Burmese cuisine: Difference between revisions

{{Short description|Culinary traditions of Myanmar}}

{{Culture of Burma|expanded=Cuisine}}

'''Burmese cuisine''' encompasses the diverse regional culinary traditions of [[Myanmar]], which have developed through longstanding agricultural practices, centuries of sociopolitical and economic change, and cross-cultural contact and trade with neighboring countries at the confluence of [[Southeast Asia]], [[East Asia]], and [[South Asia]], such as modern-day nations of Thailand, China, and India, respectively.

[[File:Pickled tea (lahpet).JPG|thumb|''Laphet'', served in a traditional lacquer tray called ''laphet ok''.]]

Burmese cuisine is typified by a wide-ranging array of dishes, including traditional [[Burmese curry|Burmese curries]] and stews, [[Burmese salads]], accompanied by soups and a medley of vegetables that are traditionally eaten with [[white rice]]. Burmese curries are generally distinguished from other Southeast Asian curries in the former's prominent use of an aromatic trio of garlic, shallots, and ginger (in common with South Asian curries), and the general lack of [[coconut milk]].

Burmese cuisine also features [[Indian bread]]s as well as noodles, which are fried or prepared in salads and [[noodle soup]]s, chief among them [[mohinga]]. [[Street food]] and snack culture has also nurtured the profuse variety of traditional [[Burmese fritters]] and modern savory and sweet snacks labeled under the umbrella of ''[[Mont (food)|mont]]''.

The contrasting flavor profile of Burmese cuisine is broadly captured in the phrase ''chin ngan sat'' ({{lang|my|ချဉ်ငန်စပ် <!--correct spelling is ငန်, not ငံ-->}}), which literally means "sour, salty, and spicy." A popular Burmese rhyme — "of all the fruit, the [[mango]]'s the best; of all the meat, the [[pork]]'s the best; and of all the vegetables, [[lahpet]]'s (tea leaves are) the best" — sums up the traditional favourites.

==History==

[[File:Saya Chone's "Royal Ploughing Ceremony".png|thumb|A traditional Burmese painting depicts the [[Royal Ploughing Ceremony]], during which the monarch ceremonially ploughs a rice field outside the royal palace, to mark the traditional start of the rice-growing season.]]

Rice is the principal staple in Burmese cuisine, reflecting several millennia of [[Rice production in Myanmar|rice cultivation]], which first emerged in the country's [[Chindwin River|Chindwin]], [[Irrawaddy River|Ayeyarwady]], and [[Salween River|Thanlwin river]] valleys between 11,000 and 5000 BCE. By 3000 BCE, irrigated rice cultivation flourished in the region, paralleled by the domestication of cattle and pigs by inhabitants.

In addition to rice, [[tea]] originated in the borderlands separating Myanmar from China, precipitating a longstanding tradition of tea consumption and the development of pickled tea known as [[Lahpet|''laphet'']], which continues to play a pivotal role in Burmese ritual culture. This longstanding history is reflected in the [[Burmese language]], which is among the few world languages whose word for "tea" is not etymologically traced back to the Chinese word for "tea" (see [[etymology of tea]]).

Agrarian settlements were settled by ancestors of Myanmar's modern-day ethnolinguistic groups. From these settlements emerged a succession of Burmese, Mon, Shan, Rakhine-speaking kingdoms and tributary states that now make up contemporary Myanmar. Paddy rice cultivation remains synonymous with the predominantly [[Buddhist]] [[Bamar people|Bamar]], [[Mon people|Mon]], [[Shan people|Shan]], and [[Rakhine people]]s who inhabit the country's fertile lowlands and plateaus.

Burmese cuisine has been significantly enriched by contact and trade with neighboring kingdoms and countries well into modern times. The [[Columbian exchange]] in the 15th and 16th centuries introduced key ingredients into the Burmese culinary repertoire, including [[tomato]]es, [[chili pepper]]s, [[peanut]]s, and [[potato]]es. A series of [[Burmese–Siamese wars]] between the 16th to 19th centuries resulted in the emergence of Thai-inspired delicacies, including [[Khanon htok|''khanon dok'']], ''[[shwe yin aye]]'', [[Cendol|''mont let hsaung'']], and [[Mont di|''Yodaya mont di'']].

[[File:Hsun laung, Mandalay, Myanmar.JPG|thumb|Buddhist monks in [[Mandalay]] receive food alms from a ''[[htamanè]]'' hawker during their daily alms round (ဆွမ်းလောင်းလှည့်).]]

While record-keeping of pre-colonial culinary traditions is scant, food was and remains deeply intertwined with religious life, especially among Buddhist communities, exemplified in the giving of food alms ([[dāna]]), and communal feasts called ''[[satuditha]]'' and ''ahlu pwe'' (အလှူပွဲ). One of the few remaining pre-colonial cookbooks is the ''Sadawhset Kyan'' ({{lang|my|စားတော်ဆက်ကျမ်း}}, {{lit|Treatise on Royal Foods}}), written on a [[Palm-leaf manuscript|palm leaf manuscript]] in 1866 during the [[Konbaung dynasty]]. By the [[Konbaung dynasty]] (16th to 19th centuries), elaborate preparations of food played a central role in key court ceremonies (e.g., [[Nāmakaraṇa|naming ceremonies]], [[Marriage in Myanmar|wedding ceremonies]], etc.), including as ritual offerings to Hindu and [[Nat (spirit)|indigenous deities]], and as celebratory meals for attendees. By the Konbaung period, 126 distinct varieties of rice were cultivated in the country.

[[British rule in Burma]] between the 19th and 20th centuries led to the establishment of [[Burmese Indians|Burmese Indian]] and [[Chinese people in Myanmar|Sino-Burmese]] communities that introduced novel cooking techniques, ingredients, food vocabulary, and fusion dishes that are now considered integral parts of Burmese cuisine. These range from [[Indian bread]]s such as [[naan]] and [[paratha]] to Chinese [[stir frying]] techniques and ingredients like [[tofu]] and [[soy sauce]].

[[File:Myanma cuisine.jpg|thumb|A traditional Burmese meal includes a bowl of soup, rice, several meat curries, and ''ngapi yay'' (a dip or dipping sauce) with ''tozaya'' (vegetables for dipping).]]

Traditionally, the Burmese eat meals from plates on a low table or ''[[daunglan]]'', while sitting on a bamboo mat. Dishes are simultaneously served and shared. A traditional meal includes steamed white rice as the main dish accompanied by [[Burmese curries]], a light soup or consommé, and other side dishes, including fried vegetables, [[Burmese fritters]], and ''ngapi yay gyo'' (ငါးပိရည်ကျို), a plate of fresh and blanched vegetables served with pickled fish dip. The meal is then finished with a piece of [[palm sugar]] or [[Lahpet|''laphet'']] (fermented tea leaves).

Out of respect, the eldest diners are always served first before the rest join in; even when the elders are absent, the first morsel of rice from the pot is scooped and put aside as an act of respect to one's parents, a custom known as ''u cha'' ({{lang|my|ဦးချ}}, {{lit|first serve}}).

The Burmese traditionally eat with their right hand, forming the rice into a small ball with only the fingertips and mixing this with various morsels before popping it into their mouths. Chopsticks and [[Chinese spoon|Chinese-style spoons]] are used for noodle dishes, although noodle salads are more likely to be eaten with just a spoon. Western-style utensils, especially forks and knives, have gained currency in recent years.

In traditional Burmese eateries, green tea and numerous side dishes are served complimentary alongside the main dishes and rice.

=== Religious practices ===

The country's diverse religious makeup influences its cuisine, as Buddhists and Hindus traditionally avoid [[beef]] and Muslims [[pork]]. Beef is considered taboo by devout Buddhists and farmers because the cow is highly regarded as a [[pack animal|beast of burden]]. [[Vegetarian]]ism is commonly practiced by Buddhists during the three-month [[Vassa]] (ဝါတွင်း) between July and October, as well as during [[Uposatha]] days, reflected in the Burmese word for "vegetarian," ''thet that lut'' (သက်သတ်လွတ်, {{lit|free of killing}}). During this time, devout Buddhists observe [[Eight precepts|eight or more precepts]], including fasting rules that restrict food intake to two daily meals (i.e., breakfast and lunch) taken before noon.

=== Beef taboo ===

The beef taboo is fairly widespread in Myanmar, particularly in the Buddhist community. In Myanmar, beef is typically obtained from cattle that are slaughtered at the end of their working lives (16 years of age) or from sick animals. Cattle is rarely raised for meat; 58% of cattle in the country is used for draught animal power. Few people eat beef, and there is a general dislike of beef (especially among the [[Bamar]] and [[Burmese Chinese]]), although it is more commonly eaten in regional cuisines, particularly those of ethnic minorities like the [[Kachin people|Kachin]]. Buddhists, when giving up meat during the Buddhist ([[Vassa]]) or [[Uposatha]] days, will forego beef first. Butchers tend to be Muslim because of the Buddhist doctrine of [[ahimsa]] (no harm).

During the country's last dynasty, the [[Konbaung dynasty]], habitual consumption of beef was punishable by public [[flogging]]. In 1885, [[Ledi Sayadaw]], a prominent [[Buddhist monk]] wrote the ''Nwa-myitta-sa'' ({{lang|my|နွားမေတ္တာစာ}}), a poetic prose letter which argued that Burmese Buddhists should not kill cattle and eat beef, because Burmese farmers depended on them as beasts of burden to maintain their livelihoods, that the marketing of beef for human consumption threatened the extinction of buffalo and cattle, and that the practice was ecologically unsound. He subsequently led successful beef boycotts during the colonial era, and influenced a generation of Burmese nationalists in adopting this stance.

On 29 August 1961, the [[Hluttaw|Burmese Parliament]] passed the State Religion Promotion Act of 1961, which explicitly banned the slaughtering of cattle nationwide (beef became known as ''todo tha'' ({{lang|my|တိုးတိုးသား}}); {{Literal translation|hush hush meat}}). Religious groups, such as Muslims, were required to apply for exemption licences to slaughter cattle on religious holidays. This ban was repealed a year later, after [[Ne Win]] led a [[1962 Burmese coup d'état|coup d'état]] and declared martial law in the country.

===Food theories===

In traditional Burmese medicine, foods are divided into two classes: heating ({{lang|my|အပူစာ}}, ''apu za'') or cooling ({{lang|my|အအေးစာ}}, ''a-aye za''), based on their effects on one's body system, similar to the [[Chinese food therapy|Chinese classification of food]]. Examples of heating foods include chicken, bitter melon, durian, mango, chocolate, and ice cream. Examples of cooling foods include pork, eggplant, dairy products, cucumbers, and radish.

The Burmese also hold several taboos and superstitions regarding consumption during various occasions in one's life, especially [[pregnancy]]. For instance, pregnant women are not supposed to eat chili, due to the belief that it causes children to have sparse scalp hairs.

==Cooking techniques==

[[File:20200207 083817 Market Mawlamyaing Myanmar anagoria.jpg|thumb|Beans and pulses are commonly used in Burmese cuisine.]]Burmese dishes are not cooked with precise recipes. The use and portion of ingredients used may vary, but the precision of timing is of utmost importance. Burmese dishes may be stewed, boiled, fried, roasted, steamed, baked or grilled, or any combination of the said techniques. [[Burmese curry|Burmese curries]] use only a handful of spices (in comparison to Indian ones) and use more fresh garlic and ginger.

[[File:Inle dish.jpg|thumb|''[[Htamin jin]]'', 'fermented' rice kneaded with fish and/or potato with twice-fried [[Burmese tofu|Shan tofu]], is a popular local dish at [[Inle Lake]].]]

Broadly speaking, Burmese cuisine is divided between the culinary traditions of [[Upper Myanmar]], which is inland and landlocked; and [[Lower Myanmar]], which is surrounded by numerous rivers, river deltas, and the [[Andaman Sea]]. Variations between regional cuisines are largely driven by the availability of fresh ingredients. Myanmar's long coastline has provided an abundant source of fresh seafood, which is particularly associated with [[Rakhine people|Rakhine]] cuisine. Southern Myanmar, particularly the area around [[Mawlamyine|Mawlamyaing]], is known for its cuisine, as the Burmese proverb goes: "Mandalay for eloquence, Yangon for boasting, Mawlamyaing for food."

Fusion [[Chettiar]] ({{lang|my|ချစ်တီးကုလား}}) cuisine, originating from Southern Indian cuisine, is also popular in cities.

==Dishes and ingredients==

{{Main|List of Burmese dishes|List of Ingredients in Burmese cuisine}}

Burmese cuisine incorporates numerous local ingredients that are less frequently used in other Southeast Asian cuisines, among them sour [[Roselle (plant)|roselle leaves]], astringent [[Pennywort|pennywort leaves]], [[Goat meat|goat]], [[Lamb and mutton|mutton]], and dried beans and lentils.

Because a standardised system of [[romanisation]] for spoken [[Burmese language|Burmese]] does not exist, pronunciations of the following dishes in modern standard Burmese approximated using [[International Phonetic Alphabet|IPA]] are provided (see [[Help:IPA/Burmese|IPA/Burmese]] for details).

===Preserved foods===

{{Main|Ngapi|Lahpet}}

''[[Ngapi]]'' ({{lang|my|ငါးပိ}}), a fermented paste made from salted fish or shrimp, is considered the cornerstone of any Burmese traditional meal. It is used to season many soups, salads, curries and dishes, and condiments, imparting a rich [[umami]] flavor. The ''ngapi'' of [[Rakhine State]] contains no or little salt, and uses marine fish. Meanwhile, ngapi made with freshwater fish is common in Ayeyarwady and Tanintharyi regions. [[Shrimp paste#Ngapi yay|''Ngapi yay'']] ({{lang|my|ငါးပိရည်}}) is an essential part of Karen and Bamar cuisine, in which a sauce dip of ''ngapi'' cooked in various vegetables and spices is served with blanched and fresh vegetables, similar to Thai ''[[nam phrik]]'', Indonesian ''[[lalab]]'', and Malay [[Ulam (salad)|''ulam'']]. Pickled fish, called ''[[ngachin]]'', is also used in Burmese cooking.[[File:Dried fermented bean cakes.jpg|thumb|Dried fermented bean cakes called ''pè bok'' are grilled or fried in Shan cooking.]]

''[[Pon ye gyi]]'' ({{lang|my|ပုံးရည်ကြီး}}), a thick salty black paste made from fermented beans, is popular in the Bamar heartland. It is used in cooking, especially with pork, and as a salad with peanut oil, chopped onions and red chili. [[Bagan]] is an important ''pon ye gyi'' producer.

=== Rice ===

[[File:IMG0039 Burma Mandalay Mahaganda Yon Monastery Rice cooking (7609318972).jpg|thumb|Buddhist monks cooking rice at the [[Mahagandhayon Monastery]] in Amarapura.]]

The most common staple in Myanmar is steamed rice, called ''htamin'' ({{lang|my|ထမင်း}}). Burmese varieties of rice are typically starchier than jasmine or basmati rice. Fragrant, aromatic varieties of white rice, including ''[[paw hsan hmwe]]'' ({{lang|my|ပေါ်ဆန်းမွှေး}}), are popular. Lower-amylose varieties of [[glutinous rice]], which are called ''kauk hnyin'' ({{lang|my|ကောက်ညှင်း}}), also feature in Burmese cuisine, including a purple variety called ''ngacheik'' (ငချိပ်). Consumers in the northern highlands (e.g., [[Shan State]]) prefer stickier, lower-[[amylose]] varieties like {{transliteration|my|kauk hnyin}} and ''kauk sei'', while consumers in lower delta regions preferring higher-amylose varieties like {{transliteration|my|kauk chaw}} and {{transliteration|my|kauk kyan}}.Lower-amylose varieties of rice are commonly used in traditional Burmese snacks called ''[[mont (food)|mont]]''. While rice is traditionally eaten plain, flavored versions like [[Pe htaw bhut htamin|buttered rice]] and [[coconut rice]] are commonplace festive staples.

[[File:Burmese Oiled Glutinous Rice.jpg|thumb|''[[Hsi htamin]]'', glutinous rice seasoned with oil and turmeric, is a popular breakfast food.]]

* ''[[Burmese fried rice|Htamin gyaw]]'' ({{lang|my|ထမင်းကြော်}} {{IPA|my|tʰəmɪ́ɴ dʒɔ̀|}}) – fried rice with boiled peas, sometimes with meat, sausage, and eggs.

* ''[[Rice congee|San byok]]'' ({{lang|my|ဆန်ပြုတ်}} {{IPA|my|sʰàɴbjoʊʔ|}}) – rice congee with fish, chicken or duck often fed to invalids.

*[[Thingyan rice]] ({{lang|my|သင်္ကြန်ထမင်း}} {{IPA|my|ðədʒàɴ tʰəmɪ́ɴ|}}) – fully boiled rice in candle-smelt water served with pickled [[Bouea macrophylla|marian plums]]

=== Noodles ===

[[File:Rice Noodles Drying - Hsipaw - Myanmar (Burma) (12224458643).jpg|thumb|Rice noodles sun-drying in [[Hsipaw]].]]

[[File:IMG Shanhkaukswè.JPG|thumb|''Shan khao swè'' and ''tohpu jaw'', with ''monnyin gyin'' on the side]]

Dry or fried noodle dishes include:

* ''[[Baik kut kyee kaik|Kat kyi kaik]]'' ({{lang|my|ကတ်ကြေးကိုက်}} {{IPA|my|kaʔtɕígaɪʔ|}}, {{lit|bitten with scissors}}) – a southern coastal dish (from the [[Dawei]] area) of flat rice noodles with a variety of seafood, land meats, raw bean sprouts, beans and fried eggs, comparable to [[Pad Thai|pad thai]]

*''[[Meeshay]]'' ({{lang|my|မြီးရှည်}} {{IPA|my|mjíʃè|}}) – rice noodles with pork or chicken, bean sprouts, rice flour gel, rice flour fritters, dressed with [[soy sauce]], salted [[soybean]], rice vinegar, fried peanut oil, chilli oil, and garnished with crisp fried onions, crushed garlic, coriander, and pickled white [[radish]]/[[mustard greens]]

* ''[[Sigyet khauk swè]]'' ({{lang|my|ဆီချက်ခေါက်ဆွဲ}} {{IPA|my|sʰìdʑɛʔ kʰaʊʔ sʰwɛ́|}}) – wheat noodles with duck or pork, fried garlic oil, [[soy sauce]] and chopped spring onions. The dish originated from with the Sino-Burmese community

[[File:Meeshei.JPG|thumb|Mandalay ''[[meeshay]]'', served with a thin ''hingyo'' broth.]]

[[Noodle soup]]s include:

*''[[Mohinga]]'' ({{lang|my|မုန့်ဟင်းခါး}} {{IPA|my|mo̰ʊɴhíɰ̃ɡá|}}) – the unofficial national dish, made with fresh thin rice noodles in a fish broth with onions, garlic, ginger, [[lemon grass]] and tender banana stem cores, served with boiled eggs, fried [[fishcake]] and [[Burmese fritters]]

*''[[On no khauk swe|Ohn-no khauk swè]]'' ({{lang|my|အုန်းနို့ခေါက်ဆွဲ}} {{IPA|my|ʔóʊɴno̰ kʰaʊʔsʰwɛ́|}}) – curried chicken and wheat noodles in a coconut milk broth. It is comparable to [[Malaysia]]n ''[[laksa]]'' and [[Northern Thailand|Northern Thai]] ''[[khao soi]]''

* ''[[Shan khauk swè|Shan khauk swé]]'' ({{lang|my|ရှမ်းခေါက်ဆွဲ}} {{IPA|my|ʃáɴ kʰaʊʔsʰwɛ́|}}) – rice noodles with chicken or minced pork, onions, garlic, tomatoes, chili, crushed roasted peanuts, young [[Snow pea|snowpea]] vine, served with tofu fritters, and pickled mustard greens

=== Salads ===

{{Main|Burmese salads|}}

[[File:Samosa salad.jpg|thumb|Samosa salad in Mandalay]]

Burmese salads ({{lang|my|အသုပ်}}; transliterated ''athoke'' or ''athouk'') are a diverse category of indigenous [[salad]]s in Burmese cuisine. Burmese salads are made of cooked and raw ingredients that are mixed by hand to combine and balance a wide-ranging array of flavors and textures. Burmese salads are eaten as standalone snacks, as [[side dish]]es paired with [[Burmese curry|Burmese curries]], and as entrees.[[File:Thayet chin thouk.JPG|thumb|''Thayet chin thoke'' – fermented green mango salad with onions, green chilli, roasted peanuts, sesame and peanut oil]]

* ''[[Lahpet]] thoke'' ({{lang|my|လက်ဖက်သုပ်}} {{IPA|my|ləpʰɛʔ ðoʊʔ|}}) – a salad of pickled tea leaves with fried peas, peanuts and garlic, toasted sesame, fresh garlic, tomato, green chili, crushed dried shrimps, preserved ginger and dressed with peanut oil, fish sauce and lime

* ''[[Khauk swè thoke]]'' ({{lang|my|ခေါက်ဆွဲသုပ်}} {{IPA|my|kʰaʊʔsʰwɛ́ ðoʊʔ|}}) – wheat noodle salad with dried shrimps, shredded cabbage and carrots, dressed with fried peanut oil, [[fish sauce]] and lime

*''Let thoke son'' ({{lang|my|လက်သုပ်စုံ}} {{IPA|my|lɛʔ θoʊʔzòʊɴ|}}) – similar to ''htamin thoke'' with shredded green [[papaya]], shredded carrot, [[ogonori]] sea moss and often wheat noodles

* ''Kya zan thoke'' – glass vermicelli salad with boiled prawn julienne and mashed curried duck eggs and potatoes

=== Curries ===

{{Main|Burmese curry|}}

[[File:Danu traditional meal.jpg|thumb|A traditional [[Danu people|Danu]]-style meal featuring a curry broth, rice disks, and a requisite plate of blanched vegetables and dip.]]

* Pork ''sibyan'' ({{lang|my|ဝက်သားဆီပြန်}}) – classic Burmese curry with fatty cuts of pork

* Chicken ''sibyan'' ({{lang|my|ကြက်သားဆီပြန်}}) – the classic Burmese curry, served with a thick gravy of aromatics

* Egg curry ({{lang|my|ဘဲဥချဥ်ရည်ဟင်း}}) – a sour curry made with hardboiled duck or chicken eggs, cooked in tamarind paste and mashed [[tomato]]es

=== Soups ===

[[File:Dunt-dalun chin-yei 1760.JPG|thumb|''Dandalun chinyay,'' a sour soup with chopped drumsticks]]

In Burmese cuisine, soups typically accompany meals featuring both rice and noodles, and are paired accordingly to balance contrasting flavors. Lightly flavored soups, called {{transliteration|my|hin gyo}} ({{lang|my|ဟင်းချို}}) are served with saltier dishes, while sour soups, called {{transliteration|my|chinyay hin}} ({{lang|my|ချဉ်ရည်ဟင်း}}), are paired with rich, fatty [[Burmese curry|Burmese curries]].

''Thizon chinyay'' ({{lang|my|သီးစုံချဉ်ရည်}} {{IPA|my|θízòʊɴ tʃìɴjè|}}, {{lit|sour soup of assorted vegetables}}), cooked with [[drumstick (vegetable)|drumstick]], [[Okra|lady's finger]], [[eggplant]], [[green bean]]s, [[potato]], [[onions]], [[ginger]], dried chilli, boiled eggs, dried salted fish, [[fish paste]] and [[tamarind]], is an elevated version of ''chinyay hin'', and served during festive occasions.

=== Other grains and breads ===

[[File:Palatha, Myanmar.jpg|thumb|''Palata'' is commonly dusted with sugar as a dessert or teatime snack.]]

[[File:Cha-om omelette 1532 (2).JPG|thumb|Burmese-style omelette fried with [[Senegalia pennata|acacia leaves]]]]

Other dishes include:

* [[Burmese tofu]] ({{lang|my|ရှမ်းတို့ဟူး}} {{IPA|my|ʃáɴ tòhú|}}) – a [[tofu]] of Shan origin made from [[Gram flour|chickpea flour]], eaten as fritters, in a salad, or in porridge forms

*''A sein kyaw'' ({{lang|my|အစိမ်းကြော်}} {{IPA|my|ʔəséɪɴdʒɔ̀|}}) – cabbage, cauliflower, carrot, green beans, baby corn, corn flour or tapioca starch, tomatoes, squid sauce

*''Wet tha chin'' ({{lang|my|ဝက်သားချဉ်}} {{IPA|my|wɛʔ θə dʑɪ̀ɴ|}}) – Shan-style preserved minced pork in rice

=== Snacks ===

{{Main|Mont (food)|Burmese fritters}}

[[File:Ponnagyun (6212423604).jpg|thumb|A street hawker in [[Ponnagyun]] selling an assortment of fritters and ''mont'' to passersby.]]

Burmese cuisine has a wide variety of traditional snacks called ''[[Mont (food)|mont]]'', ranging from sweet desserts to savory food items that are steamed, baked, fried, deep-fried, or boiled. Traditional [[Burmese fritters]], consisting of vegetables or seafood that have been battered and deep-fried, are also eaten as snacks or as toppings.

Savory snacks include:

* ''[[Wonton|Hpet htok]]'' ({{lit|leaf wrap}}, {{lang|my|ဖက်ထုပ်}} {{IPA|my|pʰɛʔtʰoʊʔ|}}) – meat, pastry paper, ginger, garlic, pepper powder, and salt. Usually served with soup or noodles.

* ''[[Samosa|Samusa]]'' ({{lang|my|စမူဆာ}} {{IPA|my|səmùzà|}}) – Burmese-style [[samosa]] with mutton and onions served with fresh mint, green chilli, onions and lime

*''[[Htamane]]'' ({{lang|my|ထမနဲ}} {{IPA|my|tʰəmənɛ́|}}) – dessert made from glutinous rice, shredded coconuts and peanuts

Sweet snacks include:

*''[[Cendol|Mont let hsaung]]'' ({{lang|my|မုန့်လက်ဆောင်း}} {{IPA|my|mo̰ʊɴlɛʔsʰáʊɴ|}}) – tapioca or rice noodles, glutinous rice, grated coconut and toasted sesame with [[jaggery]] syrup in coconut milk

* ''[[Sanwin makin]]'' ({{lang|my|ဆနွင်းမကင်း}} {{IPA|my|sʰà.nwɪ́ɴ məgɪ́ɴ|}}) – [[semolina]] cake with raisins, walnuts and [[poppy seed]]s

* ''Saw hlaing mont'' ({{lang|my|စောလှိုင်မုန့်}}) – a Rakhine-style baked sweet, made from millet, raisins, coconut and butter

===Fruits and fruit preserves===

[[File:2016 Rangun, Ulica Old Yay Tar Shay, Stoiska z jedzeniem (04).jpg|thumb|A street-side fruit stall in Yangon.]]

Myanmar has a wide range of fruits, mostly of tropical origin. Fruit is commonly eaten as a snack or dessert. While most fruits are eaten fresh, a few, including [[Archidendron pauciflorum|jengkol]], are boiled, roasted or otherwise cooked. Popular fruits include [[banana]], [[mango]], [[water melon|watermelon]], [[papaya]], [[jujube]], avocado, [[pomelo]], and [[guava]]. Others include [[Bouea macrophylla|marian plum]], [[mangosteen]], [[sugar-apple]], [[rambutan]], [[durian]], [[jackfruit]], [[lychee]], and [[pomegranate]]. Some fruits, including green mangoes, plums, and guavas, are traditionally eaten before they ripen, often mixed with chili powder and salt.

Burmese fruit preserves, called ''yo'' ({{lang|my|ယို}}), are also commonly eaten as standalone snacks. Common ones include fruit preserves made from [[Common fig|fig]], [[jujube]], [[Bouea macrophylla|marian plum]], citrus, mango, pineapple, and [[durian]].

300 cultivars of mango are grown in Myanmar, including ''seintalon'' ({{lang|my|စိန်တစ်လုံး}}, {{Lit|one diamond}}), ''Ma Chit Su'' ({{lang|my|မချစ်စု}}), and ''mya kyauk'' ({{lang|my|မြကျောက်}}, {{Lit|emerald stone}}). 13 species of banana are locally cultivated in Myanmar, including the following cultivars:

* [[Red banana|red]] - locally called ''shweni'' ({{lang|my|ရွှေနီ}}, {{Lit|golden red}})

* [[Dwarf Cavendish banana|Dwarf Cavendish]] - locally called ''htawbat'' ({{lang|my|သီးမွှေး}}, {{Lit|fragrant fruit}})

* [[Latundan banana|Latundan]] - locally called ''htawbat'' ({{lang|my|ထောပတ်}}, {{Lit|butter}})

== Beverages ==

[[File:Estado Shan, varios 10.jpg|thumb|Clay pots containing drinking water are commonly seen throughout Myanmar, left for travellers and passersby to rehydrate.]]

Tea is the national drink of Myanmar, reflecting the influence of Buddhism and its views on [[Temperance (virtue)|temperance]]. Tea is central to Burmese dining culture; complimentary green tea is customarily served to diners at restaurants and teashops alike. Various liquid concoctions made from fruits and [[coconut milk]], including [[sugarcane juice]], and ''[[Cendol|mont let hsaung]]'' ({{lang|my|မုန့်လက်ဆောင်း}}) are also popular. Indigenous fermented drinks like [[palm wine]] are also found across the country. During a traditional Burmese meal, drinks are not often served; instead, the usual liquid refreshment is a light broth or [[consommé]] served from a [[communal bowl]].

=== Burmese tea ===

[[File:Myanmar Tea House Food.jpg|thumb|Snacks served at a Burmese tea house alongside [[Burmese milk tea]].]]

{{Main|Laphet|Burmese milk tea}}

Plain [[green tea]], ''yay nway gyan'' ({{lang|my|ရေနွေးကြမ်း}}, {{Lit|crude tea water}}), is a popular form of tea drunk in Myanmar. Tea leaves are traditionally cultivated in [[Shan State]] and [[Kachin State]]. [[Milk tea]], called ''laphet yay cho'' (လက်ဖက်ရည်ချို), made with strongly brewed black tea leaves, and sweetened with a customized ratio of [[condensed milk]] and [[evaporated milk]], is also popular.

=== Alcohol ===

{{See also|Beer in Myanmar}}

[[File:Shweyin-aye.JPG|thumb|''[[Shwe yin aye]]'' is a popular and refreshing dessert]]

[[Palm wine]], called ''htan yay'' ({{lang|my|ထန်းရည်}}), made from the fermented sap of the [[toddy palm]], is traditionally consumed in rural parts of [[Upper Myanmar]] Ethnic communities, including the [[Kachin people|Kachin]] and [[Shan people|Shan]], also brew local [[moonshine]]s. Several ethnic minorities traditionally brew alcoholic beverages using rice or glutinous rice called {{Interlanguage link|khaung|lt=|my|ခေါင်ရည်|WD=}} ({{lang|my|ခေါင်ရည်}}). The ''khaung'' of the [[Chin people]]s is brewed using millet seeds. Locally brewed beers include Irrawaddy, Mandalay, Myanmar, and Tiger.

=== Restaurants ===

Dine-in restaurants that serve steamed rice with traditional Burmese curries and dishes are called ''htamin hsaing'' ({{lang|my|ထမင်းဆိုင်}}; {{Literal translation|rice shop}}). At traditional curry shops, soup is typically served complimentary, alongside pickled and raw vegetables, chutneys and various seasonings.

=== Tea shops ===

[[File:Outdoor café, Yangon, Myanmar.jpg|thumb|An outdoor café in Yangon]]During British rule in Burma, [[Burmese Indians]] introduced [[Teahouse|tea shops]] to the country, first known as ''kaka hsaing'', which later evolved into teashops called ''laphet yay hsaing'' ({{lang|my|လက်ဖက်ရည်ဆိုင်}}) or ''kaphi'' (ကဖီး), the latter word from French ''café.'' Burmese tea shop culture emerged from a combination of British, Indian, and Chinese influences throughout the colonial period. Teashops are prevalent across the country, forming an important part of communal life. Typically open throughout the day, some Burmese tea shops cater to locals, long distance drivers and travellers alike. The Burmese typically gather in tea shops to drink milk tea served with an extensive array of snacks and meals.

=== Street food ===

[[File:Street food (5089664128).jpg|thumb|A street hawker selling [[Burmese pork offal skewers]].]]Street food stalls and hawkers are a feature of the Burmese urban landscape, especially in major cities like [[Yangon]]. [[Burmese salads]], [[Mont (food)|snacks]], and [[Burmese fritters|fritters]] are especially popular street foods. In recent years, some major cities have clamped down on street food vendors. In 2016, Yangon banned the city's 6,000 street vendors from selling food on major thoroughfares, and relocated them to formal night markets set up by the city.

[[Night market]]s, called ''nya zay'' ({{lang|my|ညဈေး}}), are a feature of many Burmese towns and cities. Colonial observers as early as 1878 noted Burmese street hawkers selling delicacies, such as fruits, cakes, and laphet during "night bazaars." The streets surrounding major daytime markets, such as [[Zegyo Market]] in Mandalay, typically double as makeshift night markets during the evenings.

== See also ==

{{Contains special characters|Burmese}}

* {{portal-inline|Myanmar}}

==Further reading==

* Myanmar Business Today; Print Edition, 27 February 2014. [http://www.oilseedcrops.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Myanmar-Business-Today-Feb-27-March-5-2014-Edition-A-Roadmap-to-Building-Myanmar-into-the-Food-Basket-of-Asia_David-DuByne-.pdf A Roadmap to Building Myanmar into the Food Basket of Asia], by David DuByne & Hishamuddin Koh

==External links==

{{Commons category|Cuisine of Myanmar}}

* [[Mi Mi Khaing]], ''Cook and Entertain the Burmese Way''. Rangoon, 1975

{{Burmese cuisine}}

{{Burma (Myanmar) topics}}

{{cuisine}}

[[Category:Burmese cuisine| ]]

[[Category:Culture of Myanmar|Cuisine]]

[[Category:Cuisine by country]]

{{二次利用|date=13 June 2025, at 06:46}}