In Astana, a unique gastronomic festival "BaiQymyz - Бапталған қымыз" was held, bringing together producers, scientists, gastro-enthusiasts and ordinary connoisseurs of koumiss. More than 30 tons of koumiss were delivered to the capital from all regions of the country - this volume was recorded for the first time in the history of Kazakhstan.⠀

The festival, organized in the heart of the capital, became not only a celebration for gourmets, but also a deep reflection on Kazakh identity. "BaiQymyz" translates as "rich koumiss", but in the subtitle "Бапталған қымыз" (aged, properly prepared) - a whole layer of knowledge, traditions and technologies is hidden, which are now emerging from oblivion.

At the festival, you could try koumiss from more than 50 producers from different regions of Kazakhstan - from the steppes of Akmola region to the foothills of Zhetysu. Each sample was unique: somewhere koumiss gave a slight sourness, somewhere it resembled sparkling champagne, and in some you could catch almost creamy notes. Each of the entrepreneurs brought about 300 liters of drink, guests were able to fully enjoy koumiss and learn its real recipes.

Special attention at the festival was paid not only to taste, but also to technology. Ethnographers, biotechnologists and specialists in dairy cattle breeding spoke at panel sessions and master classes. They talked about saumal, the stages of fermentation, the role of the wooden torsyk (bellows) in the ripening of koumiss, as well as modern laboratory studies confirming its benefits.

"Koumiss is not just a national drink. It is a probiotic, an immunomodulator and, to a certain extent, a philosophy," - said one of the participants of the festival.

A pleasant discovery was the active participation of young people at the festival. Some were interested in asking questions to producers, others were tasting the drink of their ancestors for the first time and sharing their impressions on social networks. The organizers clearly bet on a new wave of interest in ethnoculture - and did not lose.

Musical performances, national costumes, a food court with koumiss-based dishes (including ice cream!) made the festival lively, inclusive and modern.

"Against the background of globalization and the rapid disappearance of local traditions, the BaiQymyz festival is not just a celebration of taste. It is an act of cultural sovereignty. A reminder that a national product can be not only part of folklore, but also become a subject of intellectual, gastronomic and economic interest," the festival organizers say.

It should be noted that the organizers plan to make the festival annual and even develop the export potential of Kazakh koumiss to foreign markets.