Harsh terrain, nomad culture and insane weather have shaped a truly unique drinking culture in Mongolia. From Ulaanbaatar to the remotest steppe, Mongolians drink in ways that are functional, social, and occasionally terrifying.
This guide will take you through the best drinks in the country, whether you are into alcohol, teas, or the infamous fermented yak milk.
Click for my take on Mongolian Cuisine.
Table of Contents
Mongolian Drinking Culture
Mongolian drinking culture is fucking insane and in many ways comparable with other extreme places, such as Russia and Finland. On a plus point drinking is very sociable and everyone, including women and young adults do it. Therefore it is a great way to sample the culture.
This though of course also has a negative side! There is alcoholism here and violence that comes with that. People here are very nationalistic and weirdly into Hitler. This can at times be a toxic ,ix.
How to Approach Drinking in Mongolia
Expect extremes. Drinks can range from sweet and smooth to tangy, sour, and utterly foul to your untrained palate. Prices are cheap by Western standards, and most drinks are consumed socially. Respect locals, pace yourself, and never underestimate the effects of altitude, cold and just how much these guys can handle.
The 21 Best Mongolian Drinks
This list is of course subjective, in that it is very much of my opinion. But, it is also extrtemly accurate and honest, as I have done a fair bit of Mongolian drinks research!
As always we count down, with the best, or at least my opinion on this coming at the very end!
21. Suutei Tsai
Salty milk tea, ubiquitous across the country. Served in ger camps, cafes, or by nomads directly from a pot on the fire. Costs about 200-300 tugrik (0.06-0.09 USD) per cup. Thick, warming, and deceptively filling, it is a drink you grow to love. Best consumed with a little bread or biscuits and plenty of patience if you’re not used to salt in tea.
20. Airag (Fermented Mare’s Milk)
Fermented horse milk, lightly fizzy, sour, 2-3% alcohol. Common in provinces and sometimes served in UB markets. A glass costs 500-700 tugrik (0.15-0.20 USD). First sip makes most foreigners recoil, but locals swear by it. Pair it with a sunny steppe morning or a traditional festival.
19. Tarag (Yogurt Drink)
Thick, tart, slightly sweetened. Best at breakfast with bread or porridge. Found in ger households and local shops, about 400 tugrik (0.12 USD) per bottle. Smooth and nutritious, it is a softer dairy option before attempting heavier fare like airag or yak butter milk.
18. Mongolian Honey Wine
Homemade, viscous, and sweet, usually 12-15% ABV. Sold at small bars or from villagers in rural areas. Price ranges 2000 tugrik (0.60 USD) per small bottle. Strong, dangerously easy to drink, and perfect for sipping while watching the sunset over rolling steppe hills.
17. Black Tea with Salt
Boiled strong and served with a pinch of salt. Favored by nomads on cold mornings. Free in ger households, 150-200 tugrik (0.05-0.06 USD) in cafes. Surprisingly refreshing and warming if you’re hiking or horseback riding in sub-zero temperatures.
16. Chinggis Vodka
Clean, strong, classic. Available everywhere in UB and provincial towns. One shot costs 1000 tugrik (0.30 USD), small bottle around 3000 tugrik (0.90 USD). Smooth, brutal, perfect for an evening in UB bars or at a nomad campfire. Local favorite and tourist safe pick.
15. Mongolian Beer
Light, crisp lagers like Chinggis or Arig. Bottles cost 1000-1500 tugrik (0.30-0.45 USD). Essential for nights in UB, ger camps, or festivals. Easy drinking, refreshing, and not pretentious. Ideal to follow heavy foods or after long horse rides.
14. Berry Juice
Cloudberry, sea buckthorn, wild cherries. Tart, fresh, packed with vitamins. Found in UB markets and provincial villages, 500-700 tugrik (0.15-0.20 USD) per small bottle. Drink chilled on a hot day, or mix with vodka for a local twist.
13. Lemonade Mongol Style
Sugar, water, lemon. Common in cafes across UB. Costs around 500 tugrik (0.15 USD). Simple, refreshing, and sweet without being fancy. Good for those avoiding alcohol.
12. Herders’ Moonshine
Locally distilled from barley or corn. 40-50% ABV, usually illegal in urban areas. Found in the countryside, 2000-3000 tugrik (0.60-0.90 USD) per flask. Brutal, strong, and part of nomadic tradition. Drink slowly and respect the locals who make it.
11. Kumis Mixes
Mare’s milk with honey or berries blended in. 1-2% ABV, costs 500-800 tugrik (0.15-0.25 USD). A gentler introduction to fermented mare’s milk, ideal for tourists unwilling to dive straight into airag.
10. Fruit Infused Vodka
Local vodka infused with berries or herbs. Strong, sweet, small bottle 2000-2500 tugrik (0.60-0.75 USD). Perfect souvenir and extremely drinkable. Drink it at a UB bar or as a gift from a nomad family.
9. Mongolian Hot Chocolate
Tourist-friendly, sometimes with butter. 500-1000 tugrik (0.15-0.30 USD) in UB hotels. Surprisingly rich, warming, and a hangover softener after a night of vodka or airag.
8. Milk with Oats
Breakfast drink in herder households. Thick, bland, filling. Practically free if you are invited to a ger. Perfect to fuel long horse rides or early morning duties.
7. Beer Cocktails
UB innovation: mix local lagers with syrups or fruit juice. 1500-2000 tugrik (0.45-0.60 USD) per glass. Easy drinking, smooth, and dangerously effective at lowering inhibitions.
6. Tibetan Butter Tea (Poached)
Suutei tsai with extra yak butter, boiled until thick. 500-1000 tugrik (0.15-0.30 USD) per cup at cafes or homestays. Initially shocking, ultimately comforting. A must for northern regions and cold nights.
5. Vodka Shots with Dried Meat
Pair vodka with dried horse or beef meat. 1000 tugrik (0.30 USD) per shot in UB, meat extra. Brutal, very Mongolian, and a true social ritual.
4. Cloudberry Wine
Homemade, sweet, tart, 10-12% ABV. Found mainly in northern provinces. 2000 tugrik (0.60 USD) per bottle. Drink overlooking mountains, especially at sunset.
3. Airag Smoothie
Airag blended with honey or berries. 500-700 tugrik (0.15-0.20 USD) per small cup. Less challenging than straight airag but still culturally authentic and a step into nomad life.
2. Yak Butter Milk
Thick, fermented, tangy, full of fat. Available at ger camps and some UB cafes. 500-800 tugrik (0.15-0.25 USD) per cup. Unforgettable and essential to experience, it’s the taste of Mongolia in a cup. Drink slowly, savor the texture, and appreciate the local tradition.
1. Chinggis Classic Vodka
Mongolia’s flagship vodka, clean and brutal. 1000 tugrik (0.30 USD) per shot, 3000 tugrik (0.90 USD) for a small bottle. Widely available in UB bars, provincial towns, and some ger camps. Number one for a reason: smooth enough to enjoy, strong enough to respect. Perfect for drinking socially with locals or warming up after a day in -20 temperatures.
Where to Drink in Mongolia
When it comes to where you should drink in Mongolia one could pretty much say “everywhere”, but we will be a little more nuanced!
Click to read about the best drinks in Cuba.
Ulaanbaatar Bars
UB has a mix of tourist-friendly and local bars. Try Chinggis Bar, Sky Lounge, or the House of Vodka for local brands. Beer is always available, cocktails are creative, and shots are inevitable. Prices: 1000-3000 tugrik (0.30-0.90 USD) per drink.
Ger Camps
Most ger camps in the countryside will serve suutei tsai, airag, tarag, and sometimes moonshine. Prices are modest, 200-800 tugrik (0.06-0.25 USD) per cup or small bottle. Best experience is drinking by the fire with nomads telling stories.
Nomad Villages
Airag, butter tea, and yak butter milk are everywhere. Respect the local customs: drink socially, pace yourself, and never waste a serving. Often free if invited, or a donation of 500-1000 tugrik (0.15-0.30 USD) is polite.
Markets
UB and provincial markets sell berry juices, infused vodkas, honey wine, and small bottles of moonshine. Prices vary 500-2500 tugrik (0.15-0.75 USD). Excellent for tasting local innovation and grabbing a souvenir to drink later.
Tasting Tips
- Start with non-alcoholic drinks like suutei tsai or tarag to get your stomach ready.
- Airag and yak butter milk are for the brave; sip slowly and respect the flavour.
- Vodka is cheap and strong; pace yourself, especially in cold weather.
- Local beers and cocktails are safe and fun for nights out.
- Always try drinks in context: by the fire, with nomads, on the steppe. The experience matters as much as the taste.
Conclusion
Mongolia has a drinking culture unlike anywhere else in the world. Harsh climate, nomadic traditions, and a love of social ritual have created drinks that are harsh, gentle, sweet, sour, or all at once.
From UB bars to the remotest ger camp, you will never go thirsty, and you will taste traditions that stretch back centuries. Some drinks will challenge you, some will delight you, but all of them tell the story of Mongolia better than any guidebook.
Essentially you will not go thirsty on a Mongolian Tour.