Day of Kalmyk tea
May 17, Saturday
Kalmykiya Republic
On the third Saturday of May, residents of Kalmykia celebrate a national memorial date — Kalmyk Tea Day (Kalm. Khalmg Tsyagin Nyar). This is a holiday dedicated to the traditional Kalmyk drink, which plays an important role in the culture and life of the Kalmyk people. This day emphasizes the importance of tea as a symbol of hospitality, health and national identity.Kalmyk tea, or jomba, is a special type of tea with milk, which is made from pressed green tea with the addition of salt, milk, butter and sometimes spices (nutmeg, bay leaf, etc.). It has a rich taste, high calorie content and is considered healthy, especially in the steppe climate.
This drink came to Kalmykia together with the ancestors of modern Kalmyks — the Oirat tribes, who traditionally engaged in nomadic cattle breeding.