In Burmese "tea" is called "lahphet". More than 2000 years ago, a king named Manith Sithu brought a tea seed from his journeys. While going back to his palace, he stopped at the ZaYan village. Since the ZaYan people recognized and welcomed their king graciously, he gave them the tea seed as a gift. The ZaYan people had no knowledge of how to properly associate with the king.

They were supposed to accept the tea seed using two hands (lah neh phet = two hands). But instead they took the tea seed with one hand (lah teh phet = one hand). Later that they found out they were wrong the way they treated the king and they felt so embarrassed. After they grew the tea plant they named it the "lah teh’ phet" plant, meaning one hand plant. But over time as people started to say it more and more, it was shortened to the "lahphet" = tea.

We consu​me tea as a drink in many different ways such as bitter to sweet (or) very light to thick (or) hot to cold drinks. ​​​​ There are other countries growing tea and drinking tea, but Myanmar is the only country that eats tea in a salad. Tea leaves in salad? For those who have eaten it before, they felt the spirit of adventure.

Considered the national dish of Myanmar, it’s the dish that royalty feasted on for special occasions, the people of the house would give to the guests tea salad and hot tea as a refreshment. That tradition is still followed in Myanmar today. Tea salad is an eclectic mix of flavors and textures, that includes, soft, pickled tea leaves, crisp, roasted peanuts as well as other crunchy beans, toasted sesame seeds, and fried garlic.

With all the ingredients in separate piles, guests can make their own combination. In Myanmar's history, tea salad was an ancient symbolic peace offering between warring kingdoms, and was exchanged and consumed after settling a dispute.