Kumiss is the most popular beverage of the Kazak people. They make it by putting fresh milk into a large leather bag and stirring it with a large wooden spoon for a couple of hours to let the milk ferment. It is generally considered good to drink while it is still fresh on the second day. It tastes sour and sweet and is popular drink for entertaining guests and for celebrations. It is a tradition of local people who say that Kumiss is nutritious and can cure many diseases. It is often made when the grass is lush and mules and horses are giving birth. When the grass turns dry in the autumn, the newly born ponies join the group and the milking stops.