A foodie may not miss Tibetan food and drinks in Beijing, which is also a capital of gourmet in China.
There are at least four specialties that any foodie should not miss:
No. 1: Tibetan yoghourt
Traditional Tibetan yoghourt in thick bamboo tubes. [Photo/China Tibet Onine]
Yoghourt is one of the most favorite foods for Tibetans. The renowned "Shoton Festival" is actually a festival to "eat Tibetan yoghourt", with "sho" means "white yoghourt" and "ton" means "eat" in Tibetan language.
In Lhasa, the capital city of Tibet Autonomous Region, people can easily find snack bars or stalls selling Tibetan yoghourt filled in bamboo tubes.
In Beijing, you can find this specialty in many Tibetan restaurants such as Makye-ame and Paltadunokar Tibetan restaurant.
Self-made Tibetan yoghourt in the Makye-ame restaurant. [Photo/China Tibet Online]
No.2: Buttered tea
Buttered tea in the Drolma Tibetan restaurant in Beijing. [photo/China Tibet Online]
There's a saying that "Without drinking the buttered tea, one barely has traveled to Tibet". The buttered tea is a routine drink for Tibetans and is the most ancient and popular tea drink.
When Tibetan people welcome you to their homes with buttered tea, you should use your right hand to dip the tea and flip three times to the air before drinking it, which is a custom to show respect to the deity and pray for auspiciousness, peace and happiness.
Yet, many non-Tibetan people would not love the tea at first due to a strong exotic smell. But, they may begin to like it with a second sip, tasting the aroma between the teeth in the mouth. And then, people may fall in love with the buttered tea.
For those who cannot handle the buttered tea, Tibetan sweet tea, which is like milky tea, should be a good adapter. Many Tibetan restaurants in Beijing provide this Tibetan sweet tea such as the Drolma restaurant.
Buttered tea in the Makye-ame Tibetan Restaurant. [Photo/China Tibet Online]
No. 3 Tibetan roast mutton chops
Roasted mutton chops in Makye-ame Tibetan restaurant [Photo/China Tibet Online]
Tibet is abundant in yaks and Tibetan sheep due to its unique natural environment, and Tibetan people love red meat. If you missed the roast mutton chops in Tibetan restaurants in Beijing, it'd be a big pity.
With the special dipping sauce, the roast mutton chops with crisp skin and delicate meat is really tasty.
No. 4: Zanba
Rachungma Tibetan restaurant's Zanba [Photo/China Tibet Online]
Zanba is the daily staple food to Tibetan people. It is a kind of pastry made of the powder of dried fried highland barley.
Tibetan people eat Zanba in various ways with different dipping sauce. Every Tibetan restaurant offer the Zanba pastry such as the Rachungma Tibetan restaurant in Haidian District of Beijing.
No. 5: Tibetan decorations
Besides the delicious Tibetan food, the Tibetan decorations in these restaurants can be the indispensable condiment for the customers. [Photo/China Tibet Online]
Besides the delicious Tibetan food, the Tibetan decorations in these restaurants can be the indispensable condiment for the customers.
Wooden window lattice, paper lanterns, copper prayer wheels, and exquisite murals and statues may give you a transcending feeling as if you were already in Tibet more than 4,000 kilometers away.
Some may ask if the Tibetan restaurants in Beijing have adjusted the Tibetan food with Beijing flavor. My answer is "no". Yet, why not try them and see for yourself?
Orignal From: Specialties of Tibetan restaurants in Beijing
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