2023
To our surprise, it wasn’t red bean, but Ovaltine that took center stage as the featured flavour on McDonald’s dessert menu. Intrigued, we couldn’t resist trying.
Ovaltine Sundae
Ovaltine Sundae (8 HKD/1.6 AUD)
The Ovaltine flavour was distinct, featuring discernible malted chocolate notes. The soft serve maintained its smooth and creamy texture, with minimal overt dairy notes that might interfere with the Ovaltine flavour. The crushed Ovaltine crumb added a delightful crunch to each bite, intensifying the experience as it rehydrated on the palate. Overall, it was a delightful treat.
Ovaltine Pie
Ovaltine Pie (10 HKD/2 AUD)
Ovaltine played a dual role in both the pastry and the filling, creating a delightful combination. The hint of savoury in the original pastry offset the gentle sweetness and subtle malted chocolate flavor from the Ovaltine, which complemented the fried texture. The boldest expression of Ovaltine’s flavor emerged in the filling, which was deliciously creamy and smooth. It seemed as if they had generously incorporated Ovaltine powder into a custard base, achieving a rich consistency that wasn’t as thick as the custard pies commonly found in Australia and all the more satisfying.
Regrettably, we did not have the opportunity to try the McFlurry, the hotcakes or the bubble lattes. We would be keen to see similar offerings in Australia, after we missed out on the Milo McFlurry in August 2023.
The Ovaltine trend extended beyond the fast-food realm, making its presence felt on numerous store shelves with a wide array of snacks inspired by the popular beverage.
Transforming from a regional sensation to a global phenomenon, the South Korean girl group NewJeans teamed up with McDonald’s in Hong Kong to introduce a range of Korean-inspired flavours in the second half of 2023. This encompassed burgers, fried chicken, and beverages, all presented in packaging adorned with the group’s distinctive bunny mascot and 8-bit graphics depicting fast food items. Although we weren’t avid followers of NewJeans, our appreciation extends to the delightful beverages offered by McDonald’s Korea.
The Jeju Hallabong Chiller, a permanent fixture on McDonald’s Korea’s menu since 2019, stood out as the most memorable item in their domestic offerings. This beverage combined hallabong juice with ice, milk, and sugar to create a refreshing treat. As longtime fans of this fruit, known as dekopon in Japan or sumo in the West, we were disappointed to have only tried it once during our 2023 trip. We were thrilled to discover that McDonald’s Hong Kong featured the drink on their McCafe menu as part of the collaboration.
Jeju Hallabong Frappé
Jeju Hallabong Frappé (36 HKD/7.2 AUD)
The beverage, made to order in a blender, was an opaque yellow-orange hue with a delightful sweet mandarin aroma. The distinct hallabongflavourr quickly surfaced upon tasting, revealing the fruit’s sweet and juicy undertones. Contrasting with the original Korean rendition, the Hong Kong version had a thicker consistency, deviating from the more liquid form found in Korea, with the addition of chewy nata de coco bits providing a pleasing textural dimension. Notably, it also featured a less pronounced sweetness than its Korean counterpart. Despite these differences, the drink proved remarkably refreshing and invigorating, making it a perfect choice to combat the warm and humid weather in Hong Kong.
Yuzu Punch with Fruit Cocktail
Yuzu Punch with Fruit Cocktail (23 HKD/4.6 AUD)
The drink had a gradient effect, starting with an opaque yellow hue at the base where the yuzu marmalade was located. This gradually transitioned to a clear and colourless appearance towards the top, due to the addition of Schweppes Sprite lemonade. The beverage also featured frozen mixed fruit pieces, encompassing mango, peach, and strawberry, distributed throughout. When mixed before consumption, the flavor was reminiscent of yuzu-ade, although the pronounced lemony character from the lemonade base somewhat overshadowed the floral and citrusy notes of yuzu. Using carbonated water and increasing the amount of yuzu marmalade would enhance the yuzu flavor and balance the sweetness. Nonetheless, the beverage remained refreshing, and the inclusion of frozen fruit pieces added a fresh textural element.
This Jeju Hallabong Frappe and Yuzu Punch with Fruit Cocktail was purchased from McDonald’s in Hong Kong in November 2023.