Buyer protection
Contents
Donkey milk is exclusive because it is produced in small quantities and requires a lot of manual work before it reaches you. The price is determined by a whole chain: from the farm, through milking and laboratory testing, to frozen delivery. In this post, we go through these stages step by step.
Stage 1: Small quantities on the farm
A donkey gives milk because she has a foal. The foal comes first. What is left for humans is about 1 to 2 liters a day. For comparison: daily quantities for dairy cows are many times higher. In addition, donkeys are not animals for large herds in dairy farms. Donkey milk therefore mostly comes from smaller farms.
For you, this means: donkey milk is not a mass-produced product. Every bottle represents a small portion of a donkey's daily yield. You can read more about the biological reasons in our post Why donkey milk is so rare.
Stage 2: Hand milking
The donkey milk from DON DONKEY'S is milked by hand on European farms. It is milked in small quantities. This is time-consuming and cannot be arbitrarily accelerated. Every batch requires time, patience, and experience in handling the animals. This labor is a major part of the price.
Stage 3: Laboratory testing and freezing
Before donkey milk goes on sale, it is tested in a laboratory in Germany. After that, it is frozen. Freezing at −18 °C ensures that the milk can be stored until use. This requires a continuous cold chain: from storage to packaging and shipping.
- Laboratory testing in Germany
- Frozen storage at −18 °C
- Frozen shipping on Mondays and Wednesdays
The fixed shipping days help keep the delivery time short. This way, the milk is unlikely to be shipped over the weekend.
Stage 4: Further processing into powder and cheese
Some of the donkey milk is further processed. This makes its exclusivity even clearer:
| Product | What is behind it |
|---|---|
| Donkey milk powder | Freeze-dried donkey milk. 10 g of powder and 90 ml of water yield about 100 ml. |
| Donkey cheese | About 25 liters of donkey milk are needed for 1 kg of cheese. |
Especially with cheese, it becomes clear why it is one of the rare specialties: Around 25 liters of milk correspond to the daily yield of many donkeys. If you would like to try it, you can find it under Donkey cheese.
How to get the most out of your donkey milk
When a food is rare and labor-intensive, it pays to handle it carefully. Here are a few tips:
- Thaw slowly: Thaw the milk in the refrigerator at 2–7 °C. Allow yourself enough time for this.
- Read the label: Please follow the instructions for preparation and storage on the label.
- Try first, then plan: With the Connoisseur Tasting Set, you can try different products before committing.
- Enjoy mindfully: Donkey milk tastes great plain, in coffee, or in simple recipes.
You can find detailed instructions in the post Thawing and storing donkey milk.
What exclusivity means for you as a customer
For donkey milk, exclusivity mainly means: limited and requiring planning. Because the quantities are small and the milk is shipped frozen, it pays to plan your purchases in advance. Order so that you can receive the delivery at home and put it directly in the freezer. Make sure there is enough space there.
If you are new to donkey milk, start with a small amount. The Mini-Duo is ideal for discovering the taste. If you prefer to stay flexible, go for the powder: It can be mixed in portions and takes up no space in the freezer. This way, you can decide which form best suits your daily life.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is donkey milk more expensive than cow's milk?
A donkey gives only about 1 to 2 liters of milk a day in addition to the milk for the foal. On top of that, there is hand milking, laboratory testing, freezing, and refrigerated shipping. These factors determine the price.
Where does DON DONKEY'S donkey milk come from?
Our donkey milk is milked by hand on European farms and laboratory tested in Germany. It is delivered frozen.
On which days is it shipped?
We ship on Mondays and Wednesdays. This keeps the delivery time as short as possible and ensures the goods are not in transit over the weekend.
Is donkey milk available regularly on a fixed schedule?
Yes, through our monthly Vital Program. You can find the details on the page.
