Noon Chiya/ Butter Tea

Noon translates to salt and chiya translates to tea in Nepali language. Therefore the literal translation is salt tea but it is more appropriately known as butter tea. If you are wondering, it does include salt as it's ingredient. There are a couple of other ingredients too, they are tea leaves, yak butter and water. Although nowadays the yak butter is seen replaced with cow's milk to serve a wider region and since cow milk is cheaper, it helps. The key to making a good butter tea is shaking and churning the mixture to achieve the right consistency and taste. Nun chiya is an integral part of Tibetan life and has been passed down to the Himalayas of Nepal as well where they have migrated. As butter is the main ingredient in making a nun chiya and is high in calories which makes it perfect for the high altitudes. People in the Himalayas consume this as their daily beverage and if you ask for one they will be happy to serve you a cup.