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8 October 2026
High on the Tibetan Plateau, north of the Himalayas, life has long been shaped by cold winds, thin air and long distances. It is a landscape where even an ordinary cup of tea has a story.
Tibetan butter tea, known as po cha, is very different from the sweet tea familiar in many parts of the world. Traditionally, tea is prepared with butter and salt, producing a rich, savoury drink rather than a sugary one. Yak butter has traditionally been used in many households.
For someone encountering it for the first time, the taste can be surprising. But for people accustomed to the high plateau, it is much more than a beverage. It belongs to the rhythm of daily life.
A warm bowl or cup passed between family members or guests carries something quietly familiar: hospitality.
In a difficult climate, warmth has always been precious. Perhaps that is why food and drink in mountain cultures often become more than nourishment. They become part of memory.
The interesting thing about travelling through cultures is that we sometimes discover that the most ordinary object—a cup of tea—can tell us more about a place than a famous monument ever could.
#Tibet #TibetanCulture #Asia #RajatChandraSarmah
Rajat Chandra Sarmah, Guwahati, Assam, India, Instagram @rajatchandrasarmah, YouTube: conversewithasmile, email rajatchandrasarmah@gmail.com
