Laphet Thoke (Fermented Tea Leaf Salad)

Name: Laphet Thoke (Fermented Tea Leaf Salad)
Prep time: 15 min
Total time: 15 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: Myanmar
Ingredients: 1/2 cup fermented tea leaves (laphet); 2 tomatoes, sliced thin; 2 tbsp fried garlic; 2 tbsp fried yellow split peas; 2 tbsp fried peanuts; 2 tbsp toasted sesame seeds; 2 green chilies, sliced; 2 tbsp fish sauce; 1 tbsp lime juice; 1 tbsp peanut oil; Shredded cabbage, for serving

Laphet Thoke (Fermented Tea Leaf Salad) photo 1

4 servings15 min prep0 min cookEasy Myanmar

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The Story Behind It

The Tale of Laphet Thoke (Fermented Tea Leaf Salad)

Story updated September 17, 2026

Laphet thoke, fermented tea leaf salad, reflects a uniquely Burmese practice of eating tea rather than only drinking it, a tradition believed to stretch back many centuries. Fermented tea leaves historically carried diplomatic weight, reportedly exchanged as peace offerings between rival kingdoms, and the dish remains deeply tied to Burmese cultural identity.

Ingredients

Scale:· 4 servings

1/2 cup fermented tea leaves (laphet)
2 tomatoes, sliced thin
2 tbsp fried garlic
2 tbsp fried yellow split peas
2 tbsp fried peanuts
2 tbsp toasted sesame seeds
2 green chilies, sliced
2 tbsp fish sauce
1 tbsp lime juice
1 tbsp peanut oil
Shredded cabbage, for serving

Instructions

1Rinse the fermented tea leaves if very salty, then loosen them with a little peanut oil.
2Arrange the tea leaves in the center of a plate with tomatoes and shredded cabbage around the edge.
3Scatter fried garlic, split peas, peanuts, and sesame seeds over the top.
4Add sliced green chilies for heat.
5Drizzle with fish sauce and lime juice just before serving.
6Toss everything together at the table before eating.

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