What are the cultural and historical uses of moose milk?
Moose milk has been drunk for centuries in parts of Scandinavia and Russia, and it is still made in very small amounts. The best-known use today is moose cheese from the Elk House (Alges Hus) farm in Bjurholm, Sweden, made from the milk of three females. The cheese is a rare, expensive specialty, and moose are not commercial dairy animals. Do not confuse it with Canadian "moose milk," a cocktail.
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In this article
What is moose milk used for?
Moose milk is mostly a curiosity today, but it has a long history in northern regions. In Scandinavia and Russia, where moose are called elk, the milk has nourished people for centuries. Across northern latitudes one magazine reports it was used in folk remedies for stomach illness and other conditions; these are traditional beliefs, not proven treatments.
Moose cheese: the best-known use
The most famous moose milk product is cheese from Alges Hus (Elk House) in Bjurholm, Sweden, a farm with semi-domesticated moose. Three females supply the milk, and the farm makes four rotating varieties of cheese from the butterfat-rich milk.
Why is it so rare?
- Short season: moose give milk for only about five months each summer.
- Small yield: about five liters a day per animal, high in butterfat.
- Limited sales: the cheese is sold at the on-site restaurant and a few nearby shops, and one magazine report put the price near $500 per pound.
One report listed the farm as temporarily closed in January 2023, so check with the farm before planning a visit. We cannot confirm whether you can buy real moose milk today; it is not sold in regular shops.
Real moose milk or the cocktail?
“Moose milk” is also the name of a cocktail in Canada, usually made with milk and alcohol such as rum. It contains no moose milk. That can explain some of the searches on the topic.
Can you buy moose milk?
- Raw moose milk is not sold commercially in most countries.
- Moose cheese is an extremely limited specialty product.
- Be wary of any online seller claiming to sell it.
This is general information; sources on this topic are limited and some details are from older reports.
People also ask
Can you make cheese from moose milk?
Yes. A farm in Bjurholm, Sweden has made moose cheese, but it is extremely rare and expensive.
Is real moose milk sold?
Almost never. There is no commercial moose dairy industry, and the one known cheese farm has limited sales.
What is moose milk the cocktail?
A Canadian drink made from milk, spirits and flavorings. It has no actual moose milk in it.
Sources
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