# Kefir originated in the North Caucasus and spread east from there.

> Disputed: Kefir originated in the North Caucasus and spread east from there.

Source: https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/tarim-mummies/answers/ANS0D90E95P3XV8/kefir-originated-in-the-north-caucasus-and-spread-east-from  
Publisher: Mysteries Department  
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (credit Mysteries Department and link the page)  

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[Questions](https://mysteriesdept.com/questions)[Tarim Basin mummies (Xiaohe)](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/tarim-mummies)[Did kefir spread to East Asia from the North Caucasus, or did it have another route through Xinjiang?](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/tarim-mummies/questions/QST0D90E3J01CSG/did-kefir-spread-to-east-asia-from-the-north-caucasus-or-did)Answer

Answer · Tarim Basin mummies (Xiaohe)

# Kefir originated in the North Caucasus and spread east from there.

Kefir originated in the North Caucasus and spread east from there.

**Disputed** Answers **1** questionPublished0

## Where it stands

**Disputed** None pieces of evidence for, one against. It needs two reviews to be accepted.

## What it predicts

- Ancient Xinjiang strains group with the Caucasian (European) lineage.

## What would rule it out

- Ancient strains outside the Caucasian lineage.

## Evidence none for · 1 against

[The Xiaohe L. kefiranofaciens groups with the Tibetan rather than the European lineage.](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/tarim-mummies/evidence/EVD0D90E9DG6JJT/the-xiaohe-l-kefiranofaciens-groups-with-the-tibetan-rather)

Supported

AGAINST

## The questions it answers

[Did kefir spread to East Asia from the North Caucasus, or did it have another route through Xinjiang?](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/tarim-mummies/questions/QST0D90E3J01CSG/did-kefir-spread-to-east-asia-from-the-north-caucasus-or-did)

Part of [How did a genetically isolated people come to herd cattle and sheep, make cheese, weave wool and grow wheat and millet?](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/tarim-mummies/questions/QST0D90E3A63KN5/how-did-a-genetically-isolated-people-come-to-herd-cattle)

Most likelyKefir also spread from Xinjiang into inland East Asia, by a route independent of the Caucasus

## Cite it

```
Mysteries Department. (2026). Kefir originated in the North Caucasus and spread east from there. [Answer ANS0D90E95P3XV8]. https://mysteriesdept.com/r/ANS0D90E95P3XV8
```

Key

**ANS** 0D90E95P3XV8

Kind

Answer · hypothesis

Origin

Published

Version

1

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