[Shigatse] Share: Xizang on the tip of the tongue - enjoy the Tibetan New Year food tour

As the Tibetan New Year approaches, the cold air in Xizang is filled with thick fireworks. The mellow aroma of butter tea, the salty freshness of yak meat hotpot, and the steaming heat of yak meat buns... In this land closest to the sky, food is not only a pleasure for the taste buds, but also a necessity for resisting the cold and replenishing energy. Come to Xizang for the Tibetan New Year! Let your taste buds and soul experience the unique charm of the snowy plateau together, and embark on a journey of warmth on your tongue with a cup of sweet tea and a bowl of Tibetan noodles. Reporter Zhang Lin

The warmth hidden in the sweet tea house
Tibetan noodles, sweet tea, fried potatoes, meat pies... In Xizang, no matter on the streets, there are always large and small sweet tea houses. This is not only a place for Tibetan people to have breakfast, but also a place to gather with friends during their leisure time in the afternoon. Opening the thick door curtain of the Sweet Tea House, people sat in groups of three or three, with steaming Tibetan noodles and meat patties on the table. The air was filled with the milky aroma of sweet tea, accompanied by low voices of laughter, creating a warm scene.

In Xizang, people can always create a unique "Xizang flavor" from simple ingredients. A pot of sweet tea, a bowl of Tibetan noodles, and a serving of fried potatoes or meat patties are the standard breakfast set here. With simple ingredients such as clear water, black tea leaves, sweet milk powder, or yak milk, one can make sweet tea with a rich tea aroma and mellow milk flavor. In the slightly chilly early spring, taking a sip made my whole body warm up. Paired with a bowl of chewy Tibetan noodles at this moment, it's simple yet satisfying.

The sweet tea houses in Xizang, regardless of size, are a microcosm of Xizang and a reflection of Tibetan people's life. In the sweet tea house, there are no strangers. If you come to Lhasa, be sure to walk into a sweet tea house, order a pot of sweet tea, have a bowl of Tibetan noodles, or a steaming hot and well made yak meat bun, and feel the unique warmth of the snowy plateau. You will find that the charm of Xizang lies not only in its scenery, but also in the human feelings hidden in the sweet teahouse.

Warm stomach delicacies on the plateau
Many people think Xizang is a "food desert", but they do not know that Xizang is as introverted and shy as people here. They use good ingredients and simple processing methods to make delicious food, respect the ingredients themselves, and give back to nature's gifts. Therefore, the food here seems simple and plain, but behind it is the infinite enthusiasm of Xizang people for friends from all over the world.

When you come to Xizang, how can you miss Tibetan yak meat hotpot? In the chilly early spring, there is nothing that warms the body and mind more than a steaming hot pot of yak meat. Yaks, as a "treasure" on the plateau, have delicious meat and rich nutrition, making them a great food for Tibetan people to supplement in winter. Yak meat hotpot, on the other hand, is a classic way to take this delicacy to the extreme.

Traditional Tibetan yak meat hotpot emphasizes the original flavor, and the soup base is usually made by boiling yak bones for several hours, adding a little salt and spices. First, place a layer of seasonal vegetables and vermicelli on the bottom of the pot, followed by a layer of yak meat cutlet. On top of it are durable vegetables such as potatoes, radishes, cabbage, bamboo shoots, and fungus. Then, add fresh yak meat with a mix of fat and lean, and simmer slowly. The fragrances of various ingredients collide with each other, not to mention how fragrant they are! In order not to cover up the aroma of the food itself, the dip of Tibetan yak meat hot pot is usually simple. It can be made with chili sauce, scallions, coriander, etc., or added with sesame sauce, Fermented bean curd, etc. according to personal preference. Yak meat hotpot has a strong flavor, and it is recommended to pair it with light butter tea or sweet tea drinks.

The plateau style on the tip of the tongue
When you come to Xizang, you should not only taste the special food to fill your stomach, but also the snacks with unique flavor. During the Tibetan New Year, the essential snack for every household is undoubtedly "Kasai". Kasai is a dessert made by frying raw materials such as butter and flour. Its appearance is usually round, bar shaped, butterfly shaped, etc. It has a crispy and sweet taste and is a must-have food for Tibetan New Year and festival celebrations.

Of course, you must try yak yogurt here when you come to Xizang. Fermented from pure yak milk, it has a thick and delicate taste, rich milk aroma, and abundant nutrition. Generally, the original yak yogurt has a slightly sour taste and needs to be eaten with white sugar. Honey, fried highland barley, Ginseng fruit, etc. can also be added according to personal taste to make the taste more rich and acceptable.

The fried potatoes in the streets and lanes are also one of the snacks loved by Xizang people. Usually, the fried potatoes in sweet tea houses are in the form of strips, while those in street shops are in the form of slices or blocks. People like to sprinkle simple seasonings such as chili powder and salt on potatoes that have been fried until golden brown. Why are seemingly simple fried potatoes so popular? It turns out that the fried potatoes here are usually Xizang local potatoes. Due to sufficient sunshine, large temperature difference between day and night, high starch content, and soft and sweet taste, the fried potatoes are more fragrant and mouth watering.

Snacks as popular as fried potatoes include liangfen. This is a cold snack made with pea powder or sweet potato powder, with a smooth and chewy taste, making it a great choice for satisfying cravings. In Xizang, people like to add chili oil made of Xizang's native chili into the jelly, and also add auxiliary materials such as fried peanuts and scallions, which is sour, spicy, appetizing, cool and refreshing. In addition to the traditional way of eating liangfen, liangfen can also be sandwiched into cakes to satisfy cravings and keep you full. Xizang has a wide variety of snacks with unique flavor, which is an indispensable part of experiencing Tibetan culture.

Winter tour in Xizang accompanied by delicious food
Recently, the seventh round of "Winter Tour to Xizang" is under way and will continue until March 15, 2025. During the event, all A-level scenic spots in Xizang (except temple scenic spots) will be free of tickets. Before the event ends, come and experience the high-altitude atmosphere on your tongue!

Source: Xizang Business Daily
Editor: Culture and Tourism Shigatse
[Editor in Chief: Wang Gaopeng | Editor: Dawa Zhuoma]

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