Food is the single great unifier that connects us across cultures and religions. A trip to Bhutan will be incomplete without trying out some of its popular dishes.
While the food of Bhutan is heavily influenced by Chinese, Tibetan and Indian cuisines, it still maintains distinct local flavours. Just like its interesting languages, you will also find Bhutanese food habits and dishes interesting.
Each dish offers a delightful blend of spices and ingredients that tell the story of this beautiful Himalayan kingdom. Enjoying Bhutanese cuisine is not just about tasting the food, but experiencing the rich cultural tapestry of Bhutan itself.
Top 5 Bhutanese Food Ffor Tourists
Bhutanese cuisine is influenced by Chinese, Tibetan and Indian culture. Don’t be surprised to see mountains of rice being served.
If you enjoy eating Chinese food, you should also enjoy Bhutanese food as they share similar taste and ingredients. Another major ingredient in Bhutanese cuisines would be cheese.
Well, it is no surprise as Bhutan is a relatively cold country in high altitude and majority of the farmers rear cows, yaks, sheep and goats and other livestock that produce dairy products. Thus, you will find cheese in most of the meals including their teas! Suja (butter tea) is a popular drink for the locals.
Bhutanese enjoy sipping a cup of suja while munching on their zaw (roasted rice) for breakfast. Or sometimes, they like to eat porridge in the morning. Here’s a number of food in Bhutan that locals love to eat!
1. Ema Datshi
If there’s one constant for Bhutan cuisine, it’s got to be the chillies! Chilies are not considered a seasoning, but a true valuable vegetable in Bhutan.
Therefore, traditional Bhutanese food is generously spiced with dried or fresh red or green chilies. Which is exactly why, while in Bhutan you ought to try the national dish of Ema Datshi (Chilli Cheese).
As the name suggests, this popular dish is made up of Ema (chilli) and Datsi (cheese). It is a must-try food while you are in Bhutan. If you can’t eat spicy food, let your guide know in advance and they will be able to arrange for the restaurants to prepare your meals with less spice.
The locals understand that sometimes the spiciness level in Bhutan is not for every tourist. So, please don’t be shy to let your tour guide know about your spice tolerance level in advance.
Here is a one-minute video on how to cook the popular Bhutanese dish, ema datshi (chilli cheese).
This recipe has spun into numerous variations: Kewa Datsi (potato and cheese), Shamu Datsi (mushroom and cheese).
2. Red Rice
At every dining table in Bhutan, you will find a mountain of red rice – which makes Bhutanese food healthy. The red rice produced in Bhutan is of the highest quality. Bhutanese have been growing and eating red rice as their staple for centuries.
Red rice is gluten free, full of nutrients such as zinc, iron, calcium, magnesium, vitamin B, protein and potassium. It is also known to contain more zinc and iron than white, black or brown rice.
3. Jasha Maroo or Maru
Another traditional food that you must taste is the Jasha Maroo – a hot and spicy chicken stew. A perfect dish to keep you warm, especially during the winter season.
Garlic, onion, chicken, chilies, ginger and diced chicken are the main ingredients of this dish. This simple delicious dish combined with red rice is sure to satisfy your cravings.
4. Phaksha Paa
Another favourite Bhutanese dish that you must try is their phaksha paa which is made of stir-fried sliced pork with a variety of red hot chillies.
This dish is usually served with hoentay (buckwheat dumplings). Phaksha paa can be added with ginger, spinach or other vegetables.
5. Momos
Momos are dumplings filled with either pork, yak, chicken or vegetables. These dumplings are popular throughout the Himalayan region including in Tibet and Nepal. Well, don’t be surprised to find chillies added into the Bhutanese dumplings.
Momos can be found everywhere in Bhutan. It’s easily available in most restaurants and eateries.
Dining Out In Bhutan
If you are dining out in Bhutan, don’t be too worried if you aren’t able to eat food that is too spicy. A majority of Bhutan’s professional chefs take into account the foreigners’ less spicy taste.
Most restaurants in Bhutan offer customers a wide range of cuisine from Continental to Chinese, and from Bhutanese to Tibetan and Indian cuisine.
International fare is usually limited, but most hotels offer dinner in buffet style, which includes many different cuisines. Whenever you are dining out, always inquire what is available and what is in season. In a restaurant, the full cutlery ensemble will usually be provided.
Food in Bhutan is generally clean and safe for consumption. So far, there hasn’t been any complaint of food poisoning from tourists.
One important point to note is to avoid drinking water directly from the tap and drink only bottled water if you have a weak stomach. Bhutan’s agro industry has excellent bottled spring water. Also, the price of a 1-litrel bottle of water is only 20 BTN (0.30 USD).
As a predominantly Buddhist country, there is a good variety of vegetarian food available, although much of it is made using a liberal amount of chilli and a smothering of cheese sauce.
Ingredients such as nettles, fern fronds, orchids, asparagus, taro and several varieties of mushroom appear commonly in the traditional vegetarian dishes. For extra precaution, vegans should ask if a dish contains cheese or eggs when ordering.
Cafes Recommendations In Bhutan
There are some cafes that provide free wireless network (wifi) for their customers. Ultimately, visitors may want to check out establishments like:
-
Ambience Cafe
-
Coffee Culture
-
Karma’s Cafe
-
Art Cafe
Bar Recommendation In Bhutan (Thimphu)
Below are some recommended bars in Thimphu for you to mingle with the locals and to enjoy some local wine and beers:
-
Drunken Yeti
-
Mojo Park
-
Jimmy’s Pub
Food In Thimphu
There are generally more restaurants in the capital, Thimphu and major towns like Paro, as well as the southern town of Phuentsholing. In the capital, the sweet milk tea (ngad-ja) is broadly available and may be served in a pot, accompanied with snacks.
Otherwise, those who are adventurous might want to attempt a cup of Suja, a butter tea with salt added in it. While it is actually more like a soup than tea, it is surprisingly tasty and keeps you warm on a cold day.
Moreover, the local brew known as Arra, which is distilled from rice, barley, or wheat is also available. If you are an alcohol lover, locally produced beers and whiskeys are available too.
Traditional Eating Habits In Bhutan
Use Of Wooden Bowls And Bamboo Containers
Traditionally, dishes were served in dapas (wooden bowls), but with the easy availability of modern goods, ceramic bowls have replaced the wooden bowls.
Sometimes, bangchung (a circular container made from special bamboo called yura) was also used to put rice and other dry snacks. However, you can still find the traditional dapas or bangchungs sold in many handicraft shops across the country.
Eating With Hands
Traditionally, Bhutanese used to eat with their hands while sitting cross-legged on their wooden floors. With modernisation, eating habits have changed and evolved.
In urban areas, Bhutanese usually eat with cutleries such as fork and spoon. Today, you will only find Bhutanese eating with their hands when they are at home or having a picnic.
Eating Within a Group
Bhutanese usually eat in the form of a group. When eating in a group, it’s traditionally expected to sit in a circle and cross-legged on the floor. In the past, the head of family is served first and no one can leave until all the members of the family finish eating and silence is to be maintained while eating.
However, these traditional practices are fading with modernisation. Silence is no longer maintained and laughter is shared during mealtimes.
More Traditional Bhutanese Dishes to try
-
Phaksha laphu (stewed pork with radishes).
-
Yak meat - Fried and served as a snack.
-
No sha huentse - Stewed beef dish with spinach.
-
Phaksha phin tshoem - Pork with rice noodles.
-
Kewa Datsi - Potatoes with cheese.
-
Shamu Datshi - Mushroom with cheese.
-
Bhathup - Flour noodle soup.
-
Ezay - A condiment made of onions and chillies with cheese or red chillichili paste.
-
Thueb - Porridge made from rice or flat noodles, topped with fried meat.
-
Fing - Vermicelli or glass noodles that are popularly eaten with meat.
-
Khur-le – Buckwheat pancakes.
Find out more information about Bhutanese cuisine.
Conclusion About Bhutanese Cuisine
Bhutan is a country rich in culture and traditions with lots of flavors for you to taste and enjoy. One can only understand the full extent of its charm by experiencing it in person.
Do you Wwant to discover breathtaking Bhutan? If so, You may consider taking a 7-day essential Bhutan tour, or spend 10-day to delve deeper into Bhutan. Check the best time to visit Bhutan and our tips when you’re planning a trip to Bhutan.
Don’t forget to sign-up to our regular newsletter at drukasia.com/subscribe. If you have any enquiries, drop us an email at hello@drukasia.com.
Frequently Asked Questions About Bhutanese Cuisine
How Much Does Food Cost In Bhutan?
The cost of dining out in an average Bhutanese restaurant for a single person can range from 320 BTN (5 USD) to 2,000 BTN (32 USD). A bottle of 0.5-liter local beer can be anywhere between 80 BTN (1.25 USD) and 250 BTN (3.60 USD).
Do Bhutanese Really Love Cheese?
Just like the chillies, cheese is also a staple in the Bhutanese cuisine. There are many variations of popular Bhutanese dishes with cheese such as shamu datshi ‘mushroom cheese’ and kewa datshi ‘potato cheese’.
So, if you are a lover of chilli and cheese - you’ve got to visit Bhutan! Even if you are not a fan of chillies, not to worry as you can easily let your guide know that you can’t tolerate spice. They will be able to reduce the spiciness level for tourists.
Are All Bhutanese are Vegetarians?
Contrary to popular beliefs, even though Bhutan is a predominantly Buddhist kingdom, not all Bhutanese are vegetarians. While there are a huge pool of vegetarians within the country, there are many Bhutanese who consume meat.
Some of the popular meats include chicken, pork, beef and yak. Aside from stews made of meat, they like to eat dried meats. Spinach, onion, potatoes, radishes, pumpkins, bamboo shoots, fiddlehead ferns, mushrooms, broccolis are some popular vegetables in Bhutan.
Fishes are rarely consumed as the country has very strict rules and regulations on fishing.
What Is The Main Influence Of Tibetan Cuisine To Bhutan Cuisine?
If you’ve been to Tibet, you may notice that Bhutanese food bears similarities to Tibetan cuisine. That’s unsurprising as historically, the early settlers of Bhutan came from Tibet.
However, as the food habits and dishes continue to evolve, Bhutan continues to develop its own distinctive cuisine. Hence, Bhutanese food is spicier compared to Tibetan food.
