Suutei tsai facts for kids
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Suutei tsai (Mongolian: сүүтэй цай) is a special drink from Mongolia. People also call it süütei tsai, tsutai tsai, or Mongolian salty tea. It's a very important part of Mongolian culture and daily life.
Contents
Making Suutei Tsai
What's in Suutei Tsai?
The main things you need to make suutei tsai are water, milk, tea leaves, and salt. A simple way to make it is to mix equal parts water and milk. Then, you add a spoonful of green tea and a little salt.
Sometimes, people use black tea instead of green tea. Some even add butter or fat to make it richer! In Mongolia, people often use fresh, whole milk. This makes the tea very creamy and tasty. You can also change how much salt you add to fit your taste. Another common thing to add is fried millet, which are tiny grains.
How is it Made?
The way suutei tsai is made can be different too. The traditional way involves stirring the tea while it boils. You scoop it up high and pour it back into the pot. This helps mix everything well and makes the tea frothy. However, many people today skip this step to save time.
The tea used for suutei tsai often comes in a hard block. This block is made from lower quality tea leaves or stems pressed together. It's easy to store. When it's time to make tea, people just chip off a piece from the block.
History of Suutei Tsai
Milk's Big Role in Mongolia
Milk has always been a super important food in Mongolia. Mongols get milk from many animals. These include cows, camels, horses, yaks, goats, and sheep. Today, cow's milk is the most common.
Long ago, many Mongols had a special belief. They thought water was sacred, so they didn't like to drink plain water.
Traveler's Tales
In the 1200s, a traveler named William of Rubruck visited the Mongol Empire. He wrote about what he saw. Rubruck noticed that Mongols were "most careful not to drink pure water." Since fruit juice and wine were not easy to find, Mongols drank milk-based drinks instead. Suutei tsai was one of these. Another was airag, which is a type of alcohol made from fermented horse milk.
Suutei Tsai Today
Why It's So Popular
Suutei tsai is one of the most common drinks in Mongolia. People drink it at meals and throughout the day. It's a big part of Mongolian hospitality. When guests arrive at a Mongolian home, called a yurt or ger, they are usually offered suutei tsai. It often comes with a bowl of snacks. You can drink suutei tsai plain, or with boortsog (a Mongolian fried biscuit), or even with dumplings.
Some visitors from other countries find the taste of suutei tsai a bit unusual. This is often because of the salt in the drink. But for Mongolians, it's a comforting and familiar taste. You can even find suutei tsai in instant packets now, just like instant coffee!
