📹Sasha, an American with Russian roots, continues her journey across Russia. This time she heads to Kalmykia — the only Buddhist region in Europe.

One of the region’s most striking sights is its camels. Here they are regarded as sacred. Sasha meets a camel named Fedya, who not only allows her to pet him but even happily takes his guest for a ride.

Sasha arrives in Kalmykia just as the republic is celebrating Zul, a festival marking the beginning of winter and the start of the New Year. To experience the celebration properly, she visits a local family. Together they brew jomba tea with salt and butter and make the ‘boat of life’ — a traditional festive dish symbolising the continuation of the family line. In Elista’s restaurants Sasha also tries beregi, juicy Kalmyk dumplings traditionally eaten by hand, and even… camel meat!

Did you know that during Zul the first portion of food is taken to the altar as a spiritual offering? Or that Kalmyk tea was once brewed in mutton broth? Discover this and much more in the new episode! Watch the fifth part of the show ‘Sasha Meets Russia: Flavours of the East. Kalmykia: Europe’s Buddhist Republic’.

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