” Here are my 5 tastiest brands of Japanese milk!
5. Meiji (3.5%)
A brand that you simply can’t go wrong with is Meiji, arguably Japan’s largest brand of dairy goods. Meiji milk comes with 3.5% fat and a taste that some may call “artificial,” but I refer to it as doing away with the nasty aftertaste of cow’s milk.
Meiji is one of the most iconic brands in Japan for milk, yogurt, cream, cheese, and chocolates, and you’ll find their products in any convenience store or supermarket nationwide.
4. Megmilk Snow Brand (3.5%)
One of the easiest brands of milk to spot is Megmilk Snow Brand with its iconic bright red and white color scheme. Like Meiji, it also comes with a 3.5% fat percentage and is made with 100% cow’s milk.
What makes it a little better than Meiji is that it manages to have a creamier texture while maintaining that nice refreshing aftertaste that doesn’t leave your breath smelling nasty.
This brand is not as renown across Japan as Meiji, so while you may not find Megmilk at all convenience stores you’ll most definitely find it at local supermarkets.
3. Secoma (3.6 %)
Now we enter the big stage. Hokkaido is known as Japan’s dairy hub with most of the nation’s milk being sourced from this northern island region of the country.
Made using the freshest ingredients and locally sourced, Secoma milk is essentially the “Meiji of Hokkaido” when it comes to dairy brands and you’ll typically find them at your local Seicomart.
A slightly higher fat percentage at 3.6%, you can really taste the difference not just in richness and flavor but also in freshness and quality.
My only complaint is that there is a slight undesirable aftertaste (though this is associated with fewer preservatives) which I personally don’t vouch for (I prefer artificial aftertaste when it comes to milk!).
2. Shikkari Noukou (4.4%)
Moving onto a brand that is more widely available nationwide (and not just in Hokkaido) is one of my all-time favorite milks not just in Japan but in the entire world, and that is Shikkari Noukou.
Coming in strong at a whopping 4.4% fat percentage, this is arguably the tastiest brand of Japanese milk I’ve ever had. Despite being #2 on my list, when it comes to the potency of the fatty milk flavor, Shikkari Noukou is unbeatable.
Whether you enjoy it with cereal, coffee, or just drinking it on its own (my favorite way!), this milk manages to enhance your experience and energize you in a way that doesn’t leave you feeling bloated or heavy as standard milk brands often do.
1. Ohayo Koi (4.4%)
Indeed, Shikkari Noukou is bested only by one of the rarest (and best) brands of Japanese milk in the world, the legendary Ohayo Koi milk.
Once again coming in at 4.4% fat, this particular brand concedes defeat to Shikkari Noukou in the battle of fatty milk taste (despite the equal percentage), but offers superiority in a few key areas.
Firstly, the aftertaste is truly unbeatable, consisting of a rich and milky aftertaste and a flavor I could only describe as a hint of vanilla, despite not actually containing vanilla extracts.
When it comes to all things dairy, whether it be milk puddings, ice creams, or yogurts, no brand can compete with Ohayo as far as I’m concerned.
Even if you’re just coming to Japan on holiday, I would highly recommend getting your hands on one of Ohayo’s many dairy products in combinis and supermarkets for a taste you won’t forget!
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