Arkhi ( mn, Архи, , lit. "alcohol," sometimes translated as
vodka) is a
liquor
Liquor (or a spirit) is an alcoholic drink produced by distillation of grains, fruits, vegetables, or sugar, that have already gone through alcoholic fermentation. Other terms for liquor include: spirit drink, distilled beverage or hard ...
made from
airag, fermented milk brandy, or
isgelen tarag ( mn, исгэлэн тараг, , or kefir)
which then gets distilled. Isgelen tarag often uses the milk of
a mare,
donkeys,
sheep,
cows, the
yak
The domestic yak (''Bos grunniens''), also known as the Tartary ox, grunting ox or hairy cattle, is a species of long-haired domesticated cattle found throughout the Himalayan region of the Indian subcontinent, the Tibetan Plateau, Kachin Sta ...
,
camels (specifically, khormog () or of
reindeer, depending on local traditions or availability.
It holds special status in
Mongolia and
Inner Mongolia, both as the prime spirit of choice among pastoral units
and served to esteemed guests.
It is often reserved for the family and never sold in Mongolia, slowly being replaced by vodka, also referred to as arkhi.
In and around Inner Mongolia, it is more regularly produced and sold. Industrial production and bottling occurs in locations such as
Chifeng
Chifeng ( zh, s=赤峰市), also known as Ulanhad ( mn, (Улаанхад хот), ''Ulaɣanqada qota'', , "red cliff"), is a prefecture-level city in Southeastern Inner Mongolia, People's Republic of China. It borders Xilin Gol League to the ...
.
References
Bibliography
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Alcoholic drinks
Distilled drinks
Fermented dairy products
Mongolian cuisine
{{Mongolia-cuisine-stub