How to Brew Po Cha (Tibetan Butter Tea)

Butter tea is a traditional Tibetan drink.

Po cha, or butter tea, is a traditional drink in Tibet, known for its warming and invigorating qualities; it is especially good to drink in the winter. Tibetans make po cha with pieces of brick tea brewed in hot water and mixed in a special churn with yak butter, yak milk and salt. If you would like to make butter tea, but don't have access to yak dairy products, never fear: make a few easy substitutions, and you can enjoy po cha any time.

Difficulty:

Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Saucepan
• 6 cups water
• 2 black tea bags or 1 tbsp. loose black tea
• Strainer
• 2 tbsp. butter
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 1/2 cup milk
• Drink container with lid or cocktail shaker

Making Tibetan Butter Tea

1. Boil water in a saucepan. Hemera Technologies/AbleStock.com/Getty Images

   Measure 6 cups water. Pour the water in a saucepan and heat until boiling. Turn down the heat after it has come to a boil.

2. Use black tea bags or loose black tea. Eising/Photodisc/Getty Images

   Add 2 black tea bags or 1 tbsp. loose black tea to the boiled water. Bring the water to a boil again. Let it boil for about 2 minutes or until the tea has flavored the water and is a deep amber color.

3. Strain the tea leaves from the water. BananaStock/BananaStock/Getty Images

   Take the tea mixture off the stove. Remove the tea bags and dispose of them. If you have used loose tea, strain out the tea leaves with a strainer.

4. Butter gives the tea a rich flavor. Comstock/Comstock/Getty Images

   Pour the tea and water mixture into a large container with a lid. Use a cocktail shaker or any large lidded container that is safe for hot liquids. Add 1/4 tsp. salt, 2 tbsp. butter and 1/2 cup milk to the tea and water mixture.

5. Shake the tea mixture to combine the ingredients. Comstock/Comstock/Getty Images

   Blend the tea, salt, butter and milk in the shaker for 2 to 3 minutes or until combined thoroughly. Pour the butter tea into cups; this will make six servings.

Tips & Warnings

• You can use any kind of milk in butter tea - whole milk or skim. You can also use half and half or cream. You may substitute 1 tsp. of powdered milk for the half cup of liquid milk, if you prefer.

References

• tibet-tour.com: Making Tibetan Butter Tea
• Yowangdu.com: Butter Tea: Po Cha
• tibetanlife.com: Tibetan Butter Tea Recipe
• therighttea.com: Po Cha
• "Dragon's Play: The Diversity Aawarenes Toolkit"; Vic Williams; 2005