Misugaru latte is a mixed grain drink from Korea that tastes nutty and earthy. This Korean superfood is highly nutritious and simple to make as a drink. In fact, many K-pop stars and Asian celebrities are adopting this Korean multigrain shake as part of their diet plan.
If you're looking for something new that is affordable, healthy and tasty, try our misugaru recipe. It's perhaps the next triumphant Asian drink entering the global food stage like boba and matcha latte did.
What Is It?
Misugaru (미수가루) or misutgaru (미숫가루) is a traditional Korean powder made of glutinous rice and a mix of other natural grains such as barley, oats, quinoa, brown rice, and soybean.
Besides these common grains, the powder mix may also include sweet rice, millet, lentils, adzuki beans, sesame seeds, and many more. Some drinks may even contain up to 20 types of grains. It is usually added into water to be drunk as a meal replacement.
It sounds hard to swallow, and one might think it would have a bland taste. However, this superfood has a unique nutty flavour, almost like peanut butter. Beverages made with Korean multigrain powder are often sweet and aromatic.
The making of this superfood involves a three-step process of picking a combination of grains, roasting or steaming them, and then grinding them. Basically, a variety of grains are roasted or steamed and ground into fine drink powder.
Where To Buy It?
In Korea, we usually find this in local bakeries, supermarkets and roasteries.
Bangyudang, a roastery located in Gwangju, is known to be one of the best misugaru brands in Korea. However, since there are a number of local grain roasters, it is common for Koreans to bring their choice of grains to their local roastery for a custom multigrain mix.
Overseas, you can usually find it in Korean supermarkets and online.
Instant Vs Pure
If you are new to the taste of Korean multi grain drinks, you might want to try out the instant version first before fully committing to pure multi grain powder.
The main difference between the two is that instant powder contains added sugars whereas pure misugaru, like the name itself, is free from them.
There are plenty of brands to choose from but one of the best brands that offer instant powder type is 'Damtuh'. Meanwhile, we recommend the 'Chiklab' brand if you want to order pure powder.
How To Make Misugaru Latte
There is no fixed recipe so there is plenty of room for creativity and experimentation in making your personal misutgaru latte.
However, the classic way to make it is to add a scoop or two of powder with honey into a cup of milk. There is nothing too extraordinary or fancy required. it should be as simple as making your usual cup of latte.
Basically, you can enjoy it with:
- Some plain water
- Cold or hot milk
- Some coffee powder
- Ice cubes
- Sugar or honey
- Whipped cream on top
Most lattes prepared in Korea are mixed with sugar or honey but you can also opt for other sweeteners such as condensed milk, sugar syrup and cinnamon. Feeling a little fancy? Then, a misugaru dalgona whip might be a great idea instead of these typical sweeteners.
Misugaru Latte | Korean Multigrain Shake
Ingredients
- 2-3 tablespoon pure misugaru powder
- 1 cup milk
- 1-2 tablespoon honey
- ice optional
Cooking Instructions
- Add the Korean multi grain powder into a cup or a bottle. Then, add a small amount of milk or water.
- Stir it until the mixture turns into a paste. Mix it until it is no longer clumpy.
- Then, add your preferred sweetener and mix until well combined.
- Fill you cup with the remaining milk or water. Add ice cubes if you would like your drink cold.
Recipe Notes
- Use 2 tablespoon of the Korean multi grain mix for a regular cup. For a thicker consistency and stronger nutty taste, use 3 tablespoon of the powder.
- For a hot drink, warm up your milk separately before mixing it with the misugaru paste.
- If you use a blender or shaker, mix all the ingredients and blend till thoroughly mixed.
- If you're planning to have your latte with a Dalgona whip, you can create your misugaru latte with no sweetener. The dalgona whip will usually be sweet enough.
- If you are looking to reduce calories, then use water instead of milk. Reduce the amount of sweetener added too.
- You can substitute honey for any sweetener of choice, e.g. sugar, condensed milk, syrup, etc.
Nutrition
Calories have been calculated using an online calculator. Nutritional information offered on Honest Food Talks is for general information purposes and is only a rough estimate.
Cooking Tips
It is worth noting that this Korean mixed-grain powder doesn't dissolve easily and has the tendency to clump.
Regardless of how much of it you're using, we recommend pouring in a small amount of water or milk into it first. Then, stir it until the mixture turns into a muddy paste before adding the rest of your milk or water.
Although it's not necessary, you can definitely save yourself from all the hassle by using a blender or a shaker bottle instead. We find using an electric hand whisk is the easiest way to dissolve all the misugaru powder.
Misugaru latte is commonly served with ice as it is best served cold but you can definitely make it into a hot beverage.
Another tip is that if you're drinking it with milk, it is best to use honey as a sweetener. Otherwise, we recommend opting for sugar when you're having it with plain water.
How To Drink Or Eat Misu?
Most Korean will typically used it to make coffee or latte. However, there's a number of other ways to enjoy it.
If you want to incorporate this Korean multigrain powder into your fitness meal plans, you can add it to your protein shakes. On a sunny day, a glass of the nutty Korean shake would be the perfect refreshment.
Most Korean dessert cafes would also sprinkle the multigrain powder on top of patbingsu or other desserts as a topping.
Speaking of desserts, misugaru ice cream can also be made and enjoyed! Some bakers have also used it as a baking ingredient to make sweet yet nutritious baked goods such as cookies.
It is safe to say that you can have it any way you like and there are tons of Korean multigrain powder recipes to come up with; the possibilities are endless.
Why Is It Popular?
It can be consumed in various forms, but it is popularly used as a mix to make beverages such as lattes, coffee, and smoothies. Adding dalgona (honeycomb toffee) whip to the drink is also a common menu item in Korea.
The misugaru diet is popular among Koreans as the Korean multigrain shake can be the go-to beverage to lose weight. Not only it is tasty and nutritious, but a serving of multigrain mix with milk can also keep you full for a long time without consuming excess calories. Similar to the Inkigayo sandwich, misugaru is also known to be popular among K-pop stars.
While adults often enjoy the drink mixed with coffee, many Korean students would also opt for the caffeine-free milk latte. It acts as an instant breakfast when they rush to school or as a refreshing after school drink. During the sizzling summer, it is often served cold with ice.
Is Misutgaru Healthy?
You might question whether this Korean multigrain powder is effective for weight loss. When a food item sounds too good to be true, it’s only natural to question whether it is truly a healthy meal.
Undeniably, it does sound like a drink full of "carbs". However, the meal replacement drink is indeed healthy.
Aside from being naturally caffeine-free and filling, this nutritious concoction offers many more benefits. In fact, it is packed with protein, omega-3, fibre, vitamins, and minerals such as calcium, folate, selenium, and magnesium.
Besides being a delicious drink, a typical misugaru drink only contains about a hundred calories. With that being said, you can have it at any time guilt-free.
As mentioned, this Korean powdered shake is a versatile drink that can be paired with many different ingredients to make it more exciting.
Did you try making your own Korean superfood latte at home? Share with us a photo of it on Instagram and tag @honestfoodtalks. Next up, try our Korean strawberry milk recipe.
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