Kumis, also known as kumiss, kumiz, and koumiss (not to mention kymys, kymyz, kumisz, kymyz, or qymyz, as well as қымыз, kımız, кымыз, кымыз, ҡымыҙ, and qımıź, yes, even кымыс and хымыс, but rather seldom qimiz) is a drink 1. made from horse milk, 2. fermented, and 3. as nutritious as laxative.

So when the year’s first kumis (pronounced kms) is served on the high plateaus of the beautiful Kyrgyz mountains, the one who makes it first to the earth closet wins.

Its delicious taste is well worth the race¹².