''Thua nao'' (; ; ), also known as ''pè bok'' (; ), is a

fermented Fermentation is a type of anaerobic metabolism which harnesses the redox potential of the reactants to make adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and organic end products. Organic compound, Organic molecules, such as glucose or other sugars, are Catabo ...

soybean The soybean, soy bean, or soya bean (''Glycine max'') is a species of legume native to East Asia, widely grown for its edible bean. Soy is a staple crop, the world's most grown legume, and an important animal feed. Soy is a key source o ...

product used in Burmese and

Thai cuisine Thai cuisine (, , ) is the national cuisine of Thailand. Thai cooking places emphasis on lightly prepared dishes with aromatics and spicy heat. The Australian chef David Thompson (chef), David Thompson, an expert on Thai food, observes that ...

, particularly by the Shan, Tai Lue, and

Northern Thai people The Northern Thai people or Tai Yuan (, ), self-designation ''khon mueang, mu(e)ang'' ( meaning "people of the (cultivated) land" or "people of our community"), are a Tai peoples, Tai ethnic group, native to nine provinces in Northern Thailan ...

s as a cooking ingredient or condiment. ''Thua nao'' is created by fermenting cooked soybeans with naturally occurring microbes.

Fermentation

In the fermentation process, soybeans are cleaned, washed, and soaked overnight. The soybeans are then boiled until they are soft, and then transferred to a bamboo basket and wrapped with

banana leaves The banana leaf is the leaf of the banana plant, which may produce up to 40 leaves in a growing cycle. The leaves have a wide range of applications because they are large, flexible, waterproof and decorative. They are used for cooking, wrappin ...

, enabling spontaneous fermentation to occur. ''Thua nao'' is fermented using an alkaline fermentation process, using ''

Bacillus ''Bacillus'', from Latin "bacillus", meaning "little staff, wand", is a genus of Gram-positive, rod-shaped bacteria, a member of the phylum ''Bacillota'', with 266 named species. The term is also used to describe the shape (rod) of other so-sh ...

'' microbes.

Uses and forms

''Thua nao'' is either cooked by steaming or roasting, or is further post-processed. It is commonly used as a protein substitute. ''Thua nao'' comes in two primary forms: fresh and dried. The wet, fresh form, called ''pè ngapi'' (ပဲငါးပိ; ) in Burmese, has a short shelf life. The dried form is typically sold in the form of sun-dried flat disks, called ''thua nao khaep'' (ထူဝ်ႇၼဝ်ႈၶႅပ်, ถั่วเน่าแข็บ) or ''pè bok bya'' (ပဲပုပ်ပြား). The dried disks are roasted and eaten on their own, or ground into a powder and mixed with salads. ''Thua nao'' is commonly used in Shan, Tai Lue, and Northern Thai cuisine, similar to how

ngapi ''Ngapi'' ( , ) is a pungent paste made of either fish or shrimp used in Burmese cuisine. ''Ngapi'' is typically made by fermenting fish or shrimp that is salted and ground then sundried. Like cheese, it can be distinguished based on main ingredi ...

and

shrimp paste Shrimp paste or prawn sauce is a Fermentation, fermented condiment commonly used in Southeast Asian cuisine, Southeast Asian and Coastal Chinese cuisines. It is primarily made from finely crushed Shrimp and prawn as food, shrimp or krill mixed ...

are used in Burmese and central Thai cuisine. ''Thua nao moe'' () is a Northern Thai dish consisting of fermented beans that are wrapped in banana leaves and grilled or steamed, before being stir-fried or mixed with a chili dip. In Burmese cuisine, dried ''thua nao'' is fried and eaten as a condiment, used as a dry relish that includes oil, fried onions, and garlic, or tossed into a salad with onions and chilies. It is also used to thicken soups and adds umami to vegetarian dishes.

In popular culture

Sai Hsai Mao Sai Hsai Mao (; 1948 – 17 July 2024), also known as Sai Saing Maw (), was a distinguished Burmese singer and musician of Shan descent. Born in Muse, Burma, he was the most prominent singer of Shan pop music, known for his prolific cover son ...

's "Me, the Little Shan ''Pè Bok''" (ရှမ်းပဲပုပ်လေးကျွန်တော်) is a classic Burmese song.

References

{{Authority control Fermented soy-based foods Burmese cuisine Thai cuisine

Fermentation

Uses and forms

In popular culture

See also

References