🇧🇹 Bhutanese Cuisine

Suja

Butter Tea

Prep Time 10 min
Servings 4
Difficulty Easy
Calories 120 kcal

A rich, savory tea churned with yak butter and salt, producing a warming, creamy beverage that sustains Bhutanese through the cold Himalayan climate.

Ingredients

Instructions

  1. 1 Boil water and steep tea for 5 minutes to make a strong brew. Strain.
  2. 2 Pour hot tea into a churn or blender. Add butter, salt, and milk.
  3. 3 Churn or blend vigorously for 2-3 minutes until frothy and emulsified.
  4. 4 Pour into cups and serve immediately while hot.
  5. 5 Refill cups frequently — an empty cup of suja is considered impolite.

Did You Know?

A Bhutanese host will continually refill your suja cup. To signal you have had enough, leave your cup full — an empty cup means you want more.