This is Binggrae's the Banana Flavored Milk! This is Korean version packaging of the milk. I'm not sure how many non-Korean would have tried this, but this is one of the 'traditional' Korean drink and its popularity has been going strong even after 35 years. A lot of Koreans have nostalgic childhood memory of this milk since most Koreans went to public bathhouse/sauna regularly and right after the nice hot bath I'm sure many people made it a ritual to drink this Banana Milk.
As you can see the packaging is itself is very interesting and easy to remember.

I visited Binggrae's site and they say that the original bottle design was inspired by Korean traditional jar called Hanggari like below.

Back then, too many people started to leave farm and move to city so the bottle was designed to have a nostalgic effect to people of their hometown. And since then it became a signature packaging that would be burned into everyone's image of Banana Milk and the packaging hasn't changed since then.

Also, one might ask but...why...Banana of all things?

Well...around 70's many Koreans were having malnutrition problem due to lack of food and government recommended people to start drinking more milk to solve that problem. However, many Koreans preferred spicy over anything too sweet or thick and milk was little too sweet and thick for Koreans at that time. However, banana was considered luxurious and expensive fruit for them at that time and being able to taste that flavor in something they can afford like Banana Flavored Milk was the selling point. Korea flourished after that and all food problem got solved but by then everyone already got hooked on Banana Milk and the popularity never subsided.

This packaging is specially made for exporting to other countries including the States. Even here in the States many Korean immigrants get nostalgic over this milk. During the 70's it was a reminder of the hometown and now our native country. Many Koreans are happy to see this milk at the Korean markets and probably still drink this more happily than regular milk. *sip*sip*

Here's one of many commercials from Binggrae. I had to get another one. These girls are popular group called Girls's Generation. Enjoy!

Popularity: 87%

Written on April 26, 2009 |