Butter tea and highland barley wine

Last updated 2026-11-09 — “If you don’t drink butter tea, you won’t know the warmth of Tibetan life; if you don’t taste highland barley wine, you can’t grasp the depth of Tibetan affection.” This is sung in Tibetan folk songs. But when you’re in Shangri-La, it’s truly a pity not to try butter tea and highland barley wine. Butter tea keeps you warm and invigorated—it’s something Tibetans can’t go a day without. Of course, for you, it’s just about experiencing something new, something joyful. Highland barley wine, brewed with unpolluted mountain spring water, has a very long history in the Diqing Tibetan area. It’s entirely handmade. Its color is pure, its aroma intoxicating, its taste smooth and lingering, strong yet not intoxicating, and it won’t give you a headache after meals. Whenever a guest enters a home, they are first offered a bowl of this wine, accompanied by toasting songs even more enchanting than the wine itself. (Diqing)