🧑🤝🧑 Karachays and Balkars
Also known as: Karachay-Balkars, Karachays, Balkars
Related Turkic peoples of the North Caucasus mountain valleys near Mount Elbrus; they are credited with the origin of kefir.
The Karachays and Balkars are related Turkic peoples of the mountain valleys of the North Caucasus at the foot of Mount Elbrus. Their traditional livelihood is mountain herding, with seasonal droving of sheep and cattle to alpine pastures.
These peoples are linked to the origin of kefir. By local tradition, kefir grains — firm clumps in which lactic acid bacteria and yeasts live together — were passed down in families from generation to generation and treasured as a family heirloom. Milk was fermented in skin bags or wooden vessels and stirred from time to time. The local name for kefir is gypy ayran.
Today kefir is made all over the world, but scientists note that factory products often differ from kefir made with traditional grains. That is why samples from the North Caucasus are studied to understand where this culture came from. The Karachays and Balkars are also known for ayran, cheeses and clarified butter.
What it includes
- Traditional products
How it connects to milk
🧑🤝🧑 Karachays and Balkars ← among ← 🥛 Kefir → made from → 🥛 Milk
Links
- Where they live
- 🌍 Caucasus
- Traditional products
- 🥛 Kefir
Frequently asked questions
Who invented kefir?
Its origin is linked to the highlanders of the North Caucasus, above all the Karachays and Balkars.
What are kefir grains?
Clumps in which lactic acid bacteria and yeasts live in symbiosis; they ferment milk into kefir.
What do the Karachays and Balkars call kefir?
Gypy ayran.