Kim Kardashian drinks it, but is camel milk really the new soya?

That's right, the humped mammal could offer more than just an uncomfortable tourist ride...

That's right, the humped mammal could offer more than just an uncomfortable tourist ride...

Cow’s milk has had a tough few years, competing with non-dairy alternatives that have come into fashion. These days the milk marketplace is filled with ‘cleaner’ options: almond, soya and coconut.

Well bad luck dairy, but you’ve got yet another competitor and it’s already taking the world (and Kim Kardashian's Instagram account) by storm: camel milk.

Yes we’re serious – camel milk is actually a thing.

With the exception of human milk (erm no thanks), the super drink is actually said to have the highest nutritional value of all milks – boasting health and beauty benefits that eclipse its alternatives.

The low-fat beverage is said to contain 10 times more iron and three times more vitamin C than cow’s milk and is packed with healthy minerals and even insulin – making it a potential treatment for Diabetes.

Despite being a current health food trend, camel milk is not a new discovery. Widely consumed as a traditional Middle Eastern breakfast staple, it has been around for centuries.

If like us, your first thought is ‘well that’s nice, but where the hell am I going to get a camel to milk?’ – don’t stress. Surprisingly camel milk is actually readily available in the UK, with Camel Milk UK being the premier supplier and sites like Desert Farms shipping to Europe.

It is important to note, however, that camel milk is just as expensive as it is popular, costing far more than your regular cup of dairy. Why? Camel milk is a lot pricier to produce, supposedly being 50 times more expensive to harvest than that of cows.

We’re not too sure how we feel about the trend yet ourselves, but we have no doubt that camel milk is the next big thing.

Jenny Proudfoot
Features Editor

Jenny Proudfoot is an award-winning journalist, specialising in lifestyle, culture, entertainment, international development and politics. She has worked at Marie Claire UK for seven years, rising from intern to Features Editor and is now the most published Marie Claire writer of all time. She was made a 30 under 30 award-winner last year and named a rising star in journalism by the Professional Publishers Association.