We’re proud to be featured in the New Zealand Herald for our traditional Burmese menu items including the Burmese Green Tea Leaf Salad.
Read the article yourself here: https://www.nzherald.co.nz/food-wine/news/article.cfm?c_id=206&objectid=12292138
Our new menu item, the Green Tea-Leaf Salad was highlighted. So what is Green Tea-Leaf Salad you might ask…
Green Tea-leaf Salad or ‘Lahpet-thoke’ (‘laphet’ = tea leaves; ‘thoke’ = mixed salad) as it is called in Burmese, is a traditional but very versatile and popular Burmese delicacy. Myanmar (Burma) is the only country where tea leaves are not only drunk as beverages but also eaten.
Laphet-thoke is prepared with fermented green tea leaves as the main ingredient and is enjoyed by old and young alike. It can be enjoyed at any time of the day, either on its own or with rice.
The bitter flavour of the tea leaf is reduced during the fermentation process which takes about three to four months.
The taste, texture and tenderness of the tea leaves depend on the fermentation process as well as the climate of the region where they are planted.
Laphet-toke is indeed a healthy and wholesome salad that can be prepared according to taste.
For a unique vegetarian laphet-thoke, the fermented green tea leaves are mixed with fried, crunchy beans, roasted peanuts, crispy garlic flakes, toasted sesame seeds, pumpkin seeds, finely shredded cabbage and fresh tomatoes, and chillies (optional) to taste.
For non-vegetarians, dried shrimp can be added as well. The proof of the laphet-thoke is in the tasting. So, come and enjoy this unique dish from the land of the golden pagodas.
