~96 cal · 1g protein · 2g carbs · 10g fat (estimated, per serving)
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Bowl of frothy savory butter tea
🇧🇹 Thimphu
Suja is the butter tea of Bhutan, churned from strong brick-tea decoction with butter and salt until frothy and rich. More restorative broth than beverage, it fortifies against the thin, cold air of the Himalayan highlands and is offered endlessly to guests — a cup refilled the moment it is set down.
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Toggle a diet and the ingredients rewrite themselves with regional substitutes.
🥕 Vegetarian
🌱 Vegan
🌾 Gluten-Free
🥛 Dairy-Free
🥜 Nut-Free
🥚 Egg-Free
Ingredients
Serves 4 —
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3 tbsp strong black (brick) tea
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4 cups water
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3 tbsp butter
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1/2 cup milk
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1/2 tsp salt
Instructions
1
Boil the brick tea in the water for 8–10 minutes until very dark, then strain.
2
Pour the hot tea into a blender or churn with the butter, milk, and salt.
3
Blend or churn hard for a minute until frothy and emulsified.
4
Serve hot in bowls or cups, savory and warming.
Bhutanese highland tradition.
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🌏 While it simmers — know your destination
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Thimphu. The capital where chili-cheese is a food group.
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Bhutan. The kingdom that measures happiness and eats chilies as vegetables.
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Asia. From street-cart woks to slow monastery kitchens.
The story behind this dish is up top — worth a read while the pot works.
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Richard Moore & Kelsey Tucker
Recipes cooked, tested, and researched by the creators of Spin the Globe. How we build our recipes →
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