Nido milk powder: what it is, how to mix it and where to find it in Poland

Nido is a brand of milk powder made by Nestlé, sold in Poland mostly as full-cream milk powder in large tins. It is well known in Africa, Latin America, the Middle East and Asia, so many people in Poland look for the taste they remember from home. Mixed with water, Nido milk powder is drunk like ordinary milk, added to tea and coffee, or used in baking and desserts. In Polish, milk powder is mleko w proszku.

What Nido is

"Nido" means "nest" in Spanish and Portuguese, which is why there is a bird's nest on the tin. Nestlé sells milk powder under this name in many countries, and the recipe and versions differ by market and by the factory that makes them. Some versions are plain full-cream milk powder, others have added ingredients. The label of the tin you buy gives the exact ingredients, how to prepare it and who it is meant for. Always read it before use.

Full-cream milk powder is made from milk with the water evaporated off. It keeps the milk fat, so it tastes fuller and creamier than skimmed milk powder.

Nido is milk powder, not infant formula. Whether a version is suitable for a child of a given age is stated on the label.

Why people ask for "original Nido"

Many people search for "original Nido" or ask which country their Nido comes from. Usually they mean the version they know from their home country, because Nido from different factories tastes a little different and comes in a different tin. If you want a particular version, check the country of production and the variant name on the tin. A shop with food from around the world usually has several tin sizes, and sometimes more than one variant.

How to make milk from Nido powder

The amount of powder per glass of water is printed on the tin, usually together with a scoop. A few practical rules:

1. Put the powder in a dry container with a dry spoon or scoop.
2. Add a little warm water first and stir to a smooth paste.
3. Add the rest of the water and mix well.
4. Handle the made-up milk like fresh milk: drink it at once, or keep it in the fridge and use it soon.

For creamier milk in coffee, add a little more powder than the tin says.

What to use Nido milk powder for

Drinks. Nido goes into coffee, tea and cocoa instead of cream. In many homes in West Africa, tea and coffee are drunk with milk powder. Nido also works in Indian chai: boil the tea with water, sugar and spices, and stir in the milk powder at the end.

Indian sweets. Milk powder is a handy substitute for khoya, milk cooked down for a long time until thick. Quick versions of gulab jamun (fried dough balls served in syrup), burfi and peda, milk fudges from India, are made with milk powder.

Baking. A spoonful or two of milk powder in a yeast dough or in biscuits gives a fuller, milky taste and a better colour to the crust.

A store cupboard standby. A tightly closed tin keeps for a long time, so milk powder is useful when you run out of fresh milk.

How to store Nido

Keep the tin in a dry, cool place, always tightly closed. Moisture makes the powder form lumps. Use only a dry scoop. Once opened, use the powder within the time given on the label. Do not keep an open tin in the fridge, because each time you open it, moist air gets inside.

Where to buy Nido in Poland

Little India sells Nestlé Nido milk powder in several tin sizes, including a 900 g tin and a large 2.5 kg tin. Other milk powders and creamers are in the milk and cream category. Nido tins are also in the Little India shops in Warsaw, Kraków, Wrocław and Gdańsk, and you can order them online.

For desserts where milk powder helps, read our guide to Indian sweets. Malted milk drinks are compared in Horlicks, Ovaltine, Milo and Maltina.