What is colostrum and what should it look and taste like?
Colostrum is the pre-milk fluid produced from a mother’s mammary glands during the first 72 hours after giving birth and is considered nature’s perfect food. Colostrum contains life-supporting immune and growth factors, is protein rich, and has a perfect combination of vitamins, minerals, and amino acids. Colostrum is vital to the health, growth, and immunity of the newborn. All colostrum should be an off-white color and have a very fine texture, unless it is agglomerated (made coarser to dissolve in water) or has high levels of flow agent. High-grade whole colostrum (colostrum containing its natural fat) should have a flavor similar to powdered milk, but more rich and creamy. Although we find it palatable, it can be unpleasant to some individuals. Partially defatted colostrum has a stronger flavor similar to buttermilk. Filtered colostrum has a very flat flavor that is quite unpalatable. Because of its flavor, we only offer it in encapsulated form.
