Kysle moloko (soured milk)

What it is

Kysle moloko, or kyslyak, is cow's milk that has soured on its own, without any separate starter culture: it becomes thick and sour due to lactic acid bacteria that are already present in the milk. Fresh milk is not boiled — the jug is simply left in a warm place.

In the book 'Boyko Cuisine' (Lviv, 2020), among ancient dishes, there is a mention of drucakana — mashed — potatoes, which were eaten hot 'with bread or with sour or sweet milk.' Sour, that is, kysle, milk is also included in Boyko recipes for dough and flatbreads.

The Hutsuls have their own sour milk product — huslianka: the milk for it is first boiled and then fermented. ZN.UA, describing Hutsul cuisine, notes that huslianka is similar to kysle moloko but has a distinctive taste. Thus, kyslyak and huslianka are relatives, but not the same.

History and name

Kyslyak is one of the oldest dairy products in Slavic cuisine; the Ukrainian Wikipedia lists its folk names: samokysh, samokys, sour milk. In the mountains, where cows were kept in almost every household, sour milk was a daily food, not a festive one.

Ingredients and allergens

Cow's milk—The raw material for huslianka, cow's budz, and cheese koniki.Contains allergens: milk

Contains allergens: milk
Diet: vegetarian · gluten-free · no cooking

Ingredients of the traditional recipe; every cook and every place may do it differently — please ask when ordering. We cannot guarantee the absence of allergens or traces.

How it is made

Fresh raw milk is poured into a clay jug or bowl and left in a warm place for one to two days until it thickens and becomes sour. Then, the kyslyak is placed in a cool environment.

Where it is eaten

All of Ukraine; in the Carpathians, the custom is recorded among the Boykos, while the Hutsuls more often make huslianka. The area is not limited to the mountains.

When it is eaten

Occasions: Everyday food

In tradition

Kysle moloko is a daily food for mountain families: it was drunk with potatoes, and used to knead dough for flatbreads.

Safety

Kyslyak made from raw milk is not recommended for pregnant women, small children, and people with weakened immune systems: raw milk may contain harmful bacteria. It contains milk (lactose).

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