Appearance: Does it look creamy and fresh? Any odd colors, streaks, or separation?
Aroma: Does it smell clean and milky, or more like powdered milk or metal?
Taste: How close is it to fresh cow’s milk? How processed does it taste?
Texture: Thick or thin? Creamy or watery? Smooth or chalky?
Aftertaste: Does it end clean, leave a film or tang? What kind of flavor lingers?
Coffee Mixing: Does it stay stable and visible in coffee, or overpower and change the flavor of the brew?
Fine Print
Available in Local Groceries: We tested 18 boxed cow’s milk brands found in major supermarkets in Manila.
Why We’re Doing This: Milk is an everyday purchase, but not all boxed milk tastes the same. We wanted to see which brands tasted best for drinking.
How We Tasted: Each milk was tested two ways: first on its own, and then mixed with instant coffee.
Blind Taste Test: All samples were labeled and tasted blind to remove brand bias.
How We Scored: Each brand was evaluated across six criteria. Final placements reflect the Pepper team’s averaged impressions.
Multiple Tests: This taste test has been updated over time. Current placements reflect both recent tastings and results from previous tests to keep comparisons consistent.
Transparency: No brand paid for inclusion. However, Arla and Nestlé have been past and present advertising partners of Pepper.
