Nestled in the serene beauty of the capital of Bhutan, Thimphu strongly holds onto the cultural heritage of the country. Aside from the several tourist attractions, the place is famously known for its delicious local cuisines. While you go out for Thimphu sightseeing, trying out the lip-smacking dishes is a must. It will make your trip to this beautiful country more memorable.
The traditional Bhutanese cuisine is full of different and unique ingredients and flavours. The food here is mainly evolved from its neighbouring countries and is traditionally eaten by hand while sitting cross-legged.
One etiquette that is followed in Thimphu, when being offered food is to refuse the food by covering your mouth and saying “meshu, meshu” for the first couple of times before finally accepting it.
The foods here are normally served by women and the local people pray for some time and keep a small amount of food on the floor as an offering to the spirit before starting to eat.
Meals of Thimphu are served as a family-style buffet where you can get to taste a sample portion of each dish.
While you are on a Thimphu sightseeing tour, make sure to try some of their exotic local dishes. It is going to make your taste buds dance with joy. Some of the famous local dishes that are a must-try in Thimphu are-
1. Ema-Datshi- “Datshi” means cheese in the Bhutanese language, which is commonly used in the Bhutanese dishes. Ema Datshi holds the honor of being the national dish of the country.. This stew is prepared using chillies and cheese. It can be a bit spicy for you if your spice tolerance is low.
If you are discussing Bhutanese dishes it will not be completed without mentioning Ema datshi owing to its popularity. Yak cheese is generally used in preparing this dish along with chillies which are cut lengthwise after removing its ribs and seeds.
Sometimes tomatoes and onions are also added in this dish which is then mixed with some oil and water. A small variation which is followed by the locals in preparing Ema Datshi is the maintaining of liquid consistency otherwise the overall essence of this popular dish remains the same throughout the country. It is worth trying each variation of Ema Datshi.
2. Jasha Maroo- It is a traditional chicken stew made in Bhutan. This spicy chicken stew is prepared by using onion, chillies, dried chicken, tomatoes, coriander leaves and ginger. The essence of this dish comes from the ginger. It is served with a generous amount of chicken broth and just like other Bhutanese dishes you can have this dish with a portion of red rice.
This chicken stew is extremely spicy and is considered to be the spiciest dish in the country and you must inquire about the spicy level of Jasha Maroo from the locals before trying it to save your mouth from burning.
3. Kew Datshi- If you are a vegetarian and are visiting Bhutan then this dish will come to you as a rescue. Unlike most of the Bhutanese dishes which are mainly prepared by some kind of meat items, this dish is prepared wholly using several vegetables. Kewa Datshi is a stew which is prepared using potatoes and cheese.
If you have a special love for garlic and prefer to have them in most of your dishes then you will find this dish very appetising. You can have this healthy stew without worrying about the calorie intake. To prepare this dish chillies are cut by removing their seeds and ribs after which potato slices which are thinly sliced are cooked using cheese and butter.
Some locals even use tomatoes to add to the flavour of the dish. Shamu Datshi is also prepared using the same process; only mushrooms are used in this dish primarily. You will be served these dishes along with a generous amount of white or red rice.
4. Red Rice- It is the staple food for most of the Bhutanese people and is consumed along with almost all the other dishes as a side dish. Red rice is a variety of medium-grain rice and is grown widely in the Eastern Himalayan region. The minerals of the Thimphu region being rich in glacier water help in the growth of red rice.
This rice variety cooks faster than other varieties and being cooked a brownish tinge is acquired. Red rice is highly nutritious as they are wheat and gluten-free and have a high amount of minerals in them. They taste good with dishes which have a bold flavour owing to the nutty and earthy taste.
5. Phaksha Paa- the Bhutanese cuisines are prepared using a wide variety of meat items. The Pahaksha paa is a type of stew or curry made with pork, chillies and other vegetables. The pork slices are stir-fried with ginger, dry red chillies and Bok Choy to prepare this dish. Sometimes certain mountain vegetables like spinach or radish are added to make this dish more flavourful. The locals generally serve this dish with a portion of red rice.
Thimphu is a hypnotic place with lots of hidden spots to steal your heart on your Bhutan trip. While you are busy with your Thimphu sightseeing, you can also try out their local dishes which are not only tasty but also healthy. The Bhutanese dishes are prepared using lots of fresh vegetables and meat items. Although most of the dishes here are a bit spicy it is worth a try.
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