Mongolian milk tea
Mongolia is a country of vast open spaces and nomadic herders. While in the city, visitors can experience the traditional lifestyle and culture of the Mongolian people. One way to do this is by sampling the Mongolian milk tea, suutei tsai.
Suutei Tsai is made of cow milk, water, and salt. It has a rich flavor and can be enjoyed hot or cold. There are variations of suutei tsai, such as with added butter, cream, sheep tale, tea leaves, borts, and rice.
The tea can be found at local restaurants or purchased at street vendors throughout Mongolia.
Mongolian Milk tea culture
Meaning
- Hospitality: Giving suutei tsai to guests is a custom. It’s a sign of warmth and respect and guests are expected to drink it as a courtesy.
- Comfort and Energy: In a cold country suutei tsai is a comfort and warmth. It’s energy and food, especially for herders who work outside in the cold.
- Social Bonding: Drinking milk tea together is a social connection whether in family or among friends and neighbors.
3. Variations by Region
- There are regional variations of suutei tsai. Some include dried meat or cheese. Local taste and resources.
- In city suutei tsai is slightly sweeter with sugar added instead of salt though the traditional salty taste is still dominant.
4. Symbol of Nomadic Lifestyle
- Traditionally the milk used in suutei tsai is from cows, yaks or goats which are all part of the Mongolian nomadic lifestyle. The drink is a reflection of the importance of livestock and dairy products in Mongolian culture.
5. Daily
- Suutei tsai is consumed several times a day—morning as a breakfast drink, during breaks or at gatherings. Paired with bread, cookies or meat filled dumplings (buuz) for a meal.
6. Modern Trend
- While traditional suutei tsai is a cultural staple in recent years younger generation have adapted it to modern taste, sometimes adding sweeteners or flavored syrup.
- It has also been introduced in some cafes and restaurants so now tourists can try it.
What is suutei tsai made of?
Suutei Tsai is a type of milk tea that is popular in Mongolia. It is made with salt, milk, and sheep tale, and is served hot or cold. Mongolians are very hospitable people and suutei tsai is one of the important drinks that they offer to their guests.
In my opinion, there are three main kinds of Suutei tsai popular in Mongolia.
- First, Basic milk tea /Water, Salt, Leaf and Milk/
- Second, Simple milk tea /Water and Milk
- Tasty Suutei tsai /Milk tea with other ingredients/
Basic milk tea:
It is made of water, milk, salt, and tea leaves. This kind of suutei tsai is popular among the Mongols living in rural areas. The ratio of water to milk is 1:1, and the number of tea leaves can be adjusted according to personal preference.
Simple milk tea:
This type of suutei tsai is made of water and milk. Salt can be added to your preference. The ratio of water to milk is 1:1. In this type of Milk tea, we are called ”Hyaram”. Hyram is a famous suutei tsai in Mongolia.
Tasty suutei tsai:
This is my favorite type of suutei tsai. It is made of water, milk, salt, and sheep tale. You can add butter, cream, borts, and rice as a preference. The ratio of water to milk is 1:1, and the number of tea leaves can be adjusted according to personal preference. I think the addition of sheep tales makes suutei tsai more delicious.
Here I share with you my favorite suutei tsai recipe:
How do you pronounce suutei tsai?
Suutei tsai is pronounced “soo-tay tseye”.
How do you make suutei tsai?
1. Boil water in a pot.
2. Add milk, salt, and tea leaves to the pot.
3. Stir well and let the suutei tsai simmer for 3-5 minutes.
4. Serve hot or cold, with or without sheep tale. Enjoy!
What does Mongolian milk tea taste like?
Mongolian milk tea is a bit salty and creamy, with a strong tea flavor. The addition of the sheep tale gives suutei tsai a unique taste that you’ll either love or hate. I personally think it’s delicious!
Mongolian Milk tea benefits
Drinking suutei tsai is said to be good for your health. It is believed to help with digestion, weight loss, and fatigue. Mongolian milk tea is also a good source of calcium and vitamin C.
In conclusion
If you are looking for an authentic Mongolian experience, be sure to try suutei tsai. The tea is a delicious and refreshing way to enjoy the traditional culture of Mongolia.
When visiting a Mongolian family, they will serve you milk tea. Or You can find it at local restaurants or purchase it from street vendors throughout the country.
Hello, my name is Bayanbat. I was born in Ulaanbaatar Mongolia. The written blog post is my real experiment of living in Mongolia. So if you have any questions, feel free to contact me.
So, what’s your favorite Mongolian drink? We’d love to hear about it in the comments.
How do Mongolians drink tea?
Mongolians usually drink suutei tsai out of a bowl, using a straw. It is considered impolite to drink milk tea directly from the pot.
Did the Mongols drink tea?
Yes, the Mongols have been drinking tea for centuries. In fact, suutei tsai is one of the most important drinks in Mongolian culture.
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