A Turmush correspondent spent time with him to learn about his work.
Bazarali, known as a kumis maker, has regular clients who come for mare's milk even in winter. His activity began due to his wife's illness.
“In 2020, my wife was diagnosed with esophageal cancer, and I stayed home to take care of her. We started giving her mare's milk, but it often soured. So, I took a mare with a foal from my brother and began milking myself, which led me to start producing kumis,” he shared.
From Kara-Köl, where he observed the preparation of kumis since childhood, Bazarali learned this craft after some failures. He cared for his wife for three years, but then she passed away. “I am learning to earn on my own to support my family,” he noted.
Gallery: Maksutov Bazarali has been milking mares and making kumis for six years
He currently has three mares in his yard, from which he gets about 12 liters of milk a day, milking every four hours.
“In winter, I milk less frequently, but even at two in the morning, I get up to avoid harming the mares,” he said.
He sells kumis for 200–250 soms per liter, and mare's milk for 400–500 soms. “People appreciate my work,” Bazarali added.
He buys feed from the company "Atalyk," and half of his income goes towards their maintenance.
When choosing mares, Bazarali pays attention to their character and udder. “An old mare can give a lot of milk,” he noted.
He prefers not to take large mares due to a lack of space and also monitors their health and behavior.
Bazarali uses a flask to prepare kumis and smokes it with corn cobs. “I don’t understand the gas problems with some plastic bottles,” he said.
Clients order his kumis for celebrations and send it to relatives abroad. One of his recent orders was for 100 liters, which he fulfills with the help of his new wife.
