Fermented milk products of Ladakh

132-138Ladakh, situated in the western Trans Himalaya, is a high altitude cold arid region of India. It is one of the remotest and least accessible regions in the world.<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"> The area remains cut off from rest of the country for about five months in a year. Meagre precipitation and extremely low temperature during winter months results in a very short growing season. Limited availability of vegetables and fruits is a major concern for the general health of the local inhabitants. Thus, milk and fermented milk products are very crucial for nutritional security of the local people. Being pastoralist by tradition, Ladahkis have developed various methods of fermenting and preparing ethnic milk products. Milk of female yak and yak-cattle crossbreds (zho) is the main substrate used for preparing fermented milk products. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Jho, tara, labo, chhurphe, maar and<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"> thuth are the such important ethnic products relished by the local people. These products not only supplement their nutritional intake but also augment their income.