Koumiss - what is it? Not everyone can answer this question. Therefore, we decided to devote this article to this topic.
General information
Koumiss - what is it? This is the name of the drink, which came from the Turkic word qımız. It is a sour-milk liquid obtained from mare’s milk as a result of alcoholic and lactic acid fermentation using yeast, acidophilus and Bulgarian lactic acid sticks.
Koumiss is a whitish, frothy drink with a sour-sweet taste. Depending on the duration of the leaven, its type and conditions of creation, this product is different. Sometimes koumiss is strong, with a high alcohol content. After using it, a person can become intoxicated or come into an excited-intoxicated state.
Also, koumiss is often soothing, it even has a light sleeping pill.
History of occurrence
For the first time, nomadic tribes of Mongolia and Central Asia began to cook homemade koumiss. However, the earliest traces of the use of this drink correspond to the Eneolithic era.
According to historians, evidence of domestication of horses was found in the Susamyr Valley, as well as leather bags made from goat skins in which traces of mare's milk were found.
The nomads kept the method of preparation of the drink in question for centuries and passed from generation to generation.
The very first mention of koumiss can be found in the work of the ancient Greek historian Herodotus. In the process of describing the life of the Scythians, he said that they had a drink that was prepared by churning the mare's milk in deep wooden tubs.
Drink features
Many people know about what koumiss is made of. But not everyone knows what properties are inherent in such a drink.
During the fermentation of mare’s milk, protein is converted into easily digestible elements, and milk sugar is converted to carbon dioxide, ethyl alcohol, lactic acid and other aromatic substances. All this makes koumiss highly nutritious, easily digestible, tastes good.
According to experts, such a drink contains 0.2-2.5% ethyl alcohol. Often, koumiss is very strong. In this case, it may contain about 4.5% alcohol.
Kazakhs have their own way of making a strong drink. As a rule, the alcohol content in it is 40%.
Composition
What substances does the product in question contain? Mare’s mare is rich in vitamins B1, B12, B2, C, pantothenic acid, folic acid and biotin.
As mentioned above, this drink is obtained by fermenting milk with yeast and lactic acid bacteria. It is they who synthesize vitamins C and B, form alcohol and emit carbon dioxide, which helps to produce a refreshing fizzy drink.
Properties of koumiss
According to experts, the drink in question has a pronounced antimicrobial activity. This is due to the presence in it of antibiotic substances that are produced by microorganisms during fermentation.
Koumiss also has nutritional value and stimulates important biological processes in the body. Due to the fact that this drink contains carbon dioxide, alcohol and lactic acid, it improves digestion and excites the pancreas.
The antibiotic components of koumiss increase a person's resistance to various infections, and lactic acid bacteria improve the intestinal microflora, suppressing all putrefactive processes in it.
With the regular intake of this drink, the patient's appetite increases, as well as the absorption of fats and proteins, and weight increases. This product is able to replace hydrochloric acid if it is not enough in the contents of the stomach.
Koumiss treatment is widely used for some forms of tuberculosis, loss of appetite after debilitating diseases, stomach ailments and anemia.
Use in medicine
Koumiss - what is it? Why is this drink so popular? The fact is that this product has pronounced healing properties.
With local use of the drink, it helps to eliminate pus and heal wounds.
Curative drink of koumiss should occur according to an individual schedule. The drink should be divided into 6 times (100 or 50 ml each), gradually it is necessary to bring the total daily volume to 2.5 liters.
Koumiss should be drunk at room temperature, on an empty stomach, in small sips. Subsequently, this drink is taken 1.5 hours after breakfast and lunch, as well as 60 minutes before dinner. Before going to bed, such a product is not accepted.
Indications
Now you know what properties koumiss has. What is it, we also told above. This drink is used for scurvy, tuberculosis, gastritis, anemia, pancreatic gland diseases, neurasthenia, typhoid fever and cardiovascular diseases. It is also used to treat animals with the goal of healing wounds and with dyspepsia.
Contraindications
What fortress can koumiss have? The degree of this drink depends on the method of preparation. In any case, it contains alcohol and other acids. Therefore, it is contraindicated in diseases of the gastrointestinal tract in the acute stage, as well as intolerance to lactose and the drink itself as a whole.
Koumiss production
To prepare such a drink, mare’s milk is usually used. However, in some cases, this product is made from cow or even goat milk.
According to the producers, the mare should be milked at intervals of one hour. This is due to the fact that the udder of horses is small, and each milking can produce only 1 liter of milk. Thus, about 5 liters of the most valuable fluid is collected all day.
Kadka, or the so-called keg, which is necessary for churning milk, is a cylindrical container tapering upwards with a diameter of up to 40 cm and a height of 1 m, which is closed with a lid with a small hole in the center for whipping.
Before preparing a drink in the mare, milk must be poured with a little remaining koumiss. After that, the ingredients are shaken regularly for two days. Sometimes a piece of salted horse fat is added to the tub . This softens the taste and increases the fat content of the product.
Periodically, the koumiss fermentation barrel is completely released. It is thoroughly washed, greased with butter and smoked from the inside. When smoking, meadowsweet branches are usually used, and birch bark is ignited.
Koumiss is only "alive". It is not subject to long storage. Difficulties in industrial production, bottling and storage, as well as difficulties with milking mares make this drink expensive and not common.
Currently, some entrepreneurs produce this product in bottles and sell it through retail chains. However, it should be noted that the quality, benefits and taste properties of such a drink are quite inferior to the original koumiss.
Koumiss treatment
Now you know what koumiss is made of. For the original and nutritious drink, only mare’s milk is used. For lack of such, you can also use goat or cow. However, the taste and nutritional value of such a product is much lower.
Koumiss made from mare's milk is so useful that it is actively used for koumissotherapy. The meaning of this treatment procedure is to dose a fresh drink according to an individual schedule. Often it is combined with climatotherapy (for example, in special equipped resorts).
When koumiss treatment is necessary to reduce the nutritional value of the main diet. This is done in order to prevent excessive power.
As you know, the first koumiss medical sanatorium was opened in 1858 near Samara. Such a peculiar resort was organized by Dr. N.V. Postnikov. In only three words, he expressed the principle of action of this nutritious and miraculous drink: “Nourishes, renews, strengthens”.
A little later, kumysoleznolechniki were opened in Buryatia, the Volga region, Kyrgyzstan and Bashkiria. It should also be noted that this product was introduced in conventional medical institutions in other areas.
It is no secret to anyone that A.P. Chekhov and L.N. Tolstoy resorted to kumysotherapy.
Currently, there are only a few existing sanatoriums practicing koumissotherapy. They are located in Bashkiria (for example, "Yumatovo" and "Shafranovo").
To summarize
As you can see, koumiss is not only a very tasty and refreshing drink, but also a healthy nutritious product. Everyone can buy it in the store. However, it should be noted that koumiss, made in industrial areas and poured into glass or plastic bottles, is significantly different from a real mare product, which stray for a long time in tubs.
Taking such a drink daily, you nourish the body with vitamins, minerals and other beneficial substances. In hot weather, koumiss is very refreshing, gives strength and energy. When you use a stronger drink, it is able to act intoxicating.
Thanks to koumiss, many patients were cured of tuberculosis and anemia. In addition, this product is actively used by those who suffer from dysbiosis. After all, koumiss is able to restore normal intestinal microflora. By the way, it is often used in case of a hangover syndrome. In this condition, koumiss not only eliminates a headache, but gives strength and quenches thirst.