Buttered tea is the most welcomed drink Tibetan people serve their guests, which is usually served with Zanba (a staple¹ of Tibetan people, a mixture of fried barely and bean powder). Containing tannin acid, brick tea stimulates² the secretion³ of gastric⁴ acid which fastens the process of digestion⁵. It has to go with ghee or milk to allay⁶ hunger. Its high calorie can provide enough power man needs as the most favorable drink in Shangri-La.

酥油茶是藏家待客所必备的饮料，多作为主食与糌粑一起食用。砖茶含鞣酸多，刺激肠胃蠕动加快消化，单喝极易饥饿，必须加酥油或牛奶，酥油茶因具有极高的热量，能消除寒气补充人体所需的热量，是香格里拉地区最好的饮料。

It is said that there were two hostile tribes by the name of Xia and Nu in the Tibetan-inhabited area in Shangri-La district. Nevertheless, Memeso, daughter of the chief of Xia and Wenpadan, son of the leader of Nu, fell in love, which is a taboo⁷ to both tribes, so the chief of Xia had Wenpadan murdered.During his cremation⁸ Memeso jumped into the burning fire and died with his lover. After the young couple died, Memeso became the leaves of the local tea plants and Wenpadan turned into the salt in Qiangtang Salt Lake. Since then buttered tea symbolizes⁹ the reunion of the tea and the salt.

传说，香格里拉藏区曾有辖和怒两个部落，两部落彼此势同水火，但辖部落土司的女儿美梅却与怒部落土司的儿子文顿巴相爱了，但由于两个部落结下的仇怨，辖部落的土司派人杀害了文顿巴，当为文顿巴举行火葬仪式时，美梅措跳进火海殉情。双方死后，美梅措到变成内地茶树上的茶叶，文顿巴变成羌塘盐湖里的盐，每当藏族人打酥油茶时，茶和盐就会再次相遇。