Kalmyk tea is known in all corners of the world. Especially it is popular among peoples of the North Caucasus. Kirsan Nikolaevich recalled that, he was treated to Kalmyk tea, while visiting Ramzan Kadyrov and Ramzan Akhmedovich then said that everyone in his family loved Kalmyk tea.

Ilyumzhinov also spoke about the visit of Vladimir Putin to Kalmykia. “They treated him to Kalmyk tea in a wagon. Having taken a few sips from the bowl, he smiled and quietly asked: “Didn’t you mix salt with sugar while making the tea?”
Ilyumzhinov also said that Ernst Neizvestny loved to drink Kalmyk tea during his visits to Kalmykia. “Kirsan, how I miss the energy of your Kalmyk tea,” said Neizvestny, completing work on the Exodus and Return monument.
But not everyone loved Kalmyk tea. Ilyumzhinov mentioned Pushkin, who did not appreciate Kalmyk tea while traveling to the Caucasus, but devoted several of his works to the Kalmyk people.
Among the lovers of Kalmyk tea, Ilyumzhinov mentioned French writer Alexander Dumas Sr. However, lawyer Fedor Plevako, Dmitry Mendeleev, Lavr Kornilov, father of Vladimir Lenin, Ilya Nikolayevich Ulyanov liked miraculous Kalmyk tea. Note that they all had Kalmyk roots.
Editors’ note: The traditional Kalmyk tea ceremony also has its own rules. While making tea, all movements are made from left to right, in the direction of the sun. The first portion of tea is offered to Burkhanas (Buddhas): it is poured into a sacrificial cup and placed on the altar. It is given to children after the end of tea drinking.
There are several versions of how Kalmyk tea came about. According to one of them, the famous religious reformer Zonghawa once fell ill and turned to a doctor. The doctor prescribed a “divine drink” for him, advising him to drink it on an empty stomach for seven consecutive days. Zonghawa heeded the advice and was healed. On this occasion, he urged all believers to light a candle to Burkhanas and prepare a miraculous drink, later called by the Kalmyks “Halmg Tse”. It was the very tea.