While Bhutanese cuisine is not all that much to write home about the drinks in Bhutan scene is a little bit more eclectic. In fact I was really taken aback by just how many drinks they produce because aside from penises they really don’t make all that much stuff.
And the list really is quite varied for Bhutanese drinks. Being so close to India they of course make a few really decent whiskies. They also make good beer but what really surprised me was they had their own mango juice although it’s probably bottled in India.
So what drinks in Bhutan should you try?
Click to read my take on Bhutanese cuisine.
21 Best Drinks in Bhutan to Try
21. Fruitimix Mango Juice
This stuff is everywhere. It’s sweet as hell and comes in little plastic bottles. Says Bhutan but probably bottled in Siliguri. Still cold and sugary which works on long drives.
20. Bacardi Breezer
No idea how this ended up everywhere but it did. The default drink of every girl in Thimphu on a night out. Mostly orange and cranberry flavours. Artificial but available.
19. Bhutan Natural Apple Juice
You’ll see it in hotels and some cafes. Claimed to be organic and Bhutanese. Tastes like watery cider without the alcohol. Refreshing but average.
18. Druk Orange Drink
Looks like Fanta but tastes like tangy acid. Somehow manages to be sharp and flat at the same time. Still weirdly addictive after a hike.
17. Ginger Tea
Served hot in nearly every teahouse and hotel. Usually just boiled water and ginger slices. Sometimes honey if you’re lucky. Decent for altitude and digestion.
16. Black Tea
Basic but omnipresent. Usually served with powdered milk and sugar unless you say no. Slightly better than the Chinese version. Helps after cold mountain mornings.
15. Sweet Milk Tea
The Bhutanese go hard on the sugar. Comes in thick glasses and tastes like dessert. You can get it almost anywhere. Not bad when hungover.
14. Lemon Tea
Hot or cold this one is fairly solid. More popular in summer and usually mixed with fresh lemon and honey. Occasionally spiked.
13. Red Panda Wheat Beer
The first craft beer in Bhutan made in Bumthang. Tastes like something a monk would brew in a bathtub but in a good way. Cloudy and slightly sweet.
12. Bhutan Mist
Local gin made in Paro. Hard to find and not exactly high end but it exists and gets the job done. Mix it with whatever you can get.
11. Mountain Man Lager
Slightly stronger and more bitter than Druk 11000. Comes in brown bottles and usually served warm. Not terrible if you’re stuck in a bar with nothing else.
10. Bhutan Highland Whiskey
A decent local whiskey. Smooth enough and available everywhere. Your basic go-to if you want to drink like a local but not cry in the morning.
9. Druk 11000
Strong beer. Classic lager taste with a hit. Comes in big bottles. This is the national beer whether anyone admits it or not.
8. Peach Wine
Usually Zumzin. Tastes like peach flavoured headache. Popular with women and lightweights. Drink enough and you’ll end up singing in karaoke bars.
7. Druk Lager
Lighter and cleaner than 11000. Easier to drink and goes well with spicy food. You’ll find this in every restaurant and hotel minibar.
6. K5 Whiskey
Supposedly made with Scottish malts and Bhutanese water. Smooth and slightly peaty. Named after the fifth king. Surprisingly good and worth bringing home.
5. Bhutan Glory Lager
Premium beer branding but actually decent. A little maltier than the rest. Better cold and in a glass if you’re being fancy.
4. Ara with Egg
Homemade distilled spirit usually served warm with a poached egg floating in it. Sounds disgusting but it’s a thing. Definitely one of the most authentic Bhutanese drinks.
3. Bhutanese Chaang
Sometimes served in eastern Bhutan. Similar to the Tibetan barley beer. Thick, cloudy, low alcohol. Hard to find but very traditional. Served in wooden mugs or plastic cups depending where you are. If you find it drink it.
2. Yak Butter Tea
Also known as Suja. Salty, fatty and completely unlike any other tea. Made from fermented tea leaves and churned with butter and salt. Like marmite, I love it, but not everyone does!
1. Straight Ara
The real deal. Clear firewater. Tastes like baijiu with a sour edge. Found all over rural Bhutan. Comes paiawara style, or human like in bottles.
That’s your rundown on the drinks in Bhutan. It’s not always glamorous but it gets you drunk, hydrated, or just weirded out. Exactly how it should be.