The most popular dairy product

The culture and lifestyle of the Mongols have been largely influenced by their long-running nomadic traditions.

One of the most popular dairy products used by the Mongols is airag, a kind of fermented mare's milk. Airag is a multi-purpose drink, fit for just about any usage. The drink - the vitamin, protein and carbohydrate content of which depends on the type and quality of grass the mares have been grazing on - is considered to have significant health benefits.

The Mongols themselves believe it to have a detoxifying effect on the body, and it's also used to treat lung and respiratory diseases, tuberculosis, and to stimulate digestion and improve a person's overall energy levels. In spite of all these beneficial qualities, however, airag's biggest distinction has to be the fact that it contains alcohol and is an integral part of any Mongolian celebration or feast.

Not all Mongolian families can produce airag, as it takes a considerable amount of time, effort and mares to produce enough milk for making the delicacy. When milked six times per day, one mare will produce roughly 1.5-2 liters of milk, which means that in order to produce enough airag for a whole family, it is necessary to keep at least a dozen mares.

In order to produce good quality airag, the milk must also be stirred 1,000 times a day. This is typically done by children who often make the tedious chore a part of their play. The airag is fermented in a specially-made animal hide bags and stirred with a special wooden stick.

Middle Gobi Province, often referred to as the Land of Airag and Long Songs, is said to produce the best airag because of the unique blend of desert grasses found there. The beautiful Northern Mountain region is also famous for producing fine airag. At any rate, it's important for the mares to graze in a cool place near rivers and lakes in order for the milk to have the right qualities to make good airag.