Milk!

[mrfacetious]

Me and the missus are looking to do some short tours this summer with the longest being from here in south wales to the Isle of Wight (if all goes to plan). How on earth do you keep milk when cycling in the middle of august? I know for tea we can use powders (which are a suprisingly good substitute) but we were looking to take those little cereal variety packs for quick-fix breakfasts. Is the only option to buy half pint bottles on site every day? Thanks!

 

[Redmountduo]

We use Long life skimmed milk. It will last at least a couple of day's in normal temps.
If it is hot we use a silver sigg bottle and encase it in a wet sock to cause evaporation.
Will keep well even in high temps.
Hope that helps.
Best regards
John

 

[mrfacetious]

We use Long life skimmed milk. It will last at least a couple of day's in normal temps.
If it is hot we use a silver sigg bottle and encase it in a wet sock to cause evaporation.
Will keep well even in high temps.
Hope that helps.
Best regards
John

Thanks for your reply! Is that UHT? I've seen cartons of UHT readily avaliable in Tesco but wasn't sure how it fared in terms of longevity and taste. Any comments? Thanks!

 

[Redmountduo]

[Yes thats right UHT.
We find the taste fine having used it for years.
The wet sock idea really works well in the heat of Southern Europe.
We carry powder as an emergency item but have never found one we really like.
But it must be YORKSHIRE teabags

 

[Redmountduo]

Ah never thought of that
On the last big tour we had to phone home for fresh supplies.

 

[mrfacetious]

[Yes thats right UHT.
We find the taste fine having used it for years.
The wet sock idea really works well in the heat of Southern Europe.
We carry powder as an emergency item but have never found one we really like.
But it must be YORKSHIRE teabags

haha thanks for the help, mate. I do drink Yorkshire but I've only got loose leaves so it's going to have to be PG bags unfortunately sorry to disappoint!

 

[Amanda P]

We usually buy a pint or so of fresh milk each afternoon, and it keeps until breakfast the following morning. with a wet sock if the weather's warm.

If there's any left over, and it lasts long enough for a lunchtime cuppa, that's a bonus.

I'd rather have my tea black than have powdered or UHT in it.

UHT - that's Utterly Horrible-Tasting, you know.

 

[snorri]

I've seen cartons of UHT readily avaliable in T**** but wasn't sure how it fared in terms of longevity and taste. Any comments? Thanks!

It will be unaffected by temperature change or handling until the pack is opened when it will start to deteriorate just like fresh milk. The best before date usually allows for 2-3 months storage before use.

 

[Ben M]

With regards to using powdered milk for with tea... yuck.
What the pros do is nick some of the small packets of uht from cafes
BHS cafes are the best as they do the stick ones rather than tubs which can split

 

[CycleTourer]

We usually buy milk in the late afternoon just before we reach the campsite. We then use it to make tea on arrival and a cuppa after our evening meal. It usually keeps OK over night unless it is unusually warm. We then use it for tea and cereals in the morning and any that is left over goes into a small stainless steel flask which fits neatly into one of our bottle cages. This we then use for brews en route the next day.

PS If you use carton milk make sure the top is well sealed at night as slugs just love fresh milk .

 

[willem]

The Mediterranean view is, of course, that milk is only for children or the sick. You coulkd drink alot of juice instead. I drink my tea black, and on tour I do the same with my coffee (I make fresh filter coffee rather than horrible Nescafe).
Willem

 

[rualexander]

Powdered milk is fine for most uses, Five Pints or the budget supermarket version in the same kind of plastic bottle is good.
If putting it in tea or coffee either make it up first or put some cold water into your hot tea before adding the powder.
For cereal make it up first or for muesli you can mix the powder through the muesli then just add water.
For porridge, add the powder to the dry oats and mix through then add the cold water for cooking.
It tastes ok and better than UHT, but not as good as cold fresh milk obviously.
The dry powder keeps well for about a week in the plastic bottle.
In hot countries drink tea black if you can find a decent tasting brand and have something different for breakfast, e.g. pain au chocolat with a yoghurt and a banana.

 

[hubbike]

Free little packets from cafes is the best idea I have heard from the above. like that style!!

After 9 months without fresh milk (although I've seen lots of dairy cows) I know the options pretty well.

UHT good for cereal and lasts ages unopened.
Powdered milk is good for cereal, make it up first, and good for cofffee (especially the sweetened coffee-mate version)
Tins of condensed milk are great in coffee and delicious on sliced up fruit or cake
Porridge doesn't really require milk. it tastes a little smoother and creamier with milk, but more nutty and flavourful without. and by the way you don't even need to cook porridge, its quite nice just made with cold water. or if you must have it hot just boil water (for tea/coffee) and add some to the oats and let them stand for a few minutes. it really is just as good and much easier to clean the pans.
Some other cereals taste ok with water instead of milk. for example museli (just fancy porridge) and granola.


Fresh milk is finally available for me in ecuador but only in 1 litre bags. would take me at least 3 days to drink that much. unless

Batido
mashed banana
milk
cocoa powder
1. stir it up
2. drink

 

[Dunbar]

Why not acquire the taste and drink tea without milk. There's one less item to carry and you can taste the real flavour of the tea. Especially if it's Earl Grey! Best of luck

John

 

[willem]

The Mediterranean view is, of course, that milk is only for children or the sick. You could drink a lot of juice instead. I drink black tea, and on tour I do the same with my coffee (I make fresh filter coffee rather than horrible Nescafe).
Willem