Suutei Tsai

A savory milk tea made with brick tea, milk and a pinch of salt, drunk throughout the day across Mongolian households.

Suutei tsai has been a daily staple across Mongolia for centuries, tied closely to the country's pastoral, dairy-rich diet, and traditionally the first thing offered to a guest entering a ger. Unlike sweetened milk teas found elsewhere, it is savory, seasoned with salt rather than sugar, reflecting its role as a nourishing, hydrating drink meant to be consumed throughout the day rather than as a treat. Compressed brick tea, easy to transport across the steppe, is the traditional base.

The tea is savory, seasoned with salt rather than sugar, and traditionally made with brick tea simmered directly in milk and water rather than steeped separately. A small amount of butter or fat is sometimes added for richness.