Food and drink based on milk

Kumis/kumys: Mare's milk fermented in a smoke-cured leather bag - a surprisingly refreshing, thirst-quenching drink.

Ayran: Kefir or a type of salt lassi made from skimmed or full-fat cow’s, sheep’s, goat’s or mare’s milk.

Katyk: Sour milk heated in the oven.

Shubat: Camel's milk with a high fat content, fermented in a leather bag. Shubat is used to treat tuberculosis and intestinal pain.

Irkit: A well-shaken mix consisting of freshly boiled, cooled and soured milk. Koyirtpak: A cocktail, rich in calories, of fresh milk, ayran, katyk, kumis and shubat.

Ashygan Kozhe: Boiled and soured groats from wheat, millet or rice, mixed with wheat flour and usually with milk, ayran or sour cream.

Chay po-kazakhskiy: “Kazakh tea” - black tea prepared in a special way. Heated milk is poured into a kese (tea bowl) and tea is added to it. People take special care not to fill up the bowl to its edge to prevent guests from burning their fingers. It is served with dried fruits, sweets and baursaki.

Kurt: Small dried balls from soured cow, sheep or goat's milk.

Balkaymak: Honey cream, made from boiled cream, mixed with sugar, honey and flour and added to tea.

Irimshik: Dried raw milk quark (low-fat soft cheese).

Saryssu: Dried small flans made from boiled and cooled whey.

Suzbe: Strained and salted quark made from ayran.