Elements
Traditional knowledge related to making of dairy products (airan, suzmo, kurut, ezhigey, melted butter)
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Manage No, Sortation, Country, Writer ,Date, Copyright Manage No EE00000439 Country Kyrgyzstan ICH Domain Knowledge and practices about nature and the universe Address All regions of KyrgyzstanYear of Designation 2011
| Description | Kyrgyz people usually fermented dairy products. It can explained by the fact that fermented dairy products was the best way to preserve and consume milk. Main fermented cow dairy products are: ‘airan’ -yoghurt like product, which is fermented 5-6 hours; ‘suzmo’ which is prepared by adding some salt into airan. Suzmo also serves as a main ingredient for other dairy product such as ‘kurut’ (dried balls, made out of suzmo). Kurut used to be a snack in almost every household and has various types as ‘chii kurut’ or ‘mai kurut’. ‘Ezhigey’ is also one of the popular dairy products, which is particularly a cheese, made of sheep milk. Melted butter is prepared by boiling "kaymak" (fatty sour cream) |
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| Social and cultural significance | Milk is sacred for Kyrgyz people and considered as a source of well-being. That is why milk is not carried around, sold or given to someone else in the evening. Traditionally, milk was considered a gift from the Creator and that is why it was never sold. Nomadic and pastoral lifestyles are unthinkable without milk. A big advantage of fermented dairy products is the fact that they can be stored for a long time, which is crucial for a nomadic lifestyle. Dairy products are present in many Kyrgyz rituals - yryms. For example, a small piece of sary mai (melted butter) is placed in the mouth of a new-born child. Upon entering the groom's house, the daughter-in-law is also given a piece of sary mai to put in her mouth. Besides, she must swallow it. Long before the birth of a child, grandmothers make sary mai and store it in “karyn” (sheep’s stomach). Filled "karyn" signifies a full stomach and prosperity. Meaning that all of the family members are protected from the hunger, as well as any stomach diseases. Kyrgyz people say: “Mai zhebegen tomoyak bolot” (those who do not eat fat will become poor). The elders tried to force the youth to eat fatty foods so that they would have the strength to withstand the harsh natural conditions that pursued the nomads in the mountainous regions. Fermented dairy products have healing properties and are an exceptional source of essential mineral salts, microelements and vitamins. |
| Transmission method | The specific features and knowledge concerning the element has been mainly transmitted in a natural way through demonstration |
| Community | Community of traditional cooking practitioners and wider community |