Myanmar family in Japan shares edible tea cultureーNHK WORLD-JAPAN NEWS
In Myamar, tea isn’t just something you drink. It’s also commonly eaten. We spoke with a Myamar family living in Mia Prefecture, Japan’s renowned tea region, to hear about their passion to share this unique tea culture. Oai town in Mi is home to producers of the region’s traditional iset. Naomi, originally from Myamar, lives here with her husband and sister. They relocated to Japan 26 years ago. >> This is our tea field. >> They moved to Odai two years ago to fulfill Naomi’s dream of cultivating Myamma’s edible tea in Japan. I absolutely love this area. The mountains, the trees, greenery and rivers, the abundant nature and peaceful atmosphere. That’s why I chose to settle here. >> The family opened a guest house in May. On this fall day, four guests from Tokyo, both Japanese and Myamaran nationals, enjoyed activities like picking tea leaves. >> It’s my second time here now with my friends and a Japanese friend to share the experience. Using freshly picked tea leaves, Naomi prepared Lapito, Myama’s beloved national dish. The leaves are steamed, then served with fried beans, chili, and other tasty toppings. >> It pairs perfectly with chilies. Truly delicious. [laughter] I love it. Initially, Naomi worried whether she, as a foreigner, would be accepted by the community, but her fears were soon alleviated. Her neighbor grows mati plants with Naomi’s help and says her presence has invigorated the community. >> My husband and I think of her like a daughter. We’re truly grateful she came. People here gave me such a warm welcome, taught me things I didn’t know, and really went out of their way to help me. >> Their guest house is very popular and is always full. I’d love for Japanese people to discover that tea isn’t just for drinking. It’s also really tasty to eat. I hope they’ll give our edible tea a try. And I’ll keep spreading it. >> Naomi hopes to share Mya’s rich culinary culture with people in Japan, making the effort one bite at a time.
Tea in Myanmar is not just for drinking, it is also eaten. A Myanmar family is sharing this unique tea culture with the people of Japan.
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