Laphet is a traditional Burmese fermented tea leaf, which has a lengthy history. Fermented tea leaves were used as a symbol of peace or peace offering between kingdoms at war in ancient times. These days, a tray with laphet expresses hospitality to guests. Laphet is eaten across Burma in homes and even monasteries. The actual taste of tea leaves is bitter, which is reduced after fermentation. The bitterness of laphet may also be removed by rinsing with water. Street stalls in Burma sell laphet thoke (‘laphet’ translates to fermented tea leaf and ‘thoke’ means salad), which forms a major part of the laphet culture in Burma. Families use laphet as a daily snack. Students in Burma are known to eat laphet thoke when they study for examinations. When eaten as a snack, laphet are called ahlu laphet (‘ahlu’ translates to donation ceremony), which is mainly served after meals at weddings and funerals.
