Documentary milks universal connections

The Maasai's reliance on milk extends beyond nutrition. It may have partly contributed to help shape their resilience and sharpen their instincts in the wild.

"Even with a telephoto lens, we struggled to spot wildlife, but they could instantly detect elephants in the distant jungle," Deng says.

Elephants can pose a threat to villages, so the Maasai have developed an acute awareness of their presence. "They can also quickly identify fast-moving warthogs and hyenas, which deeply impressed us. I believe this sharpness is closely linked to their diet," Deng says.

For chief director Chen Lei, the series is more than a documentary about food. It is an exploration of how a single ingredient has shaped human history.

Before filming, he and his team researched milk's evolution from an accidental discovery to an essential daily staple. "We were amazed to realize that milk is not just a simple beverage, it is one of the most profound, yet overlooked witnesses of human civilization," he says.