Suja (Bhutanese Butter Tea)
Local name: སུ་ཇ
In short: Strong black tea churned with butter and a little salt until frothy and creamy. The warming Bhutanese welcome drink served to every guest. It takes about 15 min in total and makes 2 servings.
- Prep
- 5 min
- Cook
- 10 min
- Total
- 15 min
- Servings
- 2
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 120 kcal
Suja is the tea offered to every visitor in a Bhutanese home, and it is served at weddings and at New Year. Strong tea is churned with butter and salt until it turns smooth, opaque and slightly frothy, closer to a light broth than to sweet tea. It is warming at high altitude and often accompanied by zaow, puffed rice fried in butter. This version uses a blender instead of a wooden churn.
Instructions
- Bring the water to a boil in a small pot, add the tea and simmer for 5 minutes until very dark.
- Strain the tea into a blender or tall jug. Add the butter, milk if using, and the salt.
- Blend on medium speed for 20 to 30 seconds until pale, creamy and frothy. If you use a jug, whisk hard or use a hand blender.
- Taste and add more salt if you like. Serve at once in small bowls or cups.
Tips
- Be careful when blending hot liquid. Fill the blender no more than halfway and hold the lid down with a towel.
- Suja is meant to be savory, not sweet. Add the salt gradually until it tastes like a light, comforting broth.
Questions and answers
Does butter tea taste sweet?
No. It is savory and salty, rich and creamy, a bit like a thin soup. Most people need a cup or two to get used to it.
Can I make suja ahead?
It separates when it stands, so keep the tea hot and blend each batch right before serving. Reheat gently and reblend.
What is traditionally served with suja?
Zaow, puffed rice roasted in butter with a little sugar, or simple fried breads. The tea is also drunk on its own at breakfast.
How long does it take to make Suja (Bhutanese Butter Tea)?
About 15 min in total: 5 min of preparation and 10 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Suja (Bhutanese Butter Tea)?
About 120 kcal per serving, with 1 g of protein, 2 g of carbohydrates and 12 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 120 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 1 g |
| Carbohydrates | 2 g |
| Fat | 12 g |
| Fiber | 0 g |
| Sugar | 1 g |
| Sodium | 300 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
