Top 3 Dairy Beverages
in East Asia

Milkis is a South Korean soft drink produced by Lotte Chilsung, a company which released the beverage in 1989, labeling it as a milk and yogurt soda. Some like to describe it as a melting mousse made with frozen yogurt. It is made with carbonated water, corn syrup, sugar, and milk. Today, Milkis is available in many varieties, flavored with mango, banana, peach, orange, strawberry, apple, or melon.Expand

Suutei tsai is a traditional tea made with tea leaves, milk, salt, and water. It is prepared by boiling water and milk and then adding tea leaves. While it brews, the tea is mixed with a ladle, which is also used to continuously pour the tea back to the pot. The tea is seasoned with salt, and it is then strained and served in small bowls. Suutei tsai is an everyday drink, which can be enjoyed throughout the day. It is often offered to guests as a welcome drink. The variations sometimes include millet flour.Expand

Kumis is a fermented dairy product that originated in ancient Mongolia, but over time it has spread throughout Central Asia. The drink is similar to kefir, but is traditionally produced from mare’s raw milk, which contains more sugar than goat’s or cow’s milk, and it is also rich in proteins and vitamin C. Due to the amount of sugar in mare’s milk, kumis has a higher level of alcohol than kefir when fermented. If distilled into the spirit, kumis becomes araka or arkhi. This light-bodied dairy drink has a slightly sour flavor and an aftertaste reminiscent of almonds. In Kyrgyzstan and Mongolia, it is traditionally served chilled in small cups known as piyala. Kumis is typically sipped, like a medicine, which is the reputatition the beverage has gained through history due to its health benefits.Expand