Tibetan beer
Encyclopedia
The production of beer in Tibet is a relatively recent phenomenon given the traditional prohibition of alcohol consumption in Tibetan Buddhism
. After annexing Tibet, the Chinese established the Lhasa Brewery Company which is located in Lhasa. It is the highest brewery in the world and its brand, Lhasa Beer, is currently entering the American market.
of which the vast majority of Tibetans are practitioners.
The introduction of beer to Tibet however dates far back into the past in Chinese historical records. Following an audacious Tibetan offensive upon the Tuyuhun, in 638
, the following peace agreement between Tang China and the new Tibetan kingdom of Songtsen Gampo include the technological transfers of silk, paper, watermill and... beer
production. Tang Taizong did not respect the agreement on these technical transfer, but his son, Tang Gaozong, did.
However, somewhat contradicting the fact that alcohol is contrary to the beliefs of Tibetan Buddhism, is the fact that for centuries, chhaang
, a local brew of barley sold by glass at street stalls in Lhasa and across towns in Tibet has been consumed by many Tibetans and monks. In the countryside of Tibet and Nepal, Raksi
, a traditional distilled alcoholic beverage usually made from kodo
or millet
is often preferred, and despite the general prohibitive beliefs towards alcohol in Tibetan Buddhism, traditionally Raksi is often a requirement to accompany other foods at marriage ceremonies and festivals.
The rebellious 6th Dalai Lama, Tsangyang Gyatso, enjoyed a lifestyle that included drinking wine on the streets of Lhasa, the company of women, and writing love songs. However, his drinking and irresponsible behaviour was widely frowned upon by the other eminent officials in Tibet and he is believed to have been murdered in 1706 because of his lifestyle.
. The factory was set up with aid and expertise provided by the Romanian government who sent a team to Lhasa in 1988/89. Production began in 1989 although this is disputed by some locals. The Lhasa Brewery Company, is the highest commercial brewery in the world at 11,975 feet and accounts for 85% of contemporary beer production in Tibet. The brewery, consisting of five story buildings, cost an estimated US$20–25 million, and by 1994, production had reached 30,000 bottles per day, employing some 200 workers by this time. The beer produced is typically a light, sweet beer, a preference with many Chinese. However, the factory, financially, is known to have been very poor in its first years and has shut down on numerous occasions because of supply shortages and electrical outages and has suffered from unsanitary conditions. Little beer ever reached towns outside Lhasa because of a poor infrastructure and distribution network, and a distinct lack of a domestic market, due to religious beliefs and poverty.
Since 2000, the Carlsberg group has increased its stronghold in the Chinese market and has become increasingly influential in the country with investment and expertise. Carlsberg invested in the Lhasa Brewery in recent years and has drastically improved the brewing facility and working conditions, renovating and expanding the building to what now covers 62,240 square metres (15.3 acres). Carlsberg overlooked the modernization of 10 older machines with 10 new high efficiency European manufactured machines on the production line in November 2007 and has recently spent 1.395 million Yuan
on the improvement of production processes to comply with global atmospheric pollution standards. A water purification and reuse system was established to reduce liquid waste production and today the brewery recycles the waste byproducts of spent grain and yeast. Today the brewery has 250 full time employees and 200 part-time employees, 72% of which are ethnic Tibetans, and 52% women.
, saaz hops
and yeast
. However, 30 percent of the malt content derives from the huskless native Tibetan barley which is partly responsible for giving the beer its characteristic crisp clean taste, along with the aromatic saaz ingredient. The beer is sold in cans, a 12 ounce bottle in packs of 6, and in 24 bottle cases, with the motto "Beer from the Roof of the World".
In August 2009, it was announced that the U.S. state of Texas
will begin importing the beer and will be sold through specialty food retailers and on-premise bars and restaurants. Organized by George Witz, president of Dzambuling Imports, and importer and marketer of Lhasa Beer and a noted brewer specializing in Asian beers, Alan Kornhause, the Lhasa Brewery Company has claimed that it will donate 10 percent of its annual profits to supporting education, health care and cultural preservation in Tibet.
Tibetan Buddhism
Tibetan Buddhism is the body of Buddhist religious doctrine and institutions characteristic of Tibet and certain regions of the Himalayas, including northern Nepal, Bhutan, and India . It is the state religion of Bhutan...
. After annexing Tibet, the Chinese established the Lhasa Brewery Company which is located in Lhasa. It is the highest brewery in the world and its brand, Lhasa Beer, is currently entering the American market.
Background in alcohol
Historically the drinking of beer was heavily frowned upon in Tibet and is contrary to the beliefs in Tibetan BuddhismTibetan Buddhism
Tibetan Buddhism is the body of Buddhist religious doctrine and institutions characteristic of Tibet and certain regions of the Himalayas, including northern Nepal, Bhutan, and India . It is the state religion of Bhutan...
of which the vast majority of Tibetans are practitioners.
The introduction of beer to Tibet however dates far back into the past in Chinese historical records. Following an audacious Tibetan offensive upon the Tuyuhun, in 638
638
Year 638 was a common year starting on Thursday of the Julian calendar. The denomination 638 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar era became the prevalent method in Europe for naming years.- Asia :* The Muslims capture Jerusalem and Akko.* In...
, the following peace agreement between Tang China and the new Tibetan kingdom of Songtsen Gampo include the technological transfers of silk, paper, watermill and... beer
Beer
Beer is the world's most widely consumed andprobably oldest alcoholic beverage; it is the third most popular drink overall, after water and tea. It is produced by the brewing and fermentation of sugars, mainly derived from malted cereal grains, most commonly malted barley and malted wheat...
production. Tang Taizong did not respect the agreement on these technical transfer, but his son, Tang Gaozong, did.
However, somewhat contradicting the fact that alcohol is contrary to the beliefs of Tibetan Buddhism, is the fact that for centuries, chhaang
Chhaang
Chhaang or chang is a Tibetan/Sherpa/Limbu/Newari alcoholic beverage also popular in parts of eastern Himalayas.-Geographical prevalence:...
, a local brew of barley sold by glass at street stalls in Lhasa and across towns in Tibet has been consumed by many Tibetans and monks. In the countryside of Tibet and Nepal, Raksi
Raksi
Raksi or Rakshi is a traditional distilled alcoholic beverage in Tibet and Nepal. It is often made at home.Raksi is usually made from kodo millet or rice; different grains produce different flavors. It can even be made from mulberries...
, a traditional distilled alcoholic beverage usually made from kodo
Kodo
-In Japan:* The kōdō, Japanese incense ceremony.* Kodo , a taiko drumming group based in Japan.* The Kodo Group, a yakuza criminal organization...
or millet
Millet
The millets are a group of small-seeded species of cereal crops or grains, widely grown around the world for food and fodder. They do not form a taxonomic group, but rather a functional or agronomic one. Their essential similarities are that they are small-seeded grasses grown in difficult...
is often preferred, and despite the general prohibitive beliefs towards alcohol in Tibetan Buddhism, traditionally Raksi is often a requirement to accompany other foods at marriage ceremonies and festivals.
The rebellious 6th Dalai Lama, Tsangyang Gyatso, enjoyed a lifestyle that included drinking wine on the streets of Lhasa, the company of women, and writing love songs. However, his drinking and irresponsible behaviour was widely frowned upon by the other eminent officials in Tibet and he is believed to have been murdered in 1706 because of his lifestyle.
Lhasa Brewery Company
Factory production of beer in Tibet began in the late 1980s under the influence of the Chinese who legalised formal production and established the Lhasa Brewery in 1988 on the northern outskirts of Lhasa, south of Sera MonasterySera Monastery
Sera Monastery is one of the 'great three' Gelukpa university monasteries of Tibet, located north of Lhasa. The other two are Ganden Monastery and Drepung Monastery. The origin of the name 'Sera' is attributed to a fact that the site where the monastery was built was surrounded by wild roses in...
. The factory was set up with aid and expertise provided by the Romanian government who sent a team to Lhasa in 1988/89. Production began in 1989 although this is disputed by some locals. The Lhasa Brewery Company, is the highest commercial brewery in the world at 11,975 feet and accounts for 85% of contemporary beer production in Tibet. The brewery, consisting of five story buildings, cost an estimated US$20–25 million, and by 1994, production had reached 30,000 bottles per day, employing some 200 workers by this time. The beer produced is typically a light, sweet beer, a preference with many Chinese. However, the factory, financially, is known to have been very poor in its first years and has shut down on numerous occasions because of supply shortages and electrical outages and has suffered from unsanitary conditions. Little beer ever reached towns outside Lhasa because of a poor infrastructure and distribution network, and a distinct lack of a domestic market, due to religious beliefs and poverty.
Since 2000, the Carlsberg group has increased its stronghold in the Chinese market and has become increasingly influential in the country with investment and expertise. Carlsberg invested in the Lhasa Brewery in recent years and has drastically improved the brewing facility and working conditions, renovating and expanding the building to what now covers 62,240 square metres (15.3 acres). Carlsberg overlooked the modernization of 10 older machines with 10 new high efficiency European manufactured machines on the production line in November 2007 and has recently spent 1.395 million Yuan
Chinese yuan
The yuan is the base unit of a number of modern Chinese currencies. The yuan is the primary unit of account of the Renminbi.A yuán is also known colloquially as a kuài . One yuán is divided into 10 jiǎo or colloquially máo...
on the improvement of production processes to comply with global atmospheric pollution standards. A water purification and reuse system was established to reduce liquid waste production and today the brewery recycles the waste byproducts of spent grain and yeast. Today the brewery has 250 full time employees and 200 part-time employees, 72% of which are ethnic Tibetans, and 52% women.
Lhasa Beer
Lhasa Beer is the only Tibetan beer on the world market and has grown in production in recent years through the Lhasa Brewery Company's increasing connections and investment internationally by Carlsberg. It is an all-malt European style lager, but is made from ingredients such as Himalayan spring water, barleyBarley
Barley is a major cereal grain, a member of the grass family. It serves as a major animal fodder, as a base malt for beer and certain distilled beverages, and as a component of various health foods...
, saaz hops
Saaz hops
Saaz is a "noble" variety of hops.It was named after the Czech city of Žatec . This hop is used extensively in Bohemia to flavor beer styles such as the Czech pilsener.Saaz hops accounted for more than 2/3 of total 2009 hop production in the Czech Republic....
and yeast
Yeast
Yeasts are eukaryotic micro-organisms classified in the kingdom Fungi, with 1,500 species currently described estimated to be only 1% of all fungal species. Most reproduce asexually by mitosis, and many do so by an asymmetric division process called budding...
. However, 30 percent of the malt content derives from the huskless native Tibetan barley which is partly responsible for giving the beer its characteristic crisp clean taste, along with the aromatic saaz ingredient. The beer is sold in cans, a 12 ounce bottle in packs of 6, and in 24 bottle cases, with the motto "Beer from the Roof of the World".
In August 2009, it was announced that the U.S. state of Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
will begin importing the beer and will be sold through specialty food retailers and on-premise bars and restaurants. Organized by George Witz, president of Dzambuling Imports, and importer and marketer of Lhasa Beer and a noted brewer specializing in Asian beers, Alan Kornhause, the Lhasa Brewery Company has claimed that it will donate 10 percent of its annual profits to supporting education, health care and cultural preservation in Tibet.