🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Kazakhs

Kazakhs are a Turkic people, the main population of Kazakhstan, historically nomadic herders of the steppe. For centuries the Kazakhs practised nomadic and semi-nomadic herding in the steppes and semi-deserts, moving herds of horses, sheep, goats, cows and camels between summer and winter pastures. Dairy food was central to this way of life, especially in summer, when the animals give the most milk.

The main drink is koumiss (qymyz) made from mare’s milk; camel’s milk is made into shubat. Kurt — salty balls that keep for months — is pressed and dried from soured milk. Ayran, cream and clarified butter are also common. Offering a guest koumiss is a sign of respect and hospitality.

The horse breeder’s calendar is tied to koumiss. The spring rites of Kazakh horse breeders — “bie bailau” (the first milking of the mares) and “qymyz muryndyq” (the opening of the koumiss season) — were inscribed by UNESCO on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2018. Today most Kazakhs live a settled life, but koumiss and shubat remain popular and are also produced industrially.