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Is donkey milk just a social media trend? A look back at history shows that donkey milk has been used since antiquity—as food, a luxury product, and in personal care. What is new is that, thanks to freezing and freeze-drying, it is now available outside the regions where it is produced. In this post, we explore what about donkey milk is traditional and what is a modern trend.
Donkey Milk Through the Ages
The history of donkey milk can be traced back more than two millennia. Much of it has been passed down, and some of it is well documented. Here is a brief overview:
- Ancient Egypt: According to legend, Queen Cleopatra bathed in donkey milk. It is not certain whether this story is entirely accurate, but it has shaped the image of donkey milk as a luxury product to this day.
- Roman Empire: Poppaea Sabina, the wife of Emperor Nero, is also said to have used donkey milk in her baths. Wealthy Romans also valued donkey milk as food.
- Ancient texts: According to legend, Hippocrates already mentioned donkey milk in his writings. For us, this is a detail of cultural history, not a statement about the properties of the milk.
- 19th century: In Paris and other European cities, donkey owners walked through the streets with their animals. The milk was milked at the door and sold fresh.
- 20th century: With the industrialization of the dairy industry, donkey milk largely disappeared from cities. However, small donkey farms kept the tradition alive in Southern Europe.
Why Donkey Milk Was Always Rare
There is a simple reason why donkey milk never became a mass-market product: A donkey only produces milk while nursing its foal. The foal drinks first, and only a portion is milked. This yields about 1 to 2 liters per day. For comparison: A dairy cow produces many times that amount.
This small quantity explains why donkey milk has always been something special. It was never a staple food for everyone, but rather a specialty for special occasions. Nothing has changed on that front to this day.
What Is Different Today
In the past, fresh donkey milk was only available where donkeys were kept. Today, two processes make it available over long distances:
- Freezing: Fresh donkey milk is frozen and shipped frozen. At home, store it at −18 °C and thaw it slowly in the refrigerator at 2–7 °C.
- Freeze-drying: Donkey milk is turned into a fine powder that can be stored dry. As a guideline, about 10 g of powder and 90 ml of water yield around 100 ml of donkey milk.
At DON DONKEY'S®, donkey milk is milked by hand on European farms, laboratory-tested in Germany, and delivered frozen. Orders are shipped on Mondays and Wednesdays. Please pay attention to the information on the label for all products.
Hype or Tradition? An Honest Assessment
Of course, there is also a certain hype. On social media, donkey milk is sometimes advertised with grand promises. We do not believe any of them. Donkey milk is a food, and its characteristics can be described objectively:
- Composition: Per 100 ml, donkey milk contains about 35 to 45 kcal, usually less than 1 g of fat, about 1.5 to 1.9 g of protein, and about 6 to 7 g of lactose.
- Taste: mild, slightly sweet, and thin.
- Origin: small farms, handmade, small quantities.
Those who try donkey milk usually do so out of curiosity about its taste and history. In our view, that is the most honest reason. You can read more about common misconceptions in our post Myths and Truths About Donkey Milk.
How You Can Enjoy Donkey Milk Today
Its uses are much more versatile today than in the past. Here are a few ideas:
- pure and well chilled as a small glass for breakfast
- in coffee or tea
- in porridge, a smoothie, or a dessert
- as donkey cheese with bread, honey, or a glass of wine
Those who want to experience fresh milk and powder side by side can start with the Mini Duo.
Frequently Asked Questions
Since when has donkey milk been used?
Traditions date back to antiquity. The stories of Cleopatra and Poppaea Sabina, who are said to have bathed in donkey milk, are particularly well known.
Why is donkey milk so expensive?
A donkey produces only about 1 to 2 liters of milk per day in addition to what its foal drinks. It is milked by hand or in small quantities. This makes donkey milk rare and labor-intensive.
What does donkey milk taste like?
Mild, slightly sweet, and thin. Many compare it to very light cow's milk.
Can I freeze donkey milk?
Fresh donkey milk from DON DONKEY'S® is already delivered frozen. Store it at −18 °C and thaw it slowly in the refrigerator. Please pay attention to the information on the label.
