Nomadic Heritage · Fermented Mare's Milk
Kumis (Qymyz)
📷 Closely related photo — Photo: Изд. маг. В.И. Асмолов и Ко. в Самаре / Wikimedia Commons · Public domain
It's mildly alcoholic and slightly fizzy — fermented mare's milk that Kazakh herders have brewed the same way for over 2,500 years.
Kumis is made by fermenting raw mare's milk with lactic bacteria and yeast, producing a tangy, effervescent drink with a light alcohol content. It's traditionally made and sold at roadside stalls and yurts during the summer grazing season, when mares' milk is most plentiful.
Why it's made this way: As Kazakhstan's national drink, kumis carries deep nomadic roots — refusing a guest's offered cup was historically considered a serious breach of hospitality.
More from Kazakhstan
Part of World of Street Food — 690 dishes from 118 countries.
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