taam5 naai5淡奶

Jyutpingtaam5 naai5

Yaletáahm náaih

名詞

Definition

Evaporated milk; unsweetened condensed milk used in tea, coffee, and desserts.

colloquialfooddrink

How it's used

Essential for creating the iconic Hong Kong style milk tea, evaporated milk provides the necessary richness and creamy texture that fresh milk cannot replicate. It is distinct from sweetened condensed milk, which contains added sugar and has a much thicker, syrupy consistency. You will almost always find a can of this in local tea restaurants to ensure their drinks have the signature velvety mouthfeel.

Measure word

gun3罐gun

Examples

le1呢bui1杯naai5奶caa4茶lok6落zo2咗hou2好do1多taam5淡naai5奶，hou2好waat6滑aa4呀。

This milk tea has a lot of evaporated milk in it, it's very smooth.

nei5你uk1屋kei2企zung6仲jau5有mou5冇taam5淡naai5奶？ngo5我soeng2想zing2整tim4甜ban2品。

Do you still have any evaporated milk at home? I want to make dessert.

Common phrases

gong2港sik1式naai5奶caa4茶

Hong Kong style milk tea

jat1一gun3罐taam5淡naai5奶

a can of evaporated milk

Common mistake

Learners often confuse this with condensed milk, which is called 煉奶. Using 煉奶 instead of 淡奶 in coffee or tea will make the drink overwhelmingly sweet and alter the intended flavor profile completely.