Beer as we know it is a relatively new introduction to Tibet, but Tibetans have been enjoying chang, a home-brewed barley beer, for centuries. People say that it’s the best remedy for the extreme cold of the mountains, and that the Yeti himself is so keen on it that he raids remote villages in search of it.
Chang tastes like a cross between traditional English cider and a good bitter. It’s low in alcohol so even children partake sometimes (Tibetans definitely have a different approach when it comes to booze – I remember that when we broke news of our first pregnancy to Yeshi’s brother he immediately recommended a glass of wine).
Our premises on Magdalen Road are finally licensed and we can’t wait to have you all in for a bit of a party when situations allow. There will be chang and – by that time – we will be well stocked with all kinds. For now, due to current lockdown restrictions we are only allowed to sell alcohol as part of a delivery – you can’t pick it up when you stop by for a takeaway.
And all we currently have in our fridges is this beauty! Our Lucky Buddha Beer is a light and crisp lager that’s great paired with anything bold in spice and big on flavour. A great match, then.
There’s just a bit of a problem with having the Buddha on the bottle. When did you last see Jesus or the Prophet Muhammad used to flog something? Beer especially – the Buddha famously did not drink. Misappropriation of the Buddha’s image is definitely an issue, and one one reason why we’ve never sold the likes of a “Buddha bowl”. But here we go. He’s a lucky, laughing Buddha, and we all need a bit of good fortune and pure joy in our lives right now.
Oxford! Did you miss us? We are delivering again on Thursday this week. You probably know the drill by now, but just a reminder that this is chilled food for your fridge and freezer that comes in family sizes as well as individual portions. Everything keeps in the fridge for three days or can go directly into your freezer for the many emergencies we currently face. Please order by 5pm on Wednesday for delivery between 1 and 4pm on Thurs. And add yourself a Buddha Beer!
On Friday and Saturday evenings (5-9pm) we are serving hot food from our place on Magdalen Road. You can pre-order by phone between 4pm and 8pm on the day (01865 499318), or just turn up. Please know that we are always happy to serve you at the door if you’re not comfortable coming in.
Thank you for all your support, and thank you to everyone supporting our work providing free meals to Oxford’s most vulnerable through our partnership with Oxford Mutual Aid. You can do this by adding vouchers to your cart when you order online or making a donation in store when you come by for takeaway. We have provided over a hundred meals in the last two weeks (see picture that barely does this justice below). Your contributions make a huge difference towards this effort – thank you.
