Bhutanese food is honest, warming and built around one beloved ingredient: chilli, treated not as a spice but as a vegetable.
Dishes to try
- Ema datshi — green or red chillies in a melted cheese sauce, the national dish
- Kewa datshi and shamu datshi — potato or mushroom with cheese
- Red rice — nutty, slightly sticky rice grown in the Paro valley
- Momos — steamed dumplings filled with cheese, vegetables or meat
- Hoentay — buckwheat dumplings from the Haa valley
- Suja — salty butter tea, and ara, a local spirit distilled from grain
How hot is it?
Authentic Bhutanese food can be very spicy. Hotels and restaurants serve a milder version for visitors, alongside Indian, Chinese and continental dishes, and we can always ask for the chillies on the side.
Dietary needs
Vegetarian food is easy to find, as many Bhutanese eat little meat. Vegan, gluten-free and other diets can be arranged with notice — just tell us when you book.
Water
Drink bottled or boiled water only. We provide bottled water throughout your journey.
Regulations and fees change from time to time; we always confirm the latest details in your quotation.
Header photo: Antonio Morales García, CC BY-SA 2.0
