Camel Milk

What Is Camel Milk?

Camel milk is the milk of the camel; it is a traditional drink consumed for thousands of years in the desert-steppe cultures of the Middle East, North Africa and Central Asia. It is an important food source in harsh climates.

It is white in color, thin in consistency; its taste resembles cow's milk but carries a slightly salty, distinctive note. It is drunk fresh, and can also be churned and fermented into a sour drink (called “shubat” in some cultures).

Nutritional Values of Camel Milk

Camel milk contains around 60 kcal of energy per 100 milliliters with protein, fat, calcium and, relative to cow's milk, comparatively more vitamin C. Values vary by animal and season; they are approximate.

How Should Camel Milk Be Consumed?

Camel milk is considered a milk option within a balanced diet; for safety, it is preferable that it be pasteurized or properly boiled. It is drunk fresh or fermented depending on the region.

This information is general; camel milk is a food, not a substitute for medical treatment.

How Is Camel Milk Chosen?

Good camel milk is fresh, clean-smelling, properly chilled and from a reliable source. Milk that has soured (unless desired), smells off, or has had its cold chain broken should not be preferred.

• Should be fresh and clean-smelling
• Should be properly chilled, from a reliable source
• Should not have undesired souring

How Is Camel Milk Stored?

Camel milk is stored in the refrigerator and should be consumed fresh; like other raw milks it can spoil quickly, so the cold chain should be maintained and it should be consumed pasteurized/boiled for safety.

Using Camel Milk in the Kitchen

Camel milk is used as a fresh drink; also as a fermented beverage, in cheese-like products in some regions, and in hot drinks. Since it behaves differently from cow's milk under heat, the traditional methods of each region are followed in products.

Is Camel Milk Like Cow's Milk?

Although it is a similar drink, its taste is slightly salty-distinctive and its composition differs somewhat. Its use is largely similar, though it may behave differently in some products.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does camel milk taste like?

It resembles cow's milk but carries a slightly salty, distinctive note; when fermented it takes on a sour taste.

What is shubat?

Shubat is a traditional, sour and slightly fizzy drink made by fermenting camel milk in some Central Asian cultures.

Can cheese be made from camel milk?

Since camel milk's clotting behavior differs from cow's milk, making cheese from it is more difficult; still, products are made with special methods in some regions.