🛒 Build Your Own Tea Leaf Salad Kit
Laphet thoke requires two specialty Burmese ingredients you can’t find at regular grocery stores. Everything else (romaine, tomato, lemon) is easy to grab locally.
- 🍃 Fermented Tea Leaves (Laphet) - the star ingredient, pickled Burmese tea leaves
- 🥜 Crunchy Topping Mix - fried garlic, roasted peanuts, sesame seeds & fried beans
- 🥗 AmorArc Large Stoneware Serving Bowls, Set of 4
For the toss: laphet thoke is mixed at the table, not in the kitchen. It needs a wide shallow bowl with room to turn everything without the fried garlic going everywhere.
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What is laphet thoke (Burmese tea leaf salad)?
Laphet thoke (Burmese tea leaf salad) is built on fermented tea leaves tossed with a mix of crunchy, savory toppings. It's one of the most distinctive dishes in Burmese cuisine.
What makes Burmese tea leaf salad different from other salads?
The key ingredient is fermented tea leaves, called laphet. Green tea leaves are fermented until they turn slightly tangy, and they usually form the base of the dressing. Fish sauce adds a salty note to balance the sour tea leaves.
The salad usually includes fried garlic chips, fried yellow split peas, sunflower seeds, toasted peanuts, toasted sesame seeds, dried shrimp, tomatoes, and shredded cabbage. Shrimp powder is an optional addition if you're not keeping it vegan.
The tea leaves are blended with lemon juice, garlic, oil, ginger, and salt, then tossed so they lightly coat everything else. You get sour, salty, and crunchy in the same mouthful.
Why is tea leaf salad important in Burmese culture?
Tea leaf salad shows up at social gatherings and family meals in Myanmar, and sharing it is part of Burmese hospitality. Fermented tea leaves are also believed to offer health benefits, like being rich in antioxidants and aiding digestion.
How do you serve and eat Burmese tea leaf salad?
Serve it as a side dish or as a light meal on its own. For a full meal, add steamed rice or flatbread.
What other Burmese dishes pair with laphet thoke?
Serve it alongside other Burmese dishes like Burmese Curry or Coconut Noodles. If you're new to Burmese food, this salad is a good place to start.
For more authentic recipes, check out our collection of Thai and Burmese Recipes. If you’re looking for quality ingredients, visit Asian Supermarket.
Burmese Tea Leaf Salad Recipe
Equipment
- 1 Salad spinner optional
Ingredients
- 1-4 oz Fermented tea leaves
- 3-4 cups shredded romaine lettuce
- ¼ cup Diced fresh tomatoes
- ¼ cup Crunchy topping fried yellow lentils, butter beans, garlic, roasted peanuts, and toasted sesame
- 1 lemon
- 2 tablespoon Olive oil
Instructions
- Rinse, dry, and chop or shred the romaine lettuce. Dice the tomatoes.
- Create a base with the romaine lettuce. Arrange tea leaves, tomatoes, and crunchy topping on top. Squeeze ¼ lemon and drizzle with olive oil.
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