Airak For Beginners

Airak is a mildly alcoholic drink made by fermenting mares milk, it is the drink of choice amongst Nomads in Mongolia and is offered to anybody visiting a Ger, near Ulaan Bataar, Mongolia - 10th August 1995. This picture depicts a young child being offered Airak in the family Ger; Mongolia gained Independence from the Soviet Union in 1990, having been subject to Communism and Russian rule since 1924. As with other countries that gained their Independence when Communism fell Mongolia experienced a resurgence of culture in the period immediately following Communism’s collapse. Nomadic Herders whose herds had been centrally controlled under Communism were free again to herd for themselves and revive their ancient traditions, many of which stemmed from the times of Chinghis Khan. (Photo by Richard Manning/Getty Images)