Shannan Dining: What to Eat, What to Drink, Where to Eat and Drink – China Travel Agency, China Tours 2019

Shannan Dining

Shannan, also known as Lhoka, is a prefecture-level city in the southeastern Tibet Autonomous Region. Shannan includes Gonggar County within its jurisdiction with Gonggar cho Monastery, and Gonggar Airport are all located near Gonggar town.

‣ What to Eat

Shannan, or Lhoka is located in a relatively sparse area and the climate is a little bit harsh. And the special food we are going to advise is the same as the traditional food in other area.

● Gyurma(血肠)

Gyurma is a type of blood sausage made with yak or sheep’s blood and other spice. It is very difficult to find this kind of food in other places of China.

● Thukpa(汤面)

Thukpa is a kind of noodle soup, usually served with mutton or yak meat with some vegetables.

● Tingmo(馍馍)

Tingmo is a type of steamed bun or bread. It is usually served along with other foods but sometimes it is stuffed with meat or cheese. This is a good choice to stow your belly when you are very hungry.

● Tsam-thuk(特色汤)

A soup made with cheeses, tsampa, and either yak or sheep stock is very delicious.

● Tsampa(糌粑)

Tsampa is known as the national food of Tibet. Tibetan people may have this everyday. It is usually made of ground barley flour and often mixed with butter or yak butter tea.

● Beef(牛肉)

Tibetan people’s origin is the nomadic tribe, so the cattle and other animals can be seen almost everywhere. So, the beef is the main food in Tibetan people’s table. Beef here is much more tasty than beef of other places since cattle here can ramble freely.

● Mutton(羊肉)

Mutton is another specialty in Shigatse. Honestly speaking, the mutton is also the main food of Tibetan people, which is the same as the beef. The meat of sheep and goat is different, so before you order the dishes, you can tell the restaurant what kind of meat you want to eat.

● Shapu (smashed meat)(肉干)

The smashed meat is a type of meat which is smashed with many ingredients. People who are fond of spicy food can have a try.

‣What to Drink

There are also a number of traditional beverages enjoyed by the people of Tibet. These include:

● Sweet tea（甜茶）

We tend to say the Barkhor Street is the heartland of Lhasa, if so, we could say that sweet tea is the blood vessel maintaining the life of Tibet. It is hard to imagine how many locals run a sweet tea store along the Barkhor Street, so, you can not miss the chance to have a cup of sweet tea.

● Yak Butter Tea（酥油茶）

Locally known as Po Cha, yak butter tea is made from yak butter, tea leaves, and salt. It is served hot.

● Highland Barley Wine(Chong)(青稞酒)

A type of beer made from barley. It is served either at room temperature or very hot.