[The Scream]

My daughter's middle school has an after school malt shop. Both my kids have developed a taste for malts. They want to make them at home. I remember Carnation brand being commonly available when I was a kid. No luck at my local supermarkets (we have almost every national chain or specialty store in our neighborhood). I googled, some Los Angeles Chowhounders recommend Cost Plus and Smart and Final. Nothing. Another one said the Vons on Sunset, which isn't too far from me, but all of this seems like a lot of effort for Carnation malted milk powder.

I'm thinking of ordering online. Any recommedations? Barry Farms, Horlicks or King Arthur?

[splinky]

compare ingredients, dear

[splinky]

you could make chocolate malt waffles, too

[prasantrin]

I use Horlick's, but I do find it to be rather sweet.

When I was shopping around, a lot of people recommended http://www.ctlcolfax.com/maltedmilk.htm . When I go back to Canada, I'll try it, but it wasn't practical for me to lug a big container back to Japan when I only have a short time left here.

[Carolyn Tillie]

I'm a huge malt fan and was really disappointed when the local grocery store stopped selling Carnation. Here in San Francisco, Rainbow Grocery is the only one to carry malt and it is in bulk so I have no idea of the brand. I was surprised to learn that even Berkeley Bowl doesn't have it...

[Suzanne F]

Amazon seems to have a large selection.

[The Scream]

Called the local Gelson's, they have it on aisle #7. Forgot to ask which brand, probably some insanely expensive boutique maker. I'll cough up whatever it is to get my 6 year old off my back. After reading this thread on Chowhound, I'm tempted to order Barry Farms barley malt powder.

[splinky]

Called the local Gelson's, they have it on aisle #7. Forgot to ask which brand, probably some insanely expensive boutique maker. I'll cough up whatever it is to get my 6 year old off my back. After reading this thread on Chowhound, I'm tempted to order Barry Farms barley malt powder.

i think barry farms sells now brand malted milk powder. i really like now brand vitamins.
european ovaltine is pretty tasty and not as sugary as us ovaltine

[The Scream]

I use Horlick's, but I do find it to be rather sweet.

When I was shopping around, a lot of people recommended http://www.ctlcolfax.com/maltedmilk.htm . When I go back to Canada, I'll try it, but it wasn't practical for me to lug a big container back to Japan when I only have a short time left here.

I was tempted to buy Horlick's, but will pass if you say it's rather sweet. I'm guessing that my daughter's school either buys Carnation at Smart and Final or orders in bulk. If they're using Carnation, they're probably using smaller than normal quantities because I don't find their malt shakes to be particularly sweet.

The Soda Fountain malt mix is pricier than the other ones I've seen. I'm wondering if they buy barley malt powder from the same source as Barry's Farms and mix it with milk powder (and whatever else).

[prasantrin]

I use Horlick's, but I do find it to be rather sweet.

When I was shopping around, a lot of people recommended http://www.ctlcolfax.com/maltedmilk.htm . When I go back to Canada, I'll try it, but it wasn't practical for me to lug a big container back to Japan when I only have a short time left here.

I was tempted to buy Horlick's, but will pass if you say it's rather sweet. I'm guessing that my daughter's school either buys Carnation at Smart and Final or orders in bulk. If they're using Carnation, they're probably using smaller than normal quantities because I don't find their malt shakes to be particularly sweet.

The Soda Fountain malt mix is pricier than the other ones I've seen. I'm wondering if they buy barley malt powder from the same source as Barry's Farms and mix it with milk powder (and whatever else).

It's possible. If you want to just go with malt powder, you can also get it at home brewing stores if you've got one of those near you.

I'd go with the malt powder, and use half-and-half to make my malteds richer.

BTW, I read on the ctl site that a shake would have the malt powder blended with the rest of the stuff, while with a malted, you blend the rest of the stuff, then add the powder. Who knew?

[Rich]

King Arthur

[Jaymes]

Boy, there's the end of an era. We've gone from malt shops on every corner to not even being able to find Carnation powder in the markets.

It does remind me of a conversation I had recently in a fast-food burger joint:

"What would you like to drink?"

"Do you have malts?"

"Yes."

"Great. I'd like a small chocolate malt."

And then when I get it and take a taste:

"You've left out the malt."

"The what?"

"The malt. This has no malt. It's just a chocolate milkshake. I asked if you have malts and you said you do and I ordered a chocolate malt."

"Malt, milkshake, whatever. They're the same thing."

End of an era.

Actually, I guess it must have ended a decade or so back. And I just didn't notice.

At least those chocolate malted milk balls are still around so I can get my occasional malt fix.

[Suzanne F]

Hey, there's always beer.

[StephanieL]

There's also Milo, which is made from malted barley. N loves it. They make it in lots of different countries, so you can look for it in your local Asian and Latin American markets.

[The Scream]

I stopped by Gelson's, they had Carnation malted milk powder and Ovaltine. Bought both. The next time I'm in a Southeast Asian or Latin American market, I'll look for Milo.