McDonald’s milkshake returned to Taiwan today after a nine-year absence, sparking massive customer excitement nationwide. The fast food chain launched a limited trial at 12 selected outlets, prompting eager fans to line up early. Customers rushed to purchase both the returning beverage and exclusive promotional merchandise.
Hundreds of people visited McDonald’s locations across Taipei and New Taipei City. Some began queuing as early as 7:30 a.m., hoping to secure milkshakes before supplies ran out. The chain began selling the drinks and merchandise at 10:30 a.m., attracting enthusiastic crowds.
One customer, Ms. Hsu from New Taipei City, arrived three hours early to buy four strawberry milkshakes for her family. She also aimed to get a limited-edition Grimace Fuzzy Bag. “I am not sure if it tastes the same as before, so I’ll try it first,” she said. “If it’s good, I’ll keep buying it.”
McDonald’s discontinued milkshake sales in Taiwan in November 2016 after lower-than-expected demand, but the beverage maintained a loyal following. This following prompted the chain to reintroduce the milkshake on a limited trial basis.
The returning McDonald’s milkshake comes in vanilla and strawberry flavors, and the chain limits customers to four drinks per transaction. The promotion also features two exclusive items: the Grimace Fuzzy Bag, priced at NT$199 or NT$149 as a meal add-on, and a Taiwan-exclusive Grimace Tote Bag at NT$59. Each customer may purchase up to four per item.
Although the Grimace character headlines the promotion, McDonald’s will not offer the berry-flavored Grimace shake in this trial. The chain will monitor demand and evaluate whether to expand milkshake availability to other locations.
Industry analysts say nostalgic menu items can boost customer engagement and drive foot traffic. Combining nostalgia with limited-edition merchandise often increases sales. They believe McDonald’s milkshake return demonstrates the company’s ability to leverage customer loyalty effectively.
If the trial succeeds, McDonald’s may expand the promotion nationwide. The McDonald’s milkshake comeback highlights the enduring appeal of limited-time promotions and brand-driven consumer excitement.
