Longevity Brand Facts for Kids

Exterior of a can of Sữa Ông Thọ

Longevity Brand is a popular type of canned condensed milk. In Vietnamese, it's called Sữa Ông Thọ, which means "Mr. Longevity's milk." This brand is owned by FrieslandCampina and sold in the United States and Canada by Sun Hing Foods, Inc. Many people use Longevity Brand condensed milk to make Vietnamese iced coffee with milk (called cà phê sữa đá). It's also a key ingredient in many yummy Vietnamese desserts.

The Story of Longevity Brand Milk
What Does the Name "Ông Thọ" Mean?
How the Brand Continued After 1975
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The Story of Longevity Brand Milk

Sữa Ông Thọ was first made in large amounts in the Saigon–Biên Hòa area of Vietnam. Before 1975, it was very popular in the Republic of Vietnam. The company Friesland Foods (now FrieslandCampina) produced it. People used this milk in their coffee. They also mixed it with hot water to make warm milk for babies and young children. This was because fresh milk had to be brought in from other countries, which made it very expensive. Sữa Ông Thọ was also used for dipping French bread (bánh mì) and in many other sweet treats.

What Does the Name "Ông Thọ" Mean?

The name Ông Thọ comes from a Vietnamese idea about a special god. This god is called Longevity (or Thọ). He represents a long life. Longevity is one of three important gods in a traditional idea from Taoism called Phước Lộc Thọ. The other two gods are Good Fortune (Phước) and Prosperity (Lộc). So, the name "Longevity Brand" means "long life milk."

How the Brand Continued After 1975

After the Fall of Saigon in 1975, the factories that made Sữa Ông Thọ, along with other businesses, were taken over by the government. A state-owned company called Vinamilk continued to make Sữa Ông Thọ condensed milk. They used the same name for products sold in Vietnam and other parts of Indochina.

However, Friesland Foods also kept making Sữa Ông Thọ - Longevity Brand after 1975. They made it in the U.S. and Canada for people living in North America. This was especially important for Overseas Vietnamese families. Over time, as Vietnamese coffee and food became more popular, more Western people also started buying it. Today, you can find Longevity Brand - Sữa Ông Thọ in many Asian supermarkets and even in regular grocery stores across North America. Sun Hing Foods, Inc., located in Northern California, is the main company that sells Longevity Brand in Canada and the United States.