Cultural significance of Tsampa རྩམ་པ Culturally significant, nutritionally rich, and simply made with an ancient grain, barley, Tsamba (AKA Tsampa) has been a fast and honest food of Tibetan people for centuries. It is not only a predominant staple of our diet but is also used for Buddhist and mystical rituals. The word “tsamba” refers to coarse […]
This mysterious, underused but established spice goes by a variety of names: Sichuan pepper, Japanese pepper, Aniseed pepper, Prickly ash, and others. The plant is said to belong to the citrus family – Zanthoxylum simulans. Tibetans, though, call this burgundy pigmented and uniquely flavorful spice “Yerma” (གཡེར་མ), and in our cooking it enhances any dish. Because […]
Birds sing and flowers lift their bright, blushed faces. I am drunken by the hyacinth scent and dianthus, and the beauty of tulips in various specie types. Flowering shrubs and pear buds, too, about to burst their blossoms. Peonies, snapdragons, irises, and lilies will soon stretch their legs to the fullest and showcase their greatness, I trust. […]
The gentle sunshine kissed the gray earth, and the warm breeze melted away, yet once again, the snow that had lingered over the mountain slopes. And everything growing responded to the cuddly gesture; the pear trees and the apricot put on their new clothes and released their own power in mass blossoms. The lilacs […]
There are numerous Losar activities here on the Tibetan Plateau. May it be gathering for tea, steamy yak meat dumplings, butter sculpture, altar ornaments, or Bön practitioners performing dances. Sharing with you are pictures of some events that I’ve been blessed to be part of. I hope these visuals would bring you a sense […]
UPDATED: Losar, the Tibetan New Year, has finally arrived after months of preparation. And it is the New Year’s morning; time to enjoy juicy yak-meat dumplings and milk tea, and pay respect to others, all after spiritual offerings, of course. When I was a girl, my family would send us kids to visit elders […]
Villagers completed their Losar (Tibetan New Year) preparations of shopping, baking, and making decorations for their family shrines and guest rooms. Loved ones from far and near arrived home for this most celebrated Tibetan holiday. And it’s finally Losar Eve where spiritual offerings are a big part of wrapping up the year and wishing for an […]
