# Did kefir spread to East Asia from the North Caucasus, or did it have another route through Xinjiang? · Tarim Basin mummies (Xiaohe) > Three answers have been proposed. Kefir also spread from Xinjiang into inland East Asia, by a route independent of the Caucasus. leads, with evidence 1… Source: https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/tarim-mummies/questions/QST0D90E3J01CSG/did-kefir-spread-to-east-asia-from-the-north-caucasus-or-did Publisher: Mysteries Department Licence: CC BY 4.0 (credit Mysteries Department and link the page) Updated: 2026-10-26T11:58:56+00:00 --- **0** # Did kefir spread to East Asia from the North Caucasus, or did it have another route through Xinjiang? Asked 26 Oct 2026 by [**apollo** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/u/apollo)·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)·3 answers·0·0 following **Most likely: kefir also spread from Xinjiang into inland East Asia, by a route independent of the Caucasus** Ahead on the evidence, not yet confirmed. It needs two reviews to be accepted. ## Where it stands Three answers have been proposed. Kefir also spread from Xinjiang into inland East Asia, by a route independent of the Caucasus. leads, with evidence 1 for: partly supported by its tests. Two are still possible. ## Why it matters The Xiaohe cheese is the oldest kefir known, and its bacteria are a dated sample of a domesticated microbe⁠[[1]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D90DT1A3X7V/proteomics-evidence-for-kefir-dairy-in-early-bronze-age)⁠[[2]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D90DSSG5QQR/bronze-age-cheese-reveals-human-lactobacillus-interactions). Its lineage bears on where the practice came from. ## Answers 3 [**Kefir also spread from Xinjiang into inland East Asia, by a route independent of the Caucasus.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/tarim-mummies/answers/ANS0D90E9NA7MQ9/kefir-also-spread-from-xinjiang-into-inland-east-asia-by-a) Partly supported by its tests Evidence: 1 for Most likely [**Kefir originated in the North Caucasus and spread east from there.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/tarim-mummies/answers/ANS0D90E95P3XV8/kefir-originated-in-the-north-caucasus-and-spread-east-from) Failed a test; not refuted outright Evidence: 1 against Disputed [**None of these.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/tarim-mummies/answers/ANS0D90EA4Y6A02/none-of-these) Not tested enough to call either way Evidence: none yet Still possible ## History 1. 2024[Liu et al. puts forward: kefir originated in the North Caucasus and spread east from there.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D90DSSG5QQR/bronze-age-cheese-reveals-human-lactobacillus-interactions) 1. 2024[Liu et al. puts forward: kefir also spread from Xinjiang into inland East Asia, by a route independent of the Caucasus.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D90DSSG5QQR/bronze-age-cheese-reveals-human-lactobacillus-interactions) 1. 2024[Liu et al.: the Xiaohe L. kefiranofaciens groups with the Tibetan rather than the European lineage.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D90DSSG5QQR/bronze-age-cheese-reveals-human-lactobacillus-interactions)Against: Kefir originated in the North Caucasus and spread east from there. 1. 2024[Liu et al.: the ancient strain is closer to the Tibetan group and East Asian strains later gained defensive gene clusters.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D90DSSG5QQR/bronze-age-cheese-reveals-human-lactobacillus-interactions)For: Kefir also spread from Xinjiang into inland East Asia, by a route independent of the Caucasus. 1. 26 Oct 2026Asked on this site ## Discussion 0 [Add to the discussion](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/tarim-mummies/questions/QST0D90E3J01CSG/did-kefir-spread-to-east-asia-from-the-north-caucasus-or-did%23discussion) Help with this question [ **Propose an answer** Something the evidence could support or rule out ] [ **Propose an answer** Something the evidence could support or rule out ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/tarim-mummies/questions/QST0D90E3J01CSG/did-kefir-spread-to-east-asia-from-the-north-caucasus-or-did%23add-answer) [ **Add evidence** A result for or against an answer ] [ **Add evidence** A result for or against an answer ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/tarim-mummies/questions/QST0D90E3J01CSG/did-kefir-spread-to-east-asia-from-the-north-caucasus-or-did%23add-evidence) [ **Ask a sub-question** A smaller question that would help settle this one ] [ **Ask a sub-question** A smaller question that would help settle this one ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/tarim-mummies/questions/QST0D90E3J01CSG/did-kefir-spread-to-east-asia-from-the-north-caucasus-or-did%23add-question) [ **Add a source** A paper, archive record or image ] [ **Add a source** A paper, archive record or image ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/tarim-mummies/questions/QST0D90E3J01CSG/did-kefir-spread-to-east-asia-from-the-north-caucasus-or-did%23add-source) Where it fits Tarim Basin mummies (Xiaohe) [**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)Key question · most likely neighbouring groups passed on the practices and the animals and crops through trade and contact, with little… **Did kefir spread to East Asia from the North Caucasus, or did it have another route through Xinjiang?** You're here · kefir also spread from Xinjiang into inland East Asia, by a route independent of the Caucasus [ Ask a question under this one ]