“Gyata”- a Cheese-Like Food

Recently, Tibetan food become a heat among the tourists and as a foodie may not miss Tibetan snacks. Every year on the evening of Gonpo New Years Eve, Tibetan people will have dinner together. The dinner naturally cannot without highland barley wine and buttered tea, as well as a special festive food called “gyata” .Explore Tibet Team, a professional Tibet travel agency, introduces this traditional food to you.

“Gyata” literally meaning “lickable food” in the Tibetan language, and it is a cheese-like food. Tibetan people loved it very much, and it is regarded as a traditional snack used to entertain guests in Tibetan households, which can be considered as a representative of Tibetan food in a sense. The cheese-like gyata is made by some common food material, such as yak butter, fine milk dregs, and sugar or salt together.
To make “Gyata” is very simple. Firstly, mix yak butter, fine milk dregs, and sugar or salt together in to the flour. Secondly, knead the dough and formed the flour into dough balls by hand. Then strung dough balls on sticks. Finally, roast the dough balls over a fire like mutton shashlik.
According to the Tibetan traditions, eating “Gyata” is necessary for every family member on the evening of New Years Eve, because they believe that eating them can to ward off demons. According to the legend，demons will enter houses and catch some people at midnight on the evening of New Years Eve. However, the demons too lazy to catch someone with heavy body weight, so the thin person become the target of the demons. Thus everyone must eat as much food as possible at the dinner to add the weight just in case less than others. Grand Tibetan feast can satisfy both the eyes and the stomach, and eating more can ensure one’s safety. why not do it？Thus,everyone will have a wonderful time at the dinner.
A taste of Tibetan food keeps you refreshed. Come to Tibet experience the rich culture and hospitality with .Explore Tibet Team.We hope your Tibet travels are an unforgettable experience.