How is airag different from other fermented dairy products?
Airag is a mildly alcoholic, sour drink made from unpasteurized mares' milk fermented by lactobacilli and yeasts. In a 2016 study of five Ulaanbaatar samples it contained 1.44 to 2.33% ethanol, more than the 0.5 to 1.0% the paper gives for kefir.
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In this article
What is airag?
A 2016 paper in the Journal of Animal Science and Technology describes airag as a mildly alcoholic, sour-tasting drink made from unpasteurized fresh mares’ milk. It was studied in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
How is airag made?
Old or fresh airag is mixed into fresh mares’ milk at about 20%. The mix ferments in animal-hide bags at 20 to 30 C with regular beating. Lactobacilli turn lactose into lactic acid, and yeasts turn sugar into ethanol and carbon dioxide.
How does airag differ from kefir and yogurt?
| Airag (5 samples) | Kefir (per the paper) | |
|---|---|---|
| Ethanol | 1.44 to 2.33% | 0.5 to 1.0% |
The airag samples also had 1.08 to 1.62% lactic acid, 0.12 to 0.22% acetic acid and a pH of 3.53 to 3.89. The paper names the usual yogurt cultures (Streptococcus thermophilus and Lactobacillus delbrueckii ssp. bulgaricus) but gives no alcohol or pH figures for yogurt, so we do not compare those numbers.
Is airag alcoholic?
Yes, mildly, at the levels above. Alcohol content varies by batch. If you avoid alcohol, are pregnant or take medicines, ask a doctor or pharmacist.
People also ask
What is airag?
A mildly alcoholic, sour drink made from unpasteurized mares' milk, per a 2016 study of airag from Ulaanbaatar.
How much alcohol is in airag?
Five tested samples contained 1.44 to 2.33% ethanol.
How is airag made?
Mares' milk is mixed with old or fresh airag (about 20%) and ferments in hide bags at 20 to 30 C, with lactobacilli and yeasts doing the work.
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