The dastarkhan is the ceremonial tablecloth of the Kazakh nomadic peoples, around which every meal unfolds. It begins with dairy products and bread (the "lower dastarkhan"), then comes the hot broth, and finally the meat shared by hand. Tea closes every meal. The dastarkhan is not just a meal: it is an act of sacred hospitality — refusing to eat is an offense, and each guest receives their share according to rank.

Fermented mare's milk is the cornerstone of Kazakh nomadic diet, both a daily drink, a tonic, and a festive beverage. Its slightly alcoholic fermentation and characteristic acidity are inseparable from the steppe culture. Every yurt had its own *saba* (leather pouch) where koumis matured, beaten dozens of times a day.