I had the opportunity to try it for the first time in Chengdu, along with other delicious Tibetan dishes… and the tea was unlike anything I’ve tasted before!

It’s a mixture of tea, salt, and butter (traditionally yak butter) and is a popular drink among people in the Himalayan regions not only of Tibet, but also Nepal, Bhutan, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, East Turkestan, and western regions of modern-day China, Central Asia, and the Caribbean.

We also had the pleasure of trying a dish called 牛肉盖被 (Beef Covered with Thin Pancakes) which was unbelievably tasty and savoury. The meat was so tender and well-seasoned and it goes so well with potatoes!

Restaurant is called Are Tibetan Restaurant, located at 34 Wuhouci Street, Chengdu. The restaurant has a cozy and homely atmosphere and most importantly, they offer an English menu for the convenience of non-Chinese speaking visitors like me.

If you’re in Chengdu, give Tibetan butter tea and the dishes at Are Tibetan Restaurant a try

And if you’ve tried butter tea before, I’d love to know how you’d describe the taste ’cause I couldn’t quite put it exactly in words