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Malaysia and the wider Southeast Asian region are experiencing a bizarre evolution in culinary trends, shifting from the previous obsession with adding cheese to every dish to a current fixation on pistachio
Food operators and digital creators are increasingly pushing boundaries with experimental combinations, ranging from Milo durian drinks and Dubai chocolate ayam gepuk (crushed chicken) to pistachio-infused fried catfish.
Amid this wave of unconventional gastronomy, a Singaporean TikTok content creator has sparked widespread debate after uploading a video of himself cooking white rice using Vitagen, a popular cultured milk drink
The self-proclaimed 'food experimenter', who is known for documenting unusual culinary trials, substituted standard water with the sweet probiotic beverage to boil the rice.
The viral video immediately drew criticism from Southeast Asian netizens, who expressed concern over the growing phenomenon of creating absurd food pairings solely for digital clout without considering nutritional value.
Health-conscious viewers quickly pointed out the scientific flaw in the recipe; the high temperatures required to cook rice completely destroy the live probiotics and beneficial bacteria essential for gut health.
Social media users noted that boiling the beverage renders its health benefits entirely useless, leaving behind nothing but white rice, artificial food colouring, and processed sugar
One commentator questioned the utility of the dish on TikTok, stating that the beneficial bacteria in Vitagen or Yakult die under intense heat, transforming the drink into mere food dye.
Other netizens mocked the trend by jokingly offering to sell bundled meals consisting of Vitagen rice, pistachio-crusted catfish, and Milo durian to anyone willing to buy them.
Despite the intense backlash, the content creator maintained that the experimental dish was a culinary success. According to the influencer, the resulting Vitagen-infused rice possessed a distinctively sweet and fruity flavour profile, accompanied by a visually appealing pastel colour.
