Lahpet
A salad made with fermented tea leaves
Think of it as: Like a crunchy trail-mix salad dressed in green tea
Tea leaves? Don't drink them. Eat them.
What does it taste like?
Slightly bitter, tangy tea with crunchy beans. A salad that goes great with rice.
SweetSpicySourSaltyFunkSmellTextureTender and crunchy
What is it?
A salad of fermented tea leaves mixed with fried beans, nuts, tomato and cabbage. The crunch and the slight bitterness of the tea are addictive.Source: Wikipedia
How locals eat it
Served to guests or after meals, mixed with fried beans and nuts to nibble on.
Watch it
EnglishTap to play (YouTube)Where is it from?
🇲🇲Myanmar
CapitalNaypyidaw
Populationabout 55.2 millionUN estimate for 2026
IndustriesFarming, including rice, Natural gas, Garment making, Jade
HelloMingalaba
CurrencyKyat
And JapanThe setting of the novel and film The Burmese Harp (Burma is Myanmar's old name)
Fun factPeople wear thanaka, a powder made from wood, on their cheeks as a stylish sunscreen
The flag🇲🇲 Yellow is unity, green is peace and nature, red is courage, and the white star in the center shows the country is one.
From Tokyoabout 4,600 kmstraight line, Tokyo to Naypyidaw
Getting thereabout 8 hours from Tokyo (with transfers)rough guide
✈ Check cheap flights Best timeNovember to February, the cool dry season, is the most comfortable (check travel advisories first). Also try🍜 MohingaShan khauk sweBurmese curry (hin) More from here🍜 Mohinga
✈ Check cheap flights Best timeNovember to February, the cool dry season, is the most comfortable (check travel advisories first). Also try🍜 MohingaShan khauk sweBurmese curry (hin) More from here🍜 Mohinga
🇲🇲 Sounds & life in Myanmar
မင်္ဂလာပါHello（Mingalaba）
Burmese script (Myanmar script)
Burmese script (Myanmar script)
Right now…
Anthem"Till the End of the World" (Kaba Ma Kyei)
MusicHsaing waing (traditional ensemble) A traditional band with drums and gongs arranged in circles
SportSoccer (the traditional ball game chinlone is popular too) World HeritageBagan and more National flowerPadauk FestivalThingyan (April, water festival)
MusicHsaing waing (traditional ensemble) A traditional band with drums and gongs arranged in circles
SportSoccer (the traditional ball game chinlone is popular too) World HeritageBagan and more National flowerPadauk FestivalThingyan (April, water festival)
Ingredients
- Fermented tea leaves (lahpet)
- Fried beans and peanuts
- Tomato and cabbage
- Fried garlic
- Lime, fish sauce and chili
Can't find it? Rehydrated green tea leaves dressed with lime come close to the fermented ones.
How to make it (one way)
- Thinly slice the cabbage and tomato
- Loosen the tea leaves and dress them with fish sauce and lime
- Combine with the vegetables and mix well
- Top with the fried beans, nuts and garlic just before eating
- It also works as a side dish with rice
Get the ingredients (ad)
fermented tea leavesAmazon