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The ethno-festival Kymyz-Fest-2023, dedicated to the traditional ancient drink called ‘kumys,’ was held in the picturesque high-mountain gorge of Chunkurchak in the Chui region of Kyrgyzstan. Hundreds gathered around the yurt camp, took part in a variety of competitions, and treated themselves to the national beverage. Kumys, or kymyz, is a fermented dairy product traditionally made of mare milk, which contains more sugar than cow milk. Fresh milk is poured into a special leather container, where it’s fermented over the course of hours, sometimes days. The drink should be regularly churned and shaken for a few hours until it is ready. According to the Kymyz-Fest-2023 organizer, one of the goals of the event is to raise the national spirit of the Kyrgyz people.
