The national drink of Kyrgyzstan, “maksym,” has been inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

In a statement by the Ministry of Culture, Information, and Youth Policy of Kyrgyzstan, it was said:

“UNESCO has inscribed Kyrgyzstan’s national beverage, maksym, on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.”

The statement noted that the decision was made during the sessions of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, held in New Delhi, India's capital.

The mildly sour beverage maksym (also known as jarma), which is especially common in open-air markets during the summer months, is mainly made from barley and wheat and is usually served alongside national dishes such as beshbarmak or lagman.

Kyrgyzstan is also represented on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity with the epic trilogies “Manas,” “Semetey,” and “Seitek,” the felt carpets “ala kiyiz” and “shyrdak,” and the traditional equestrian game “kok boru.”

 

AA