close

How it began

The experience left me confused...with a heavy heart. While I took pride and pleasure in sharing my country with the visitors, I was saddened by all they missed in their pursuit of the beast. There is so much more to Mongolia! That day, my dream was born—my dream of creating a com...
Read more
close
Discover Mongolia Travel It’s Tea Time! Different Tea Making Tips from Different Ethnic Groups

It’s Tea Time! Different Tea Making Tips from Different Ethnic Groups

Things to do 3 min read Created on: Apr 16, 2020
Discover Mongolia
Written by Discover Mongolia
tea_mobile
It is impossible to imagine the culture of Mongolia without milk tea. From the very beginning, Mongolians have been drinking milk tea combined with many types of medicinal herbs. Mongol nomadic way of life has perfected the tea making process and people from different ethnic groups have been developing it with their own ways until today. We say proudly that Mongolian milk tea has a power to heal all manner of sickness, supports mental wellbeing, and boosts the immune system. Here are some recipes to make a perfect cup of Mongolian tea. Milk tea is a common description and every ethnic group has its own unique techniques. We are aware that some of (most of) ingredients are hard to find. But it can come in handy by the time you visit Mongolia if you know what to collect and take back to your home.  

Having a headache? Here. Have some tea!

Put tea leaves into cold water and brew the tea for a while

Add milk and laddle the tea for several times. The more the better.

Start serving the tea beginning from the eldest person in Ger

If the host of the house offer you milk tea in a silver cup, you should appreciate and take it. It's the sign of respect

Feel free to take the gift and put it in your Deel's pocket

Khalkh Mongol Tea with Dried Meat (Jerky)

Firstly, boil black tea. Prepare another pot and make it warm. Put raw rice and sheep tail slices into that pot and fry them for 5 minutes. Then add the boiled black tea. You should hear a very strange and strong noise while adding the tea. The last step is adding dried meat, sheep tail slices, and sheep/goat ribs. Add salt to your liking. This tea is called “Tea with Dried meat” and is most commonly used throughout Central Mongolia. Nowadays, people tend to add dumplings to make it tastier and more edible.

Durvud Tea

Boil plain water in an iron pot. Add tea leaves and boil a little more to make it adjust. Then add milk, salt and yellow butter and ladle continuously until the tea boils and butter melts away. Yellow butter is made from white butter. The white butter is heated in a pot until the yellow butter-oil is melted. This is separated from the white butter cream. Nomads strongly believe that this tea is extremely good for health.

Kazakh Tea

This one is extra delicious! You will need about 3 liters of water, 50gr tea leaves, 30gr mare’s milk oil, 10gr butter cream and salt. Mix all these and put into the pot and let it boil. No ladling. When serving the tea, it must be hot and add more butter. This tea tastes so strong but at the same time amazingly pleasant like you can’t get enough of it.

Torguud Tea

Boil black tea with strong fire and add lots of milk afterwards to make it thick and tasty. This tea can even replace a meal!

Zakhchin Tea

Put tea leaves into warm water and make it boil. Leave the tea boiling for a while until it turns really black! Pour the tea onto boiled milk. After a while, add salt and mare milk oil and ladle the tea several times. Zakhchin people serve this tea in an open pot and drink it while it’s hot.

Dariganga's Rice Tea

Put millet and tea leaves into water and boil it. Then add milk, salt and yellow butter (melted butter from livestock). While serving, make sure to stir the tea well. Dariganga people love to mix millet from tea with cookies fried in butter, curds, and clotted cream.  

Tea with Nettle

In May and June, when nettles are young and less than a foot high, people collect and dry them out. Pestle them and use the powder in tea frequently. Use about 30 grams of powder in 3 liters of water. Tea with nettle is good for people who have high blood pressure.

If you are a tea lover, make sure to try Mongolian milk tea. Mongolians, mostly people from the city, like to drink milk tea in the mornings and on weekends when all family members are gathered together. Any kind of milk tea can be beneficial for your health and body. And again, Mongolian tea is a valuable medicine which is tasty and nourishing at the same time. Visit any nomad family while traveling around Mongolia, and you’ll be invited to have a cup of hot tea!

Need Help Planning Your Vacation?

Our friendly local experts will respond to your request with lightning speed.
100+ Reviews, 99% thumb_up
Sign up for the newsletter
Travel discounts & other usefull informations straight to your inbox
keyboard_arrow_up
How to Discover Mongolia:
The Last Unexplored Travel Destination
Do you want to experience the beautiful landscapes and unspoiled culture of Mongolia? Learn everything you need to know with our 100% FREE 6-part email series.

Thank You

Thank you for subscribing up for the 6-part series! Please check your email.x