Discover Burmese Tea Culture on Tours to Burma

It might be the thought of windswept plains dotted with ancient pagodas, or the diverse kaleidoscope of bustling cities, that draws travellers to embark on tours to Burma, but alongside the adventure and spectacle there are simple pleasures that are just as important to making a holiday memorable. Here, these pleasures include the food and drink that provide flavour and sustenance wherever you travel, and chief among these is tea. Burmese tea culture is part of the fabric of everyday life, touching on social traditions as well as culinary ones. Understanding the importance of tea can help visitors appreciate several aspects of the country's life, so read on for a taste.


Three Kinds of Tea

Asking for a cup of tea is not always a straightforward task on tours to Burma. This tea-loving country grows Assam and China tea, across several regions, with the highest proportion being produced in Shan State's mountains, which provide the perfect growing conditions. From this extensive tea-growing industry, three main kinds of tea are produced: green tea and black tea, which most visitors will be familiar with, and aphet so' - fermented or pickled tea - which is not in fact a drink, but a popular delicacy served with a variety of condiments. The drink commonly served in tea shops is black tea with milk, or in Burmese, aphet yae'. Some more useful tea-ordering vocabulary can be used to specify personal taste - ho saint' for sweet tea, and ya saint' for stronger, less milky tea.


Tea Culture

Tea shops, or aphet yae zein', form an important social hub in the towns and cities, providing a place for people to gather at any time of day and talk, play games, read the newspaper, or catch up on local news and opinion. Some come and go, pausing only briefly in their busy day to have a quick cup of tea, while others stay for hours to relax, chat, and watch the world go by. Tea shops, therefore, are most easily recognisable by the crowds of tea-drinkers sitting in the front, even if there are no signs. Those who want a taste of local tea culture on their tours to Burma should look for a tea shop with plenty of activity, where there will be ample opportunity for great people-watching as well as sampling the tea. Green tea is often served for free, with a flask for every table, the way a jug of water might be in other countries, while black tea is bought.

Tea as Food

Whether the idea of pickled tea appeals or not, it is considered one of the quintessential experiences for those on tours to Burma, and should be sampled at least once. Laphet is made from young green tea leaves mixed with salt and pepper, chilli, ginger and garlic, and is served with crisped garlic, coconut, peanuts, and other accompaniments.