Bhutanese Cuisine

Bhutanese cuisine is the food tradition of Bhutan, built on Bhutanese red rice, a nutty rice that is the only variety grown at high altitude, together with buckwheat and, increasingly, maize. Buckwheat is eaten mainly in Bumthang, maize in the eastern districts, and rice across the country. The diet in the hills includes chicken, yak meat, dried beef, pork and lamb, and soups and stews of meat, rice, fiddleheads, lentils and dried vegetables spiced with chili peppers and cheese are favorites in the cold seasons. Ema datshi, chili peppers in a cheesy sauce, is widely regarded as the national dish. Butter and cheese from yaks and cows are popular, and common drinks include butter tea, milk tea and locally brewed ara rice wine.