Shangri-La Butter Tea

Last updated 2026-11-15 — Butter tea is an indispensable staple in the daily lives of Tibetan people. Its preparation is simple and convenient: first, pour pu'er tea into a tea churn, then add butter, salt, and refined spices. Stir vigorously up and down until the mixture becomes a smooth emulsion, and it’s ready to serve. The tea is rich in color, aroma, and flavor, leaving a memorable aftertaste. In the Tibetan diet, drinking butter tea plays a significant role. Tibetan families drink tea at least three times a day, and some even more than ten times. Butter tea not only provides a substantial amount of calories to help ward off the cold but also stimulates the appetite and quenches thirst. Many who try butter tea for the first time may find its taste unusual or even unpleasant, but after mustering the courage to try it a few times, they often come to appreciate its rich aroma and lingering, satisfying finish.