Guangming Kamqung Sweet Tea House
You will find tea houses all over Tibet. They are where Tibetans meet friends and spend their free time. Guangming Kamqung Sweet Tea House, near the Jokhang Temple and Barkhor Street, is one of the oldest and best-known in Lhasa.
Visitor Information
| Location | near Barkhor Street and the Jokhang Temple, Lhasa |
| Price | a few yuan for a glass of sweet tea |
| Style | long wooden tables and benches, shared with locals |
Tea Culture in Tibet
Tibetans love tea. For many, it is what coffee is to Westerners: the first thing in the morning and the drink you share with friends. Tea houses have a long history in Lhasa and are part of everyday life.
In old Tibet, tea houses were for the wealthy. Today people from every walk of life meet in them to chat, catch up on news, play dice or cards, and watch the world go by.
The Sweet Tea Experience
Tibetan sweet tea (ja ngarmo) is made with black tea, milk and sugar. It is softer and sweeter than Indian chai. It is poured from big thermos flasks into small glasses. You put a few small notes or coins on the table, and the server fills your glass and takes the money as you drink.
What to Eat & Drink
- Sweet tea (ja ngarmo) — milky, sweet and warming.
- Tibetan noodles (thukpa) — noodle soup with yak meat.
- Momos — Tibetan dumplings, steamed or fried, filled with yak meat or vegetables.
- Tsampa — roasted barley flour, the Tibetan staple.
Who You’ll Meet
Find a seat, order a glass of tea and a bowl of noodles, and watch the room. On any day it is full of Lhasa locals, pilgrims from far away, traders and travellers from many countries. People say news travels faster through the tea houses than any newspaper.
Cultural note: an hour in a tea house will show you more of daily Tibetan life than many museums.
We answer within 12 hours, Monday to Saturday.