Boeber-style warm milk drink

Name: Boeber-style warm milk drink
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 25 min
Yield: 4 portions

Boeber is a warm, lightly spiced milk drink associated with Cape Malay households, especially during Ramadaan. This everyday version keeps the sugar low and uses pasteurised milk.

Prep: 5 min
Cook: 20 min
Total: 25 min
Portions: 4

Easy
Pregnancy
Vegetarian
Calcium-containing
Budget-friendly

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Portions

Ingredient quantities update automatically. Cooking times may need a little adjustment when you change the batch size.

Swap an ingredient

Only swaps that keep this recipe pregnancy-safe are offered. Allergen information below updates when you choose one.

Dairy-free alternative: use fortified soya milk instead of low-fat milk

Ingredients

For 4 portions. Tick items as you go — nothing is changed for anyone else.

This recipe contains foods that can contribute to a varied and balanced diet during pregnancy.

Method

Step 1. Warm the milk with the cinnamon stick and cardamom, without letting it boil over.
Step 2. Add the sago and simmer gently for 10 minutes, stirring so it does not catch.
Step 3. Add the vermicelli, sugar and raisins and simmer for another 6–8 minutes until soft.
Step 4. Remove the whole spices, pour into mugs and scatter with almonds if using.

Allergens for your selection

Contains: Milk
Contains: Cereals containing gluten
Contains: Nuts

Ingredient brands and substitutions can change allergen content. Always check the labels on the products you buy.

Food safety

Use pasteurised milk, maas and dairy products in pregnancy, and avoid unpasteurised (raw) milk and soft mould-ripened cheeses.
Cook meat, chicken, fish and eggs right through — no pink meat, no runny yolks.
Wash all fruit, vegetables and leafy greens in clean water, and wash your hands, boards and knives between raw and cooked food.
Avoid liver and liver products such as liver pâté in pregnancy because of their high vitamin A content.
Cool, chill and reheat food once only. Where power supply is unreliable, cook smaller amounts more often rather than storing cooked food.
Speak to your doctor, midwife or a registered dietitian about supplements and about any food you are unsure of.
Use pasteurised milk only — unpasteurised milk is not advised in pregnancy.
Combining protein, fibre and minimally processed starch makes a meal more filling and releases energy more gradually. No single food or recipe improves fertility or guarantees conception. Individual dietary advice should come from a registered dietitian or your doctor.

Allergens

Contains: Milk
Contains: Cereals containing gluten
Contains: Nuts

Ingredient brands and substitutions can change allergen content. Always check the labels on the products you buy.

Sources

South African food-based dietary guidelines — National Department of Health, South Africa, reviewed 7 September 2026
Nutrition information for the public — Association for Dietetics in South Africa (ADSA), reviewed 7 September 2026
Five keys to safer food — World Health Organization, reviewed 7 September 2026
WHO recommendations on antenatal care for a positive pregnancy experience — World Health Organization, reviewed 7 September 2026