Culture of Bhutan chili peppers (similar to chili con queso), might be called the national dish for its ubiquity and the pride that Bhutanese have for it. Other foods include: "jasha maru" (a chicken dish), "phaksha paa", "thukpa", "bathup", and fried rice. Dairy foods, particularly butter and cheese from yaks and cows, are also popular, and indeed almost all milk is turned into butter and cheese. Popular beverages include: butter tea, black tea, locally brewed "ara" (rice wine), and beer. Popular spices include: curry, cardamom, ginger, "thingay" (Sichuan pepper), garlic, turmeric, and caraway. When offered food, one says "meshu meshu", covering one's mouth
Ojingeo-jeot Ojingeo-jeot Ojingeo-jeot () or salted squid is a "jeotgal" (salted seafood) made by salting and fermenting thinly sliced squid. It is a popular "banchan" (side dish) with high protein, vitamin and mineral contents. Squid is skinned, gutted, washed, salted with coarse salt and let ferment for three to four days. It is then drained, salted again, and let age for three more days up to a month. Well fermented squid is washed, julienned into thin strips, and seasoned with "gochutgaru" (chili powder), "mullyeot" (rice syrup), "aekjeot" (fish sauce), chopped scallions, minced garlic, ground ginger, sliced chili peppers, toasted sesame seeds,