Ayran is one of the oldest dairy products with a long history. The drink is made on the basis of katyk. The recipe for its preparation in different nations has some differences. Ayran can be very thick or similar to kefir.
Ayran's story
Ayran was cooked in ancient times. There are, for example, facts confirming the existence of his recipe for several centuries BC. The ancient Greeks became the inventors of the drink. In difficult times, the population needed a product that was stored for a long time, satisfies hunger and thirst, and at the same time retains its nutritional properties. Ayran was the perfect solution to all these issues.
Susab is a product made from ayran. The drink has a frothy consistency, which is why it is often called "milk and sour champagne".
Gradually, the recipe for the drink spread throughout the world. He gained particular popularity among the inhabitants of the Caucasus and Asia. Moreover, according to some scientists, it is in this product that the secret of Caucasian longevity is hidden. One of the varieties of ayran, especially beloved by the inhabitants of the Caucasus, is the “tan” drink. It is especially recommended to be consumed in hot weather. Tan has invigorating and even soothing properties. Its main advantage is instant thirst quenching.
Many legends are associated with ayran. In mixed marriages, for example, girls quite often asked for the recipe for this drink as a pre-wedding gift.
Ayran's composition
Katyk is a product that is obtained from milk by a special fermentation method. For the preparation of ayran, as a rule, cow's milk or sheep's milk, salt and water are used. The consistency of ayran depends on the additional ingredients. If you make a drink based on boiled water and ice, then the product is more liquid. With a long process of fermenting milk or storing it in a warm place, ayran becomes thicker.
The main feature of katyk is the use of exclusively boiled milk in combination with live mother's starter culture. It is noteworthy that the acidity of the finished ayran is constantly increasing during the entire period of its storage. Distinguish between "young" and "mature" drinks.
Useful properties of ayran
Ayran is used not only as a drink, but also in cosmetology. It is believed, for example, that a mask of ayran and cucumber pulp makes the skin smooth, relieves various irritations and has a lightening effect. Hair balms and medical compresses, as well as medical mixtures, are made from the drink. They are treated for burns, food poisoning, and some liver diseases.
Ayran is widely used in cooking. It has been proven that the special composition of the drink improves digestion, due to which it is used to prepare dressings for hard-to-digest meat dishes.
Numerous studies of the components of ayran have proved that this drink, despite its thick consistency, is a very light product. Sour milk mixture is especially popular with people seeking to lose weight. Ayran is considered an ideal product for "fasting days".
