Kazakhstani Cuisine - Beverages

Beverages

The traditional drinks are fermented mare's milk (kumys), camel's milk (shubat), cow’s milk (airan), as well as sheep milk and its products, kaymak (sour cream), katyk or ayran (buttermilk), kurt, which is made from dried cheese and whey rolled into balls, and irimshik (dried sour milk product similar to kurt, but not rolled into balls). These drinks were traditionally consumed with the main course. However, meals often end with Kumys as well and then tea. In the summer, chal is one of the staple foods of the Adai Kazakhs. Black tea was introduced from China since the foundation of Silk Way and was traditionally consumed with sweets after the main course. Nowadays tea (with milk) has virtually replaced other traditional drinks.