In the heart of Lhasa, anthropologist-turned-entrepreneur Yeshe Chodron is redefining Himalayan hospitality through her innovative café that weaves centuries-old Tibetan traditions with contemporary global tastes. The Peking University PhD graduate has transformed her mother’s 25-year-old family business into a cultural crossroads, where Miyazaki-inspired murals adorn walls and the aroma of tsampa (roasted barley flour) cookies mingles with specialty coffee blends.
Yeshe’s creations like Shoton Festival Coffee – infused with Tibetan medicinal herbs – and butter tea lattes demonstrate her anthropological approach to culinary innovation. "Every recipe tells a story of migration and adaptation," she explains, noting how her khapse (fried dough) croissants merge French technique with local ingredients.
As Lhasa experiences rapid urbanization, the café serves as a living archive. Traditional copper thangka art shares space with 3D-printed butter sculpture displays, while staff in chubas (Tibetan robes) demonstrate digital payment systems to curious elders. The venture has attracted both pilgrims seeking familiar flavors and young professionals craving WiFi-enabled workspaces.
With plans to develop eco-packaging using yak leather and plant dyes, Yeshe aims to create what she calls "compassionate capitalism" – preserving cultural heritage while engaging global markets. Her success highlights growing opportunities for culturally-rooted entrepreneurship in China’s western regions.
