Heritage news
Holy daysAssociation of Indo Americans Hosts Dussehra Diwali Dhamaka 2026 in PleasantonWeddingsA love story across continents ends in a packed Vietnamese village weddingCarnivalCelebrate Native American Day in Tulsa with concert, parade and moreWeddingsAlmost two thirds of Brighton would opt for a ‘phone-free’ weddingWeddingsTill death do us part: Halloween puts a spooky spin on Las Vegas weddingsTableFrom the royal table to street food, Cambodian chefs reviving Khmer culinary heritageCarnivalMiami Carnival brings Caribbean pageantry, cultural celebration to Central Broward ParkFestivals50 years of the Red River Revel: How a one-time celebration became a Shreveport traditionHoly daysBallston Quarter Diwali Celebration: Date, Activities And DetailsSeasonsHarvest festivalHoly daysAssociation of Indo Americans Hosts Dussehra Diwali Dhamaka 2026 in PleasantonWeddingsA love story across continents ends in a packed Vietnamese village weddingCarnivalCelebrate Native American Day in Tulsa with concert, parade and moreWeddingsAlmost two thirds of Brighton would opt for a ‘phone-free’ weddingWeddingsTill death do us part: Halloween puts a spooky spin on Las Vegas weddingsTableFrom the royal table to street food, Cambodian chefs reviving Khmer culinary heritageCarnivalMiami Carnival brings Caribbean pageantry, cultural celebration to Central Broward ParkFestivals50 years of the Red River Revel: How a one-time celebration became a Shreveport traditionHoly daysBallston Quarter Diwali Celebration: Date, Activities And DetailsSeasonsHarvest festival
EveryParampara

Kumis

Fermented mare's milk, the traditional drink of the steppe.

A pattern drawn for this page, not a picture of Kumis.

Also: koumiss, airag, qymyz

Kumis is a mildly alcoholic drink of fermented mare's milk, a staple of the herders of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Mongolia. The milk is stirred in a leather bag for hours and left to ferment, producing a sour, fizzy, creamy drink. It is offered to guests, who are expected to drink a bowl as a sign of respect. In summer, when the mares are in milk, kumis is drunk throughout the day, and sanatoria in Central Asia offer kumis cures, which tradition has long praised. The drink is a symbol of nomadic hospitality and is poured at festivals and weddings.

Region: Central Asia and the Caucasus

See also

YurtDastarkhanBeshbarmak

Find traditions that mention Kumis

The weekly EveryParampara

Every week: one tradition from somewhere new, what is being celebrated around the world this week, and one idea explained.