Chic African Culture Africa Factbook

Drink Camel Milk and Eat Camel Meat

Camel meat is widely eaten in Egypt and Somalia.

Camel population in Kenya, Mali and Sudan rank below Somalia which has around 5.3 million heads.

Camels are big business in Somalia, with a general annual export value estimated at over $250 million.

There are two species of camels, one-humped Arabian camels or dromedaries the camels of the plains; and two-humped Bactrian camels the camels of the mountains.


The camel, like the cow, has a four-quartered udder. There are four teats, each having two holes. The camels are milked an average of three times a day and depending on the season, dry or rainy, the average milk production is about 5-30 liters per day. 

Somalia camels raised for food, milk, and function and fashion

Somalia camels raised for food, milk, and function and fashion


Camels lactate for about a year and unlike cows, which store all their milk in their udders, camels keep their milk further up their bodies.

Camels milk is generally opaque white. Normally it has a sweet and sharp taste, but sometimes it is salty and at times the milk tastes watery. 

Some people think camel milk tastes terrible but you are the judge. Camel’s milk is frothy and the type of food and the availability of drinking water cause changes in taste. 

Camel milk is rich in vitamin C, has more fat and protein and lower in lactose than cow's milk.

Medical studies may suggest camels milk promote particular antibodies and maybe a natural remedy for treating autism spectrum disorder. 

Parents who give their children a certain amount of camel milk daily have reported better sleep, increased motor planning abilities, and spatial awareness, more eye contact, better language, as well as less gastrointestinal problems. 

However, more studies are still being conducted on autism spectrum disorder being helped by camel milk. 

Did you know? 

Camel meat is not universally eaten except in Egypt and Somalia were tens of thousands of camels are slaughtered yearly. Camel hides are used for making shoes and sandals, making rope; the hair is used for making tents, carpets, coats, blankets and quilts and mattresses. In Somalia soap is made by extracting bone marrow, which is boiled and mixed with caustic soda.



About camel milk


Start with fresh camel milk from your trusted market, add chocolate syrup and enjoy a sweet chocolatey delicious twist on camel milk.
Sweet Chocolate Camel Milk Recipe

Camel milk is the staple of the desert nomads’ diet and is the main source of water

Most camels’ milk is consumed raw, unpasteurized, or soured, it has a sweet and sharp taste, but sometimes it is salty, however, the type of food and the amount of drinking water consumed by the camel cause the changes in taste. 

Camels can yield ample amounts of milk in dry desert regions where other animals such as cows and sheep’s and goats have very low production.

Camels' milk is naturally acidic having a pH between 6.5–6.7. Due to the natural high acidic nature of camel milk and the desert environment usually associated with nomads.

According to USA Today, camel farms with breeding camels are adopting camel milking programs in the states of Indiana, Michigan, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, and Pennsylvania, with new milking programs set to open in Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Louisiana, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia. The camel population in the U.S. is estimated at 5,000.

Sweet Chocolate Camel Milk Recipe

Ingredients

3 cups camel milk

1/2 cup water

2 tablespoons chocolate syrup

1/2 cup white sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract


Directions

Add milk and water into a large pot and boil 5 minutes, add chocolate, sugar and vanilla stir well. Remove from heat. Drink warm or cold. 


Did you know?

Camels in Somalia are all of the one-humped Arabian camel. The livestock sector is the backbone of the Somali economy since it produces employment opportunities for over 60% of Somalians.


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