Posted 2017/1/5
The barley wine, or “Qiang” in Tibetan, is made of barley and a major local food in Tibet. It is the favorite wine of Tibetans, which is also indispensable during festivals, wedding ceremonies or occasions of welcoming or sending off relatives or friends.
Many customs are also observed by Tibetans when proposing a toast or drinking. Silver flagon and cups should be used in formal occasions. When drinking, a little ghee should be applied to the flagon and cup mouth to symbolize purity. The hospitable Tibetans always treat their friends with barley wine. When the host drinks the first toast to a guest, the guest should dip their ring finger of the right hand with a little barley wine and flip to the air thrice. Besides that, when the meal is over, the host will toast each guest a bowl of wine one by one, which the guests should not decline. Singing toasting songs is also a popular custom practiced by Tibetans, for which you can randomly make up your lyrics. After singing a song, the singer should drink up.
