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Introduction
Kyrgyzstan or Kyrgyz (Kyrgyz: Кыргызстан Kyrgyzstan; in Russian: Киргизия Kirgiziya), officially the Kyrgyz Republic (in Kyrgyz: Кыргыз Республикасы Kyrgyz Respublikasy; in Russian: Кыргызская Республика Kirgizskaya respublika), is a mountainous country of Central Asia. Landlocked, Kyrgyzstan shares borders with China to the southeast, Kazakhstan to the north, Uzbekistan west and Tajikistan to the south.
Understand
History
The ancient Scythians inhabited much of present-day Kyrgyzstan. With his disappearance, the Kyrgyz people moved from Siberia. The Kyrgyz are descendants of tribes from the Tuvan region of Russia, who migrated to the area now known as Kyrgyzstan in the 13th century, during the rise of the Mongol Empire.
In 1876, with the destruction of the Khanate of Kokand, the area of present-day Kyrgyzstan was incorporated into the Russian Empire. The natives of the region were known to Russians (and, through them, Westerners) as the "Kara Kirghiz", the name "Kirghiz" was used to refer to the people who are now known as the Kazakhs. Around the same time, a widespread Muslim rebellion against the Qing government failed in northwest China, and several Uighurs and Dungan (Chinese Muslims) fled to the Russian Empire, finding new homes in what is now Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan.
With the Tsarist annexation came numerous Slavic immigrants who displaced many of the Kyrgyz and planted crops in their pastures. During the First World War, many Kyrgyz refused to support the Tsarist troops and many were massacred.
Following the creation of the Soviet Union, the Kara-Kyrgyz Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic was established within the Russian Soviet Federative Republic. A small town, formerly known as Pishkek, was chosen as the capital of the republic and was renamed Frunze in honor of a Red Army commander. (This was not an easy name to pronounce, as there is no "f" sound in native Kyrgyz words)
Two years later (1926), the Soviets attempted to classify the names of their ethnic groups: the Kara-Kirghiz Republic became the Kirghiz Republic (and the former Kirghiz Republic became the Kazakh Republic). In 1936, the Kyrgyz Republic seceded from the Russian Republic and became one of the member states of the USSR, like the Kyrgyz Soviet Socialist Republic. Kyrgyzstan changed dramatically when industrialization took over and brought factories, mines, and universities. An alphabet based on Latin and later Cyrillic was developed to reduce the Kyrgyz language to written form; Compulsory schooling was introduced and the famous Manas epic was written and published in book form. Soviet influence in Kyrgyzstan was strongly felt and many of the pre-Soviet traditions and cultures were lost and rediscovered since independence. Additionally, ethnic minorities were deported to Kyrgyzstan, including Germans, Kurds, Chechens, Poles, and Jews. This mixture of populations makes Kyrgyzstan one of the most ethnically diverse populations in Asia.
On August 31, 1991, following unrest in various regions of the Soviet Union, a coup d'état in Moscow against Mikhail Gorbachev's regime failed. This movement against the central government motivated the Kyrgyz power structure to declare its independence from the Soviet Union. Also during that time, a physicist named Askar Akayev was elected president of Kyrgyzstan, the only one in Central Asia not to have the backing of the local communist party.
To assert its independence, the new country changed the spelling of its name in Russian and English (from "Kirghizstan Киргизстан" or "Kirghizia Киргизия" to "Kyrgyzstan Кыргызстан", to be more in line with the Kyrgyz spelling), and returned ( sort de) the indigenous name of the capital (although now it became Bishkek, instead of Pishpek).
As for President Akayev, it became clear that non-partisan affiliation did not guarantee honesty. The power of the executive branch increased by suppressing the opposition, and the president secured immunity from prosecution for himself and his family. After several years of questionable elections, in March 2005, massive groups of protesters from across the country converged on the capital, prompting Akayev to flee into exile in Russia.
The leader of the Tulip Revolution, Kurmanbek Bakiyev, formed an interim government and served as president and prime minister until the end of July, when emergency elections were held. Bakiyev ran for president and won, but was unable to obtain parliamentary approval from his cabinet until five months later. After several attempts to resolve a constitution, Bakiyev declared in 2007 that all previous versions of the constitution were illegal and instituted a modified Akayev-era constitution. He then dissolved parliament and called for an early election to reform the parliamentary structure. The president's own party won the majority and the US State Department expressed deep concern over the conduct of the elections, citing several problems, including widespread irregularities in vote counting and exaggerations in voter turnout.
Weather
The climate varies by region. The southwestern Fergana Valley is subtropical and extremely hot in summer, with temperatures reaching 40 ° C (104 ° F). The northern foothills are temperate and Tian Shan ranges from dry continental to polar climate, depending on elevation. In colder areas, temperatures are below zero for about 40 days in winter, and even some desert areas experience constant snowfall in this period. The best time to visit northern Kyrgyzstan is from June to September, although hill towns like Bishkek are very hot (up to 35 ° C). The most beautiful for hiking in the low mountain areas is between April and June, when the slopes of the mountains are full of flowers. March to October is ideal for southern Kyrgyzstan. From October the high mountain passes can be closed.
Landscape
Totally mountainous, dominated by the Tien Shan mountain range; many high peaks, glaciers and high altitude lakes. Highest point: Jengish Chokusu (Pik Pobedy) 7,439 m. The mountains are beautiful for hiking.
Culture
Kyrgyzstan has a wide mix of ethnic groups and traditional cultures, with the Kyrgyz being the majority group. There are considered to be 40 clans representing the 40 rays symbolized by the 40-ray sun on their national flag. The traditional poem is the epic of Manas, named after the eponymous hero of the epic, and is longer at 500,000 lines.
Regions
Bishkek and the Northwest
| The area around Bishkek is home to most of the country's population and the fabulous Ala Archa National Park, while the western part of the country is less visited and sparsely populated. |
Issyk Kul and Tian Shan
| Adventurers visiting this remote country undoubtedly have these two names in mind, the beautiful high alpine saline lake Issyk Kul and the towering Tian Shan Mountains, Heavenly cloud, Mountains. |
Kyrgyz section of the Ferghana Valley
| Culturally vibrant, diverse, hotter, and lower than the rest of the country, the Ferghana Valley is an exotic and fertile agricultural region shared by Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan. |
Naryn region
| The region largest, poorest and most remote, but also the most typical of Kyrgyzstan. With so many superlatives, it has beautiful mountains, alpine pastures, and the picturesque Lake Son-Kul that attracts large herds of sheep and horses with their shepherds and yurts in summer as the region is dominated by animal grazing. |
To get
Citizens of all countries, including Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, can apply for types of tourist, business and group tourist visa for 30 or 90 days online through the eVisa system of the Kyrgyz Republic. [1] Evisa holders should arrive via Manas International Airport, Osh International Airport and Ak-jol checkpoint on the Kyrgyz-Kazakh border.
Citizens of 45 countries: [2] can enter Kyrgyzstan without a visa for 60 days. Citizens of 20 other countries can obtain the visa at Manas airport in Bishkek upon arrival: [3]
By plane
The main hub of Kyrgyzstan is Manas Airport in Bishkek ( FRU IATA ), but Osh airport ( OSS IATA ) is increasingly connected to great flight deals. Both airports have regular services to the international hubs of Istanbul and Moscow. In addition, there are several flights a week to regional hubs in Tashkent, Ürümqi and a weekly service to Dubai. Other destinations close to the border include Almaty in Kazakhstan or Tashkent in Uzbekistan, each a 5-hour drive away.
Please note that since 2018, a Russian transit visa is needed if you change planes in Russia, when traveling to or from Kyrgyzstan.
By train
The full long-distance train schedule at Bishkek station can fit on one screen. (The commuter train schedule is even shorter) Trains to Bishkek depart from Moscow and other stations in Russia several times a week (3714 km, the journey takes more than 3 days). This train passes through western Kazakhstan (Kazakh transit visa is required for those who need it) and is useful as such as you can use it to get Turkestan or Aral. Details can be found at poezda.net [4] or rzd.ru [5] (you can also buy tickets from the latter). The trip from Moscow costs around € 150 in third class. On the train it is forbidden to carry cans of fuel for portable stoves.
By car
Driving in Kyrgyzstan is dangerous by Western standards. However, the government has invested heavily in rebuilding a central highway network that now rivals the highways in many Western nations. The main road from Bishkek to Osh is an engineering marvel through the mountainous region. Furthermore, the road from Osh to the Chinese border at Irkeshtam and from the village of Sary Tash to the border with Tajikistan is being rebuilt in stages according to international standards. In addition, many other roads are being rehabilitated as funding allows. In addition, the maintenance roads that feed the central network are being improved as funds become available. Likewise, maintenance is being privatized on an experimental basis. This is not to say that driving in the republic is easy.
In cities and outlying areas, locals have become accustomed to the lack of road drainage covers, dry and dusty roads (where tanker trucks sometimes spray water to keep dust down) and generally poor roads that do not they have effective maintenance.
If the police stop you, it will likely cost some money.
From Kazakhstan, the Almaty to Bishkek highway is the busiest. The Kegen border can be more difficult to cross. Frequent and obvious smuggling occurs on this border, and it is quite obvious that immigration and border guards are in cahoots with the smugglers. Visa on arrival is not possible here, and if you are coming from Kazakhstan, make sure you have a double or multiple entry visa for Kazakhstan in case of problems with Kyrgyz border officials.
Be careful with the minibuses that leave as well.
Travel times :
- From Kazakhstan to Bishkek: from Almaty, which takes 5 hours, and from Taraz, which takes 5 hours.
- From Uzbekistan to Bishkek, the highway passes through Kazakhstan and the drive would take more than 10 hours, and to Osh in the south.
- From Tajikistan to Osh, the road from Khudjant (Tajikistan) and through Batken (Kyrgyzstan) to Osh. The road is one of the most difficult to drive. The main road passes through the Uzbek enclaves but there is also an alternative path around the enclaves. If you take a taxi, remind the driver to tour the small part of Uzbekistan. There is also a road from Khorog to Osh.
- From China there are two passes: Irkeshtam which leads to Osh and Torugart which leads further to Naryn.
By bus
- From Kazakhstan there are frequent marshrutkas between Bishkek and Almaty (4-5 hrs). Also, there are regular connections between Kegen in Kazakhstan and Karakol. The Kegen border crossing is open during the summer (May to September / October). In addition, there are some connections from Taraz.
- From China there is a regular bus between Osh and Kashgar (6pm).
- From Tajikistan There are shared taxis (jeeps) between Osh and Murghab.
Travel
By bus or marshrutka
The minibuses, called marshrutka , in Kyrgyzstan they are basically cargo vans (like Mercedes Sprinter) converted into buses with windows and seats. They are incredibly inexpensive and congregate in every town center or bus station. The prices for them are fixed and straightforward, but sometimes they won't come out until they're full. However, today it seems that schedules are much more reliable and enforced than in the past.
Always get your ticket at the kassa (if possible), where you will pay a fixed and predetermined rate regardless of the season, the mood of the driver or the fact that he is a tourist. If there is no kassa, ask some locals (not involved) to determine the appropriate fare for your destination and give the driver the exact amount when paying. Often times, drivers increase the price a bit when they see that you are a tourist. Sometimes they say it's extra for luggage and so on. Don't believe them, just pay the normal fee and say njet or jok. Also, always demand your change immediately. Sometimes they take your money, believing you don't know the correct rate, or they pretend to give the change later, only for you to forget to ask for it. Either way, if you do not depart from a bus station with kassa, always give the fare to the driver directly and without intermediaries pretending to "help" him.
Marshrutkas can be called anywhere, but in Bishkek it makes sense to stay at the bus stop where everyone is waiting.
For connections, see the app and website 2GIS , which is excellent for finding the correct bus or marshrutka number in Bishkek and throughout Kyrgyzstan. The service is used a lot by the locals.
By automatic stop
The hitch-hiking, commonly called hitch-hiking In Kyrgyzstan, it is the most underrated form of travel in this country. It is the most efficient and authentic way to see Kyrgyzstan, equally popular with locals and visitors. You can see a lot of locals, often babushkas dressed traditionally, hitchhiking without any fear. Almost everyone with free space in their car will pick you up, even if you're a group that would never be picked up in the west, like four guys. Truck drivers will even try to fit up to five people in their cars, just for the sake of helping out. It shows the great attitude and kindness of the Kyrgyz people. In addition, it is faster and cheaper than any other type of ground transportation.
Unlike in Europe or other western countries, in Kyrgyzstan the thumb is not raised, which apparently has a different and less friendly meaning. Instead, reach out and point 2 or 3 fingers down the road, at an angle of about 45 degrees.
Often times, the concept is merged with that of shared taxis. So the fare (if required) is generally what you would pay for a marshrutka or shared taxi, depending on the region and general availability of marshrutkas. However, many locals are happy to get a free tourist. But it is always customary to offer to pay for the trip, which they will decline if they are happy to take you for free. Truckers, for example, seem to often decline this offer. So about 50% of the time, you won't have to pay for a ride. Either way, always have 20 notes ready, especially for shorter distances.
Drivers who negotiate at the beginning of the trip will likely overcharge you, trying to make money off the fact that you are a tourist. Negotiate hard or avoid them. If you feel like you are being scammed (at the end of a trip), defend your position; other locals will most likely help you if you explain the situation. Any 50% required price beyond the marshrutka or shared taxi fare is a scam, and you should not pay it.
If you really intend to go completely free, you can try to explain that you don't want to pay; you can use the russian phrase Bez Denied . This will drive the taxi drivers away. Otherwise, the taxi drivers will tell you how much they want; you should haggle this price, especially if someone is already in the car. When haggling, it is often enough to say ochen mnogo (too much), so that the driver sees that you are not stupid and will offer you a better price. Because of this, it is better to decline offers from places that are just in your way and wait for a car that will take you directly to your destination. This does not apply to the most deserted roads, which see only a few cars in a day.
By shared taxi
Where marshrutkas are in short supply due to region or time of day, shared taxis are the preferred mode of transportation for locals. With shared taxis you will be quoted a price for a seat. If you have a lot of luggage, you should expect to pay for an additional or partial seat. However, you should always negotiate prices, as as a foreigner you will probably be asked to pay more than a local. But of course, it is never necessary to go with anyone. Just take a different driver or mode of transportation if you are not satisfied.
In taxi
Taxis abound throughout Kyrgyzstan and are especially keen on transporting tourists, due to the high margins involved. They're relatively expensive by Kyrgyz standards, and if you're traveling on a budget, most of the time they're never worth it - marshrutka and hitchhiking are the best and most authentic options.
As in most other countries, if you trust a taxi service, never trust any taxi driver, use them only for your taxi service and always agree on a price (all inclusive) when entering. Taxi drivers will overcharge tourists without hesitation. It might not sound like a lot of money, but it wouldn't do the same at home and it also corrupts the local system.
You can also purchase all the seats for a shared taxi at the bus station for a specific destination, in case you don't want to wait for the taxi to fill up before leaving.
By train
The only national rail link is the summer train between Balykchy (western end of Issyk Kul) and Tokmok to Bishkek. It's a scenic route, but the train takes at least twice as long as a taxi and costs half. You may meet a lot of interesting people, mostly retirees, who need the 40-80 soms they would save by taking a minibus or a taxi. Otherwise, there is about one train per day to the Kazakhstan border (and onward to Russia).
By plane
There are several daily flights between Bishkek and Osh. There are also a few flights a week between Bishkek and Jalal-abad and Batken. The flights are operated by local airlines using 30- to 40-year-old Soviet aircraft. On the other hand, the mechanics and drivers are well trained to handle these old beasts.
Cycling
Kyrgyzstan is popular with long-distance bike treks, particularly around Issyk Kul and passes through the southern mountains to Tajikistan.
The tunnel at Too Ashuu Pass ( Тео-Ашуу ) on the road between Bishkek and Osh it is not 2,500 m as mentioned in most maps; the tunnel is at 3,100 m.
Bicycle on buses
Unfortunately, public transportation in Kyrgyzstan consists mainly of marshrutkas. However, it is normally possible to put two bikes inside the trunk at the rear of the bus by removing the front wheel, the pedals and turning the handlebars. You may have to pay an additional fee of 100 som for each bike while transporting them on buses between Karakol and Bishkek, and travelers who pay 500 som for each bike are not unheard of. Night buses are usually large buses with enough space for bicycles.
By car (rental)
Tourists who rent a private car and drive in Kyrgyzstan are practically unknown and not recommended. The roads are in bad shape, the police are very corrupt, car insurance does not exist and hiring a taxi is too easy and cheap to make this an option. Long-term foreign residents drive frequently, but many choose to use a driver.
Kyrgyzstan is an excellent place for hiking and trekking, offering many interesting and scenic trails in the mountains or around its lakes. For reliable maps and complete trails and map information, check out OpenStreetMap, which is also used by this travel guide, and by many mobile apps such as OsmAnd (complex with many plugins) and MAPS.ME (simple but limited).
To buy
Money
| Kyrgyz som exchange rates As of January 2020:
Exchange rates fluctuate. Current rates for these and other currencies are available on XE.com |
The official currency is Kyrgyz som (written as 'сом' in the Kyrgyz Cyrillic alphabet or sometimes abbreviated as с ). The ISO international symbolization is KGS . Wikivoyage articles will use som to denote the coin.
The banknotes are available in denominations of 20, 50, 100, 200, 500, 1000 and 5000 som. The coins are available in denominations of 1, 3, 5 and 10 som.
Credit cards and ATMs
How much does it cost?
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Like other Central Asian countries, Kyrgyzstan has an overwhelmingly monetary economy. Credit cards are rarely used. ATMs are common in Bishkek, and there is a scattering of ATMs in other cities. Many only accept Visa, for Cirrus, Maestro or Mastercard, you should look for Kyrgyzkommerts or PCK ATMs. You can withdraw US dollars or Kyrgyz som at many ATMs.
Some ATMs charge a rate locally by withdrawals, such as PCK 150 som. Kyrgyzkommerts does not. Try some and you will find one free of charge.
Currency exchange
Changing money is relatively easy. Banks will accept a variety of major currencies, while the money exchange booths that are ubiquitous in urban areas will generally only trade in US dollars, British pounds, euros, Russian rubles, and Kazakh tenges. Neither banks nor exchange houses will accept any foreign currency that is broken, marked, excessively wrinkled, or defaced in any way, so be sure to carefully check any banknotes that you intend to bring into the country for defects.
Many larger cities have currency exchange booths in the center. However, the best rates can be obtained in Bishkek just around the corner from Kievskaya St. and Manas Av., Or Abdrakhmanov Sr. between Moskovskaya St. and Bokonbaev St. Exchange rates are just 1% off in interbank rates for US dollars and euros. But you can also exchange the tenge for good fares, it's probably good to get something here before heading to the border with Kazakhstan (to pay for the bus on the other side).
Negotiation
Negotiating in the markets or for food is neither necessary nor common. Prices are usually fixed and marked. Only in places where most tourists shop or are nearby, you should be careful, especially with taxi drivers. Either way, it is always better to have a rough idea of prices and fees.
Eat and drink
To eat
Kyrgyz food is the product of a long history of pastoral nomadism and is largely meat-based, meaning that virtually all traditional dishes contain meat. However, if you are a vegetarian, you can order vegetarian food and in many cases you will receive a tasty vegetarian meal without much hassle, or you can buy your own fresh fruit, vegetables and fresh bread from one of the many small stalls or food bazaars. that are ubiquitous in all cities. While some people in the West think large veggies are desirable, the rule is small and tasty. The same approach is also valid for pistachios and almonds. It is recommended to wash the vegetables before consuming them.
Besh barmak (literally: five fingers, because the dish is eaten with the hands) is the national soup dish of Kyrgyzstan (the Kazakhs would probably disagree). For the preparation, a sheep or a horse is slaughtered and boiled in a large pot. The resulting broth is served as a first course. Then the meat is divided among those at the table. Each of the attendees receives the piece of meat appropriate to their social status. The head and eyes are reserved for the guests of honor. The remaining meat is mixed with noodles and sometimes onions, and is traditionally eaten from a large common plate with the hands, although today more often with a fork or spoon. If you can get an invitation to a wedding, you will most likely have the opportunity to eat besh barmak, although you can also find it in traditional restaurants.
Most of the other dishes found in Kyrgyzstan are also common to the other Central Asian countries. Plov or osh is a pilaf dish that, at a minimum, includes julienned carrots, onion, beef or lamb, and lots of oil, sometimes raisins. Manti They are steamed dumplings that typically contain lamb or beef, but occasionally pumpkin. Samsa They are meat pies (although sometimes with vegetables or cheese) that come in two varieties: puff pastry and tandoori. Scaly somsa are made with a phyllo dough, while tandoori somsa have a harder crust, the underside of which should be cut and discarded, not eaten. LagmanIt is a noodle dish associated with Uighur cuisine, but can be found everywhere from the Crimea to Ujgurs. Most of the time it is served as soup, sometimes as pasta. The basic ingredients of lagman (plain noodles and seasoned vegetables mixed with lamb or beef) can be fried together, served one on top of the other, or served separately. The shashlik (skewers) can be made from beef, lamb, or pork and is typically served with fresh onions, vinegar, and bread.
Almost all Kyrgyz food is accompanied by tea (green or black) and a circular loaf of bread known as lepeshka. Traditionally, bread is broken for everyone by one person at the table. In the south of Kyrgyzstan, this duty is reserved for men, but in the north it is performed more often by women. Similarly, tea in the north is usually served by women, while in the south it is usually served by men.
At the end of a meal, Kyrgyz in some cases will perform a prayer. Sometimes a few words are said, but more often the sentence takes the form of a superficial glide of the hands over the face. Follow the lead of your host or hostess to avoid making cultural mistakes.
To drink
Drinking is one of the great social traditions of Kyrgyzstan. It does not matter if you are served tea, kymys or vodka, if you have been invited to drink at the table of a Kyrgyz person, you have been shown warm and friendly hospitality. Plan to sit for a while and drink your fill while you and your host try to learn from each other.
Drink tea
When they offer you tea, they may ask how strong you want it. Traditionally, Kyrgyz tea is brewed strong in a small pot and mixed with boiling water to taste. If you want light tea, say 'gengil chai'. If you want your strong red tea, 'kyzyl chai'. You may notice that they do not fill the teacup completely. This is to make them hospitable and serve you lots of tea. To order more tea, 'Daga chai, beringizchi' (Please give tea again). Your host will be happy to serve you tea until it bursts. So once you've gotten really full and don't want to drink anymore, cover your cup and say, 'Ichtym' (I've drunk). Your host will offer a few more times (and sometimes pout if you say no), this is to make sure you're really satisfied.
Restaurants and cafes offer free hot water refills if you want to empty your tea bag one more time. You usually pay for a tea bag.
Vodka
When walking into a local store, you might be speechless at the amount of vodka on display. Introduced by the Russians, vodka has brought a lot of joy and sadness to the Kyrgyz people over the years. La mayor parte del vodka a la venta se elabora en Kirguistán y puede proporcionar una de las peores resacas conocidas, principalmente si compra uno de los más baratos de forma estúpida. Pero por aprox. 2 € puedes tomar un buen vodka kirguís, por ejemplo, Ak-sai. Algunos bebedores de vodka experimentados dicen que esto se debe a que los extranjeros no saben cómo beber vodka correctamente. Para beber vodka de la manera correcta, necesita tener zakuskas (en ruso, la comida que se come con vodka). Esto puede consistir en cualquier cosa, desde simples hogazas de pan hasta deliciosos aperitivos para untar. Son bastante comunes los pepinos, los tomates y la carne agrios o frescos.
Primero, busque a alguien con quien beber. En segundo lugar, elija su vodka: cuanto más gaste, menos dolorosa será la resaca. En tercer lugar, elija su zakuska, algo salado, seco o graso. Esto es para que el vodka sea absorbido por la comida o repelido por la grasa. Cuarto, abre tu botella ... pero ten cuidado, una vez que la abres debes beberlo todo (una buena botella de vodka no tiene tapón que se pueda reponer). Ahora, vierte tus tragos. En quinto lugar, brinde: brinde por sus amigos, brinde por su futuro, brinde por sus ovejas, brinde por sus autos. Sexto, bebe! Ahora persígalo con un zakuska y repita hasta que no pueda ver la botella o esté vacía.
Si está bebiendo con los lugareños, no es un problema saltarse una ronda. Simplemente te verterían una gota simbólica y cuando tintineen vasos tienes que usar tu mano derecha y golpear ligeramente los vasos de los socios en lugar del tuyo.
Bebidas tradicionales
Los kirguises durante generaciones han elaborado su propia variedad de bebidas. Al principio, estas bebidas pueden parecer un poco extrañas, pero después de algunos intentos se vuelven bastante sabrosas. La mayoría son ligeramente alcohólicas, pero esto es solo un subproducto de sus procesos de fermentación.
En invierno, las esposas de Kirguistán preparan bozo , una infusión hecha de mijo. Se sirve mejor a temperatura ambiente, esta bebida tiene un sabor entre el yogur y la cerveza. En los días fríos de invierno, cuando está nevado, cinco o seis tazas le dan una sensación cálida y difusa.
En la primavera, es hora de hacer jarma or máxima . Jarma, una cerveza a base de trigo, tiene una calidad similar a la de una cerveza con levadura pero con un acabado arenoso (después de todo, está hecho de granos integrales). Maxim, una combinación de maíz y trigo, tiene un sabor muy fuerte y picante. Se sirve mejor helado y es una gran ayuda para los días calurosos.
En verano, las yurtas bordean la calle principal vendiendo kumys (Кумыс), leche de yegua fermentada. Sacada de barriles traídos de las montañas, esta bebida tradicional es una de las más difíciles de acostumbrar. Tiene un gusto previo muy fuerte y picante y un final ahumado. Kumys comienza como leche fresca de caballo (conocida como samal), luego se mezcla con un entrante hecho con kumys del año pasado y se calienta en una olla. La mezcla se lleva a punto justo antes de hervir y luego se vierte en el estómago de un caballo para que fermente durante un tiempo. Luego se asa una hierba local llamada 'chi' al fuego y se corta en trozos pequeños. Una vez que la leche termina de fermentar, el chi asado y la leche se mezclan en un barril y se conservarán durante el verano si se mantienen frescos.
Tang es otra bebida que se cree que es útil para la salud y buena para las resacas. Está hecho de agua de manantial gaseosa que se mezcla con un yogur cremoso salado llamado souzmu .
Otras bebidas
Kirguistán tiene su propio destilador de coñac, que produce un coñac excelente, aunque muy dulce, siendo la marca preferida "Coñac de Kirguistán", que los lugareños a veces llaman Nashe Cognac , que significa "nuestro coñac".
También puede encontrar una excelente selección de cervezas locales e importadas que no son tan excelentes, ya que muchos kirguís han estado tomando cerveza en lugar de licores más duros. Las cervezas de producción local incluyen Arpa, Nashe Pivo y Karabalta. Arpa es muy recomendable por los conocedores de cerveza. Si bien se considera una cerveza de la gente común, su estilo es algo similar a Pale Ale (aunque menos lupulado que IPA). Como los kirguisos prefieren más vodka que cerveza (medio litro de cada uno cuesta lo mismo), la cerveza permanece en tubos durante más tiempo y la limpieza regular es poco común, por lo que las cervezas embotelladas son mejores, excepto su extraño hábito de verter toda la cerveza en el vaso una vez.
También hay multitud de aguas embotelladas (carbonatadas o tranquilas) de diversas regiones del país. Especialmente popular entre los sureños es el "Jalalabad Water" ligeramente salino.
external links
Wikipedia has an article on Kyrgyzstan.w:Kirguistán
Wikimedia Commons houses multimedia content about Kyrgyzstan. Commons
