Reindeer milk and yak butter
“Milk comes from the reindeer. Everyone knows that.” Paavo pushed back
his brightly colored hat to scratch his head. “At least I thought
everyone knew that,” he said. “My father has the finest herd of reindeer
in Lapland. We use their hides for tents and for clothes. We eat their
strong-tasting meat. And their rich milk makes the best butter and
cheese.”
Vashni smiled shyly and pulled her sari up around her shoulders. “I am
sorry to tell you, but milk comes from the water buffalo. In my village
in India, every family drinks the milk of the buffalo.”
‘Whoever heard of drinking buffalo milk?” laughed George. “Milk comes
from cows. On our farm in Wisconsin, we have more than 300 milk cows.
Each cow gives more than 3,000 quarts of milk a year.”
“How can what you say be true?” asked Abdul. “All the children of my
tribe drink the milk of the camel. Camels have very bad tempers, but
very good milk. It is rich and thick and makes good cheese. Ask any Arab
in Saudi Arabia. What I tell you is so.”
“Why ask an Arab? I know where milk comes from.” shouted Orestes. “It
is a fact that milk comes from a goat. And if you want good cheese, try
some Greek feta. My mother makes it from goat’s milk.”
Jamal shook his head in wonder. “Never before have I heard a yak called
by so many different names.” He looked at his friends, a happy smile on
his face. “But I joke. Each of you is right. All these animals give
milk. And each of you is wrong, for no milk is as good as the milk of
the yak. And as for yak butter—well, that is the best. Come with me to
Tibet and you will find out where milk comes from.”
