Ladakhi woman drinks butter tea, in Tibet

From the archive record

A Ladakhi woman drinks butter tea in her house. Butter tea, also known as po cha or goor goor in local Ladakhi terms, is a drink of the in TIbet. It is also consumed in Bhutan and by Buddhist minorities in India. It is made from tea leaves, yak butter, water, and salt. Drinking butter tea is a regular part of Tibetan life. Before work, a Tibetan will typically enjoy several bowlfuls of this beverage, and it is always served to guests. Nomads are said to often drink up to 40 cups of it a day. Since butter is the main ingredient, butter tea provides plenty of caloric energy and is particularly suited to high altitudes. The butter may also help prevent chapped lips. According to the Tibetan custom, butter tea is drunk in separate sips, and after each sip the host refills the bowl to the brim.