Tibetan Food –Sweet Tea

Tibetan Food – Introduction of Sweet Tea

Sweet tea is named "Qianmo" in Tibetan language, which is one of the most favorite drinks of Tibetans, and especially very popular in towns of Lhasa, Shannan, Shigatse and some other districts. Now, the custom of drinking sweet tea has spread to the villages about town. In Tibet, tea has epical meaning. It is the symbol of god. Tibetans will sacrifice tea in many folk-custom and marriage customs. Sweet tea is not a native drink of Tibet, which is an exotic drink. But sweet tea had come into Tibetan life, become necessary drink in daily life and an important part of Tibetan food.

Tibetan Food – Making Process of Sweet Tea

The material sweet tea must be black tea, and it can not be replaced by some other tea. First boil the black tea. Then, filter leach the tea in water and ad some milk (fresh milk or milk powder), sugar, or juice. That will be a cup of sweet and delicious sweet tea. Due to the way of making sweet tea is very simple, and with less fattiness, it gets the favor of young in Tibet. Drinking sweet tea has become an important part of Tibetan traditional culture. Many young people in Tibet even think drinking sweet tea is same as drinking butter tea, and it is a Tibetan custom which formed in ancient.

Tibet does not produce black tea. The black tea in Tibet was gradually introduced into Tibet though commercial intercourse. In Yadong and Gyantse area, the making process and drinking way of sweet tea is similar with the way in India and Nepal.

Tibetan Food – Function of Sweet Tea

The sweet tea can overcome or relieve the discomfort which brought by high altitude sickness, with sweet and pleasant taste.

Tibetan Food – Recreation about Sweet Tea

There is a kind of recreational activity named "Ger Rang" very popular in the sweet tea houses of Tibet. It is an entertainment product which use finger to hit. Although it was introduced from India, it has become an important recreational way in Tibetan life. Just as sweet tea, it also introduced from foreign country. They combine with each other, just meet Tibetan's daily life and recreation, and gradually become their custom. Besides the "Ger Rang", there are chess, poker and some other recreational activities in sweet tea houses.