Lhasa teahouses serve sweet tea and community connection

For many residents of Lhasa, the capital of the Xizang autonomous region, a cup of sweet tea is a daily ritual, and the city's modest teahouses serve as community hubs where conversation flows as freely as the beverage itself.

On Barkhor Street, a small, unadorned teahouse with eight wooden tables draws a steady stream of locals. Patrons often stop in after completing a kora, a traditional religious walk around sacred sites.

"Sometimes we rest here and drink tea for two hours," said Phurbu Drolma, a local who frequently visits with companions. She had just invited a pair of visiting tourists to share her table, where she helped them order tea and later shared snacks she had brought with her.

For 70-year-old Tsering Tashi, the habit is deeply rooted. He visits a teahouse near the Tsamkhang Monastery every day, often meeting friends without making plans in advance. "Sometimes you simply arrive and run into someone you know," he said.

The appeal of sweet tea cuts across generations. Children grow up visiting teahouses with their parents, and the practice is also gaining interest among young tourists.

International visitors have taken notice as well. Frank, a tourist from Sweden, said he had heard that Tibetan sweet tea was a distinctive part of Chinese tea culture. "I really like the taste," he said. Italian visitor Albert compared the flavor to British tea but described it as richer.

Sweet tea was introduced to Lhasa through trade and cultural exchanges with neighboring regions. Over time, locals adapted the recipe to suit their tastes.

While the tea can be made at home, many prefer the teahouse setting. "It has become a habit," said a local woman surnamed Drolma.

For Lhasa residents, teahouses offer more than refreshment. They are places where conversations begin, friendships are maintained, and strangers are welcomed to share a table.

Jiang Yan and Wang Yijun contributed to this story.