Scientific health benefits of <em>Namakeen Chai/Jya </em> (salted tea): A traditional tea beverage of <em>Bhotiya</em> tribal community in higher altitudes of Uttarakhand

Abstract

365-369Bhotiya is a primitive tribal community in the high altitude hills of central Himalaya. The community is globally well known for its ethnic knowledge. They have the old tradition of preparing beverage "Namkeen chai ” or “Jya ” (salted tea) which is considered incredibly energetic and nutritive for health. The beverage is prepared by using the Taxus baccata L. bark, milk, ghee, and salt. It has a noteworthy role in depicting the socio-economic and cultural life of Bhotiya tribe of Uttarakhand.  Biochemical analysis of the Taxus baccata bark was done to determine total phenolic content, total flavonoids and anti-oxidative properties. This paper deals with the documentation of procedure for preparing “Namkeen chai ” by the Bhotiya tribal community and its scientific health benefits