What is airag made of?
Airag is made from mare's milk fermented with a yeast and bacteria starter. Mongolian herders churn the milk in a cowhide vessel called a khokhuur, more than 500 times according to UNESCO. The result is a slightly sour, fizzy drink with a low alcohol content, reported at about 2 to 3 percent.
Free download
Milk and Dairy Storage Chart (PDF): How long milk, plant milks, cream, yogurt and kefir last, opened and unopened. 23 rows, each with its source.
Thank you
Your chart is ready
We use your email only for this download.Also free:
Home Bar Storage Chart (PDF)Juice, Soda and Water Storage Chart (PDF)Coffee, Tea and Hot Drinks Storage Chart (PDF)Drink Strength, Calories and Units Cheat Sheet (PDF)Want the full pack? About 10 printable sheets: a larger chart for each drink type, a “has it gone off?” checklist, date labels, a party planner and an inventory sheet.
In this article
What is airag made of?
Airag is a fermented drink made from mare’s milk. Some makers also use camel or cow milk, according to one dairy reference, but mare’s milk is the traditional base. A starter drives the fermentation, which gives a mildly fizzy, sour drink.
How is it made?
- Herders milk the mares and cool the fresh milk.
- The milk goes into a khokhuur, a cowhide vessel, with a starter already inside.
- It is churned with a wooden paddle (buluur) again and again. UNESCO says more than 500 times; Cheese.com gives 3,000 to 5,000 stirs over one or two days.
- It ferments into a mildly fizzy, sour drink.
Is airag alcoholic?
Yes, slightly. Cheese.com gives about 2 to 3 percent alcohol. The strength depends on how long it ferments. Treat it as an alcoholic drink if you are driving, pregnant, or avoiding alcohol.
Taste and serving
- Mildly bubbly, sour, with a slight sweetness; best chilled.
- Offered to guests as a sign of hospitality and at festivals such as weddings and Naadam.
Cultural status
UNESCO lists the traditional technique of making airag in the khokhuur, and describes it as part of the everyday diet of herders and a drink used in offerings and blessings. UNESCO’s text also says it is believed to help with certain illnesses; that is a traditional claim, not a medical claim we endorse.
Related drinks
Airag is different from tarag, Mongolia’s yogurt, and from isgelen tarag, a kefir-like drink.
People also ask
What animal's milk is airag made from?
Mainly mare's milk; camel or cow milk may be used by some makers.
Is airag alcoholic?
Slightly. Reported at about 2 to 3 percent, though it varies.
How is airag made?
Mare's milk is churned with a starter in a cowhide khokhuur until it ferments.
Sources
About · How we verify this · Editorial policy · Corrections
What would help you most next?
One tap. Anonymous. It helps us decide what to build.
Thank you. The free charts above are yours to keep.
