Kumis - (kumys) - fermented mare milk. Three days kumys does have a punch,
but way, way below say, beer. Kids drink fresh kumys with no effect at all.
It is also kinda effervescent.
Wonderful drink when you get used to it - I did when I worked in Tuva (north
of Mongolia). One-two-three-day kumys is different.
Once being distilled it become arak (araka) - milk vodka. This can be
tricky. Hmm... should I say VERY TRICKY? Some people get very aggressive
under araka, much more than under vodka (being from Russia I know the
subject of aggressive behavior under alcohol real well)
It is also may be distilled two-three times. I have heard horror stories
about thrice distilled araka. Drinking araka with locals almost always ends
in wrestling with them. Usually starts in a friendly way. may end not as
friendly.
Rumor has it that Genghis warriors drank thrice distilled araka before
battles.
My advice - try it first time alone or with your close friends. Your
resistance to normal alcohol and your resistance to araka may be two
completely different things.

Sasha.



"Space Cowboy" wrote in message
om...
Okay I watch all the nature shows about Tibet. I've never seen a yak.
I did watch Julia Roberts get more giggly on fermented mares milk.
You couldn't tell if she was drunk or sober.

Jim

"Alex Chaihorsky" wrote in message
om...
Although some in this newsgroup may sneer and jeer, try adding a bit
of sugar to your oolongs and greens. For many of them, I find this
makes them "delicious" in addition to "pleasant" and "satisfying".

This is a religious issue. IMHO - if you like it - do it that way. After
I
drank Tibetan mushroom puerh homogenized with yak milk, nothing surprises
me.

Sasha.