Arkhi

Arkhi
TypeMilk brandy, distilled from kefir[1]
Country of origin Mongolia[citation needed]
Alcohol by volume Up 10%, depending on distillation cycle[1]
ColourClear-white
IngredientsFermented milk
VariantsAirag, kefir

Arkhi (Mongolian: Архи, ᠠᠷᠢᠬᠢ, lit. "alcohol," sometimes translated as vodka) is a liquor made from airag, fermented milk brandy, or isgelen tarag (Mongolian: исгэлэн тараг, ᠢᠰᠬᠦᠯᠡᠩ
ᠲᠠᠷᠠᠭ, or kefir)[1] which then gets distilled. Isgelen tarag often uses the milk of a mare, donkeys, sheep, cows, the yak, camels[2] (specifically, khormog (ингэний хормог) or of reindeer, depending on local traditions or availability.[3] It holds special status in Mongolia and Inner Mongolia, both as the prime spirit of choice among pastoral units[1] and served to esteemed guests.

Look up архи or Arkhi in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

It is often reserved for the family and never sold in Mongolia, slowly being replaced by vodka, also referred to as arkhi.[4]

In and around Inner Mongolia, it is more regularly produced and sold. Industrial production and bottling occurs in locations such as Chifeng.

  1. ^ a b c d Mongol Arkhi - Монгол Архи. mongolfood.info.
  2. ^ Klein-Lecat & Le Jaquen 1979, p. 181.
  3. ^ "Le koumys, koumis ou aïrag". cfaitmaison.com. Archived from the original on Nov 14, 2023.
  4. ^ Ruhlmann 2006, pp. 111–113, 217.