People of Gannan drink tea three times
a day. In the morning, they drink morning tea containing fried
flour, milk dregs and butter. After lunch, one often drinks
several bowls of tea in order to beef up the stomach's digestive
ability as well as to perk the person up. after supper, the
whole family usually sits around the table, talking while
drinking tea to their hearts' content.
Tibetans pay close attention to sipping tea. For instance,
bowls used to contain the tea should be flawless and the tea
bowl held with both hands.
When refilling the bowl, the palm of the left hand should
face the sky, and no tea should spill out of the bowl. If
lamas are invited to recite sutras in the home, tea utensils
used by the lamas should not be touched by others.
Tea has a thousand uses for Tibetans. When one has guests,
he or she will entertain them with tea. Parents and elders
are often toasted with tea. When older persons, themselves,
sit together, they sip tea, gossip, and often recite the Six
Syllable Prayer. When going to visit friends, one's gifts
should include tea.
When a couple becomes engaged, tea is indispensable because
it represents ever-lasting ties to Tibetans. When the bride
reaches her husband's home for the first time, she should
go directly to the kitchen, where she will make tea for her
par-ents-in-law.
