Bhutanese cuisine facts for kids
Bhutanese cuisine is the traditional food of the country of Bhutan. It uses a lot of red rice, which is similar to brown rice but has a nutty taste. This special rice is the only type that can grow in the high mountains of Bhutan. People also eat a lot of buckwheat and, more and more, maize (corn).
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What People Eat in Different Areas
In the Bumthang region, buckwheat is a main food. In the eastern parts of Bhutan, people eat more maize. Everywhere else, rice is the most common food.
People living in the hills also enjoy chicken, yak meat, dried beef, pork, and lamb. During the cold seasons, a favorite meal is a warm soup or stew. These are made with meat, rice, ferns, lentils, and dried vegetables. They are often spiced with chili peppers and cheese.
Zow shungo is a simple dish made by mixing rice with any leftover vegetables.
Bhutan's National Dish: Ema Datshi
The most famous dish in Bhutan is Ema datshi. It's a spicy meal made with large, green chili peppers cooked in a creamy, cheesy sauce. It's so popular that many people call it the national dish of Bhutan.
Other popular foods include:
- Jasha maru: A tasty chicken dish.
- Phaksha paa: Dried pork cooked with chili peppers, spices, and vegetables like turnips or radishes.
- Thukpa: A type of noodle soup.
- Puta: Noodles made from buckwheat.
- Bathup: Another kind of noodle dish.
- Fried rice.
Popular Snacks
Bhutanese people enjoy many different snacks. Some of the most popular ones are:
- Momo: These are delicious Bhutanese dumplings, often filled with meat or vegetables.
- Khabzey: These are dried fritters. They are made from flour, water, and sugar, then deep-fried until crispy.
- Shabalay: A type of fried bread filled with meat.
- Juma: These are Bhutanese sausages seasoned with different spices.
- Various types of noodles.
Food from Other Countries
In Bhutan, you can find restaurants that serve many kinds of international food. Chinese, Nepalese, Tibetan, and Indian dishes are very popular. In recent years, Korean restaurants have also opened. This is because Korean popular culture, like K-Pop and K-dramas, has become very popular in Bhutan.
Dairy Products and Drinks
Dairy foods are also very common in Bhutan. People especially love butter and cheese made from the milk of yaks and cows. In fact, almost all the milk produced is turned into butter and cheese.
Bhutanese Cheese
A special type of cheese made from cow's milk is called datshi. This cheese is usually not eaten by itself but is used to make delicious sauces, like in Ema datshi.
Another unique cheese called Zoedoe is made in the eastern parts of Bhutan. It's often greenish and has a strong smell. Zoedoe is usually added to soups.
You can also find Western types of cheese like Cheddar and Gouda in Bhutan. Some of this cheese is made locally at the Swiss Cheese Factory in Bumthang, while other types are brought in from India.
Popular Drinks
Bhutanese people enjoy several traditional drinks:
- Suja: This is a special butter tea made with tea leaves, salt, and butter.
- Ngaja: A sweet milk tea.
- Regular black tea.
- Ara: A locally made rice wine.
- Beer.
Common Spices
The food in Bhutan is flavored with many different spices. These include curry, cardamom, ginger, thingay (Sichuan pepper), garlic, turmeric, and caraway.
Mealtime Manners
When someone offers you food in Bhutan, it's polite to say meshu meshu (which means "no, thank you") and cover your mouth with your hands. This is a traditional Bhutanese manner. However, you are expected to accept the food on the second or third offer.
Images for kids
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Bhutanese chili peppers at a market in Thimphu
See also
In Spanish: Gastronomía de Bután para niños
