The Tibetans enjoy sweet tea in the same way Westerners enjoy coffee - as a wake-up drink in the morning to start the day.

In Tibet, no morning can be passed happily without buttered tea, while no lunch is complete without sweet tea.

As a result,sweet tea houses can be seen everywhere in Lhasa--no matter whether you're taking a ritual walk around the Potala Palace or going shopping in the Barkor Street. Even as night falls the sweet tea houses are warming up with the arrival of locals and tourists in pairs or groups.

Sweet tea, or "Cha Ngarmo" in Tibetan, is made from black tea, milk and white sugar, and is a popular refreshment.

The Delin Sweet Tea House is one of the most popular teahouses on Beijing Middle Road,in Lhasa. Characteristic Tibetan decorations can be seen there: colorful images of the eight auspicious symbols are painted on the yellow walls, traditional Tibetan rugs are put on the wood desks, and white Khada are presented to a statue of Buddha on the counter.

A pot of sweet tea, enough for four, costs 6 yuan at the Delin Sweet Tea House.

Even as night falls the sweet tea houses are warming up with the arrival of locals and tourists in pairs or groups.

"I am a regular customer. I often spend a whole day here with my friends." Cizhen said the locals always like to go to the same teahouses even though they sometimes have to queue up.

Young Tibetans are also regular clients of teahouses, where they can gather with their friends.

Moreover, the sweet tea house also serves as a chess-and-card room. Tibetan men like to play sho, a traditional Tibetan game of dice in which the players can "kill" each other. The loser will be penalized by a cup of beer - usually Lhasa Beer, which is known as "Yaoming Beer" in Lhasa because of its long and tall bottle.

"The game is only for men in Tibetan areas," said Cizhen.

Tea and wine livens up the atmosphere in the small teahouse.

When Tibetans have no other place to go,they will usually spend the whole day in the tea house where both Tibetan staple foods like tsampa and exotic dishes like Indian curry are offered.

The sweet tea houses in Lhasa usually open at 7:00 am, and won't close up before midnight when business is good.

A waiter of the Delin Sweet Tea House serves the customers. [Photo/Chinanews.com]

Even as night falls the sweet tea houses are warming up with the arrival of locals and tourists in pairs or groups.[Photo/Chinanews.com]

A cup of sweet tea [Photo/China Tibet Online]