Discover The Exotic Cuisine Of Burma

Discover the Exotic Cuisine of Burma

by

T. Maniscalco

On a holiday spent trekking in Burma discovering new culture and soaking up the breath-taking landscapes, you are sure to be left with an appetite that needs to be satisfied! Luckily, the wonderful southeastern Asian cuisine of Burma is certainly up to the task; with influences from China, India and Thailand it and has also been contributed to by the numerous ethnic minorities within the country itself.

Lahpet

The favourites of the locals are set out in a quaint, popular local rhyme: “Of all the fruit, the mango’s the best; of all the meat, the pork’s the best; and of all the leaves, lahpet s the best”. Eating the food recommended by the locals is always the best policy when visiting new countries, but whilst everyone will be familiar with mango and pork, lahpet may be a new discovery for those on a holiday trekking in Burma. Lahpet is Burmese for pickled or fermented tea, and this is one of the very few countries in the world where tea is eaten as well as drunk. Lahpet is seen as the national dish and is regarded as a delicacy.

For habitual tea drinkers, trying this unusual way of consuming our favourite beverage should be a must. The most common way of serving lahpet is in a Burmese tea leaf salad, the most usual form of which is often served with meals. A special dish called a lahpet ohk is used, which is an earthenware dish with several small compartments. The dried and pickled leaves are combined with sesame oil and placed in the central compartment, which is then surrounded by a combination of other ingredients such as fried garlic, preserved ginger, crushed dried shrimp and fried shredded coconut. Many believe that lahpet has medicinal qualities and that it is good for the digestive system; it is also used as a stimulant by students and those who need to keep awake for long periods of time. Those who still prefer to consume their tea in liquid form need not despair as the leaves are also used to make green tea or lahpet-yei gyan (plain crude tea), which is the national drink of Burma.

Traditional Eating

The Burmese traditionally eat their meals at a low table whilst sitting on a bamboo mat. They usually use only their right hand to eat and elder family members are always served first. For those trekking in Burma who lack the necessary skills to eat like this, fear not, hotels and restaurants will provide more familiar cutlery!

Dishes are all served at the same time and the basis of the meal is always a bowl of steamed rice accompanied by a variety of dishes called “hin”. These will usually include a curried fish dish or salted fish, a curried meat or poultry dish, vegetables for dipping and a light soup called chinyay hin. As well, fritters made from onion, gourd or sometimes fish are served separately.

The influence from Indian cuisine can be seen in the Burmese versions of samosas and breads like naan and paratha, and the Chinese influence is seen in the use of bean curd and soya and in the cooking technique of stir-frying. In Burma, along with the neighbouring countries of Thailand and Laos, deep fried insects are eaten as snacks.

Whether you want to be adventurous and eat tea and fried insects or would prefer to satisfy your hunger with a more familiar curry, Burmese cuisine will give you a satisfying end to a day spent trekking in Burma.

Tony Maniscalco is the Marketing Manager for Ramblers Worldwide Holidays. Join us on a holiday

trekking in Burma

to see the most scenic locations & landscapes at the best value prices. We offer over 140 guided group walking holidays in over 60 different countries.

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Discover the Exotic Cuisine of Burma