🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Mongols

Mongols are the people of Mongolia and neighbouring Inner Mongolia in China, historically nomadic herders of the Mongolian Plateau; about 3.57 million people lived in Mongolia itself in 2025 (World Bank). Many Mongolian families still live with their herds, and in summer dairy food is the mainstay of the diet.

Mongols honour five kinds of livestock: sheep, goats, cattle and yaks, horses and camels. In 2023 Mongolia had 29.4 million sheep, 24.6 million goats, 5.35 million cattle, 4.83 million horses and 474 thousand camels (FAOSTAT). Nearly all of them are milked, and tarag is soured milk from cows, yaks, goats or camels.

The main drink is airag, fermented mare's milk. In 2019 UNESCO listed the technique of making it: fresh milk is churned more than 500 times in a cowhide vessel, the хөхүүр (khokhuur), with the starter left inside. Airag is weak — 1.4–2.3% alcohol according to a 2016 analysis. A thick skin, öröm, is lifted from heated milk, and the dried curd aaruul is dried in the sun and wind.

Airag is the sacred drink of festivals, offerings and blessings. The biggest festival is Naadam, listed by UNESCO in 2010: every year on 11–13 July Mongols compete in horse racing, wrestling and archery. Since 2024 Mongolia has been among the countries of the Nowruz element, when vessels are filled with yoghurt, milk and water.

Why it matters to you. Airag is not strong liquor, but it isn't alcohol-free either: its 1.4–2.3% alcohol counts if you drive, and it is not for children. Öröm and dried curd are very filling: öröm has 67–75% fat, so both are eaten in small portions.