A taste of China / Food & Drink
Mongolian milk tea is a traditional Mongolian beverage. To Mongolians, milk tea is not just a drink, but a culture and an expression of emotion.
Mongolian milk tea is a traditional Mongolian beverage. To Mongolians, milk tea is not just a drink, but a culture and an expression of emotion.
Lai Xiao, from Ongniud Banner in China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, wakes up early and cooks milk tea for her family. Like many other Mongolian women, cooking Mongolian milk tea is one of her daily tasks.
Lai Xiao’s grandmother was quite good at singing. Influenced by her, Lai Xiao decided that she would work in the field of culture and arts in the future.
In her 20’s, she achieved her goal. She joined Ulan Muqir, a traveling folk art troupe that perform in the grasslands, and has danced for the last 24 years in the troupe. Multi-talented, each of Wulanmuqi’s team members can sing, dance, and play musical instruments. They not only give brilliant performances on stage, but also do labor work helping out on farms. Last year, she was awarded as a national first-class actress.
The ingredients of Mongolian milk tea are typically water, milk, tea and salt. A simple recipe might call for one quart of water, one quart of milk, a tablespoon of green tea and one teaspoon of salt. Adding roasted millet to the tea gives it a slightly earthy, nutty taste, while a small amount of dried milk cake provides richness.