🥛 Moose milk

Moose milk is one of the most concentrated milks among hoofed animals. According to the FAO, the milk of the moose cow, like that of the reindeer, is creamlike in consistency: very high in fat and protein (about 10% protein on average), rich in minerals — calcium values of up to 358 mg per 100 g have been reported — and low in lactose, about 2.6% on average and as little as 0.6% in some samples.

The moose (Alces alces), also known as the European elk, lives in northern Europe and North America. According to the FAO, moose are milked only on a few farms, including in Sweden. The FAO also notes that no products made from moose milk have been described, so it remains a very rare milk.

Moose milk or cow's milk? Moose milk is far more concentrated: about 10% protein on average, three times as much as cow's milk, with very high fat and a creamlike consistency. Its lactose is lower, about 2.6% on average against nearly twice that in cow's milk. The nearest relative is reindeer milk, which the FAO also describes as creamlike. The big practical difference is availability: cow's milk is everywhere, while moose are milked only on a few farms.

Do not expect moose milk on a shelf: it is not a supermarket product, and the FAO knows of milking only on a few farms, for example in Sweden. No cheese or other product made from it has been described. If you meet an item with this name, read the ingredients list and the producer's details to see whether it holds the milk of the animal (Alces alces, known in Europe as the elk) at all.

Because of its low lactose content, the FAO calls moose milk a possible option for people with reduced lactose tolerance. It is also rich in selenium: according to the FAO, one cup (250 ml) covers the recommended daily intake for a child aged one to three, and the same cup provides as much protein as the safe intake level for children under ten.