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Indians to enjoy country’s first camel milk ice cream 

New Delhi, Nov. 11, 2006 

A non-government organization in the western Indian state Rajasthan will test-launch a brand of camel milk ice cream, which could soon be available country-wide, a news report said Friday. The camel ice cream, with no brand name yet, comes in two flavours - kesar (saffron) and strawberry vanilla - and has been developed by Rajasthan-based Lokhit Pashu-Palak Sansthan (LPPS), an NGO that supports landless livestock owners, reported the news agency IANS. ‘‘We are marketing the ice cream first in Rajasthan and if we get a good response, we will distribute to more cities in India,’’ a spokesman said. Participants at a November 6-8 workshop of camel breeders and scientists held in the western Rajasthan city of Jaisalmer were given a taste the ice cream. ‘‘The ice cream is an absolutely delicious desert treat,’’ said Tommaso Sbriccoli, an Italian researcher at the meeting. He said it compared favourably with the gelato-frozen desert in his home country.

Numerous hotels in Jaisalmer have evinced interest in stocking up on the camel milk ice cream to attract health conscious customers, reported IANS. Camel milk is different from cow and buffalo milk. It is considered very healthy as it contains enzymes with anti-bacterial and anti-viral properties that help fight diseases. Camel milk is marketed as a health food and beauty product in the Gulf and in Africa, and according to the UN, the global market potential for camel milk is highly lucrative.