It's a wonderfully old-fashioned concept – a milkman coming to your door every day to deliver your dairy dose.
A new service in the UAE is replicating the idea, but with a 21st-century twist. Homegrown milk brand Koita has been offering its organic products in key supermarkets, organic stores and markets, as well as schools, play areas and cafes in the region, since 2013. And it has now started a free "milkman delivery" service across the UAE and Saudi Arabia.
Since Mustafa Koita first decided to launch his own organic milk brand, he has spoken to thousands of parents around the Middle East. Out of these focus groups, as well as his own experience as a parent, have come such innovations as a 200ml, lunchbox-friendly milk carton with a twist cap. This means that the milk can be drunk in different sittings, but has also removed the need for straws, which can sometimes end up poking into little eyes. The new delivery service is another such innovation and promises to make life that little bit easier for busy parents. He has also expanded the Koita offering to include non-dairy alternatives in the form of non-GMO soy milk, with almond milk due to be added to the portfolio in January.
Koita was born out of Mustafa's desire to present his own children with healthier dietary options. "When I arrived in the UAE 11 or 12 years ago, eating habits were not great, mainly due to a lack of education," he notes. But he has seen parents become increasingly conscious of giving their kids things that are free from hormones, antibiotics and pesticides. "In the early days, the questions I had to answer were, first: 'Why organic?' And then second: 'Why Koita?' Now fewer people are asking why organic and are just asking why Koita."
The answer to that question lies in the milk's taste profile, says Mustafa. When he was developing Koita, he visited 40 farms in Europe, the United States, Australia and the Middle East, to observe how cows were treated, to analyse the environmental impacts of farm operations and transportation, and to find the best-tasting milk. He discovered it in Italy.
Produced by "happy, grass-fed cows", Koita's organic long-life milk features no toxic pesticides, artificial hormones or antibiotics, and has added halal-certified vitamin A and D3, which is particularly important in this part of the world, where so many people suffer from a vitamin D deficiency.
He acknowledges that there has traditionally been a stigma surrounding long-life, or UHT, milk. The problem, says Mustafa, is that UHT milk often has a "caramelised" taste that people don't like. But he refers back to the taste of Koita milk. "We use a unique pasteurisation process," he says. It's a "long-life milk that tastes like fresh".
If you are looking to add some goodness to your diet, milk is a good place to start, Mustafa suggests. But "not all milks are created equal", he notes.
You might be lactose-intolerant or dairy-intolerant; you might be looking for a higher fat content if you are feeding growing children, or a lower fat content if you are concerned about a growing waistline. "Everybody has different needs. What milk you choose should depend on your specific requirements."
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Read more:
Vitamin D: why we don't get enough in the UAE
What are you feeding your best friend? A look into raw, organic pet food
Where to go for rehabilitative Pilates in the UAE
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RESULTS FOR STAGE 4
Stage 4 Dubai to Hatta, 197 km, Road race.
Overall leader Primoz Roglic SLO (Team Jumbo - Visma)
Stage winners: 1. Caleb Ewan AUS (Lotto - Soudal) 2. Matteo Moschetti ITA (Trek - Segafredo) 3. Primoz Roglic SLO (Team Jumbo - Visma)
The specs: 2018 Audi Q5/SQ5
Price, base: Dh183,900 / Dh249,000
Engine: 2.0L, turbocharged in-line four-cylinder / 3.0L, turbocharged V6
Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic / Eight-speed automatic
Power: 252hp @ 5,000rpm / 354hp @ 5,400rpm
Torque: 370Nm @ 1,600rpm / 500Nm @ 1,370rpm
Fuel economy: combined 7.2L / 100km / 8.3L / 100km
The specs
Engine: 6.2-litre supercharged V8
Power: 712hp at 6,100rpm
Torque: 881Nm at 4,800rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 19.6 l/100km
Price: Dh380,000
On sale: now
Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
Vidaamuyarchi
Director: Magizh Thirumeni
Stars: Ajith Kumar, Arjun Sarja, Trisha Krishnan, Regina Cassandra
Rating: 4/5
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
Cryopreservation: A timeline
- Keyhole surgery under general anaesthetic
- Ovarian tissue surgically removed
- Tissue processed in a high-tech facility
- Tissue re-implanted at a time of the patient’s choosing
- Full hormone production regained within 4-6 months
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Teaching your child to save
Pre-school (three - five years)
You can’t yet talk about investing or borrowing, but introduce a “classic” money bank and start putting gifts and allowances away. When the child wants a specific toy, have them save for it and help them track their progress.
Early childhood (six - eight years)
Replace the money bank with three jars labelled ‘saving’, ‘spending’ and ‘sharing’. Have the child divide their allowance into the three jars each week and explain their choices in splitting their pocket money. A guide could be 25 per cent saving, 50 per cent spending, 25 per cent for charity and gift-giving.
Middle childhood (nine - 11 years)
Open a bank savings account and help your child establish a budget and set a savings goal. Introduce the notion of ‘paying yourself first’ by putting away savings as soon as your allowance is paid.
Young teens (12 - 14 years)
Change your child’s allowance from weekly to monthly and help them pinpoint long-range goals such as a trip, so they can start longer-term saving and find new ways to increase their saving.
Teenage (15 - 18 years)
Discuss mutual expectations about university costs and identify what they can help fund and set goals. Don’t pay for everything, so they can experience the pride of contributing.
Young adulthood (19 - 22 years)
Discuss post-graduation plans and future life goals, quantify expenses such as first apartment, work wardrobe, holidays and help them continue to save towards these goals.
* JP Morgan Private Bank
Company%20profile
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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RESULT
Australia 3 (0) Honduras 1 (0)
Australia: Jedinak (53', 72' pen, 85' pen)
Honduras: Elis (90 4)
Our legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
How to avoid crypto fraud
- Use unique usernames and passwords while enabling multi-factor authentication.
- Use an offline private key, a physical device that requires manual activation, whenever you access your wallet.
- Avoid suspicious social media ads promoting fraudulent schemes.
- Only invest in crypto projects that you fully understand.
- Critically assess whether a project’s promises or returns seem too good to be true.
- Only use reputable platforms that have a track record of strong regulatory compliance.
- Store funds in hardware wallets as opposed to online exchanges.
The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
More on animal trafficking
MEYDAN%20RACECARD
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