Tag: Mare s milk

While dairy from cows, goats, and sheep is common, mare's milk remains a niche product in most of the world. There are many reasons why humans do not drink horse milk, ranging from biological and nutritional factors to historical and cultural norms that have shaped our dietary habits for millennia.

Mare’s milk has been consumed by humans for thousands of years in parts of Central Asia, where it is often fermented into a beverage called kumis. In Western countries, awareness of this alternative dairy source is growing, prompting many to question whether it's a healthy option.

While more than 30 million people worldwide consume horse milk, a practice historically linked to nomadic Central Asian cultures, it remains a commercial rarity elsewhere. So, why don't we drink horse milk in mainstream Western diets, and what factors explain this stark difference in consumption?

According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), raw milk can harbor dangerous bacteria, making the question 'can you drink horse milk raw?' a matter of serious health concern.

According to several studies, donkey milk is consistently cited as the animal milk most similar in composition to human breast milk. While no animal milk is a perfect substitute, donkey milk shares key nutritional and structural characteristics that set it apart from more common alternatives like cow's or goat's milk.

While cows provide an estimated 85% of the world's dairy products, the question of why don't humans drink horse milk is a fascinating inquiry into our dietary norms and traditions. The answer is a culmination of practical limitations, economic realities, and historical preferences, far beyond just taste.