The Culture of Lao Food

This article about the Culture of Lao Food seeks to show how food can bring us together. To better understand a culture, look at how people eat.  Nowhere is this more true than in Laos. From aromatic herbs and bold flavors to communal dining rituals, Laotian food offers a captivating culinary journey that speaks to the country’s past and present.

Laos food culture is a celebration of diversity, balance, and community. Through its symphony of flavors, use of aromatic herbs, and emphasis on communal dining, Laotian cuisine reflects the country’s history, geography, and social connections. While facing modern challenges, the nation’s rich culinary heritage continues to thrive, offering a delectable journey into the heart of Laos. Whether enjoying a hearty meal of laap with friends or savoring the fiery kick of tam mak houng, each bite is a testament to the vibrant and enduring culture of Laos.

Communal Dining and Sharing

Food is not just sustenance in Laos; it’s a means of connecting with others. Traditional Lao meals are often served family-style, with an emphasis on communal dining. Sharing dishes encourages conversation, fosters a sense of togetherness, and reinforces the importance of relationships within the culture. Whether at home or in local eateries, the act of sharing a meal is deeply ingrained in the social fabric of Laos.

The Market

To truly immerse oneself in Laos food culture, a trip to the local markets is a must. These bustling hubs of activity offer an array of fresh ingredients, from tropical fruits and vegetables to aromatic herbs and spices. The markets provide a glimpse into the diversity of Laotian cuisine and the ingredients that form its foundation.  Different markets operate at different times but either early morning or late afternoon are the best times to visit.

Sticky Rice

Days start early as sticky rice, that has been soaking overnight, is cooked along with a range of dishes. Traditionally the food is cooked over an open flame, fueled by a tree branch that gets pushed along as the end burns away. In a country which has known real hunger, people want to be able to offer you food. Even the greeting of ‘Sabaidee’ is often replaced by ‘Ginn khao leao bor?’ or ‘Have you eaten already?’. And so most people will try to make sure they have something to offer visitors. And of course you must have good food to offer to the monks when they come by on their alms rounds. By giving to them you gain merit, and maybe that will make the difference to passing the exam, or recovering from sickness quickly. Cooking plenty of food first thing is an important start to every day.

Spirits

As well as giving food to the monks to gain merit, it is also needed to feed those loved ones who have left us. Even when they have gone from this world, they will still need feeding. It is also important to appease the spirits all around us.  As such, most people have spirit houses nearby and leaving food and drink for the spirits who dwell there will keep them happy. Of course the tree spirits need to be looked after too. And the river spirits. And all the others. This is why you may also see a ball of sticky rice on trees or bridges, on the side of boats, or on walls.

Lao Weddings

Food also plays a part at wedding ceremonies. The bride and groom have a baci, a traditional ceremony where blessings are given to everyone attending. To symbolise the marriage, they share an egg which marks the joining together of two people. It is this moment, more than any other, that signifies the moment when the marriage begins.

Lao weddings are known for their elaborate feasting. Multiple courses of dishes are prepared to cater to the large number of guests who attend the celebrations. This abundance of food reflects the host family’s generosity and their desire to provide a memorable experience for everyone present. No guest should leave hungry, and there’s a strong emphasis on ensuring that the variety and quantity of dishes are sufficient to meet everyone’s needs.

Lao Food Preparation

Whilst eating is a communal affair, so too is the food preparation. Most Lao food is prepared by chopping and bashing, and traditionally this is done by the women. From a young age girls will join their mum, aunts and older sisters, learning from those around them how to make the same food that their mothers and grandmothers learnt in this way many years before. This is also the opportunity for gossip to be shared and advice sought. And when there is nothing left to share, then the singing begins. And some of the lyrics would make a fisherman’s wife blush! It is easy to join in the cooking but do make sure you don’t leave the pestle in the mortar. It is believed that if you do this, the women in the household will become infertile.

Fish

Laos is a country of fishermen. Fish provides a lot of the protein and  is used in almost every dish in some form. A word of warning though. If you have a whole cooked fish, be careful not to turn it over on your plate. Eat the flesh from the top, then peel off the bones and eat the rest. Otherwise, it is believed that the turning over of the fish will cause a fishing boat to capsize and you wouldn’t want to be responsible for that!

Lao Food Recommendations

Above all, enjoy your food. People are very generous about sharing their meals and their laughter. Food is life here in Laos.  If you would like to learn more about the role food plays in Lao culture, there is no better way than jumping right in – fingers first!  Start with a brief introduction to Lao cuisine, before trying some of our recommended foodie experiences in Laos.

Looking for more reasons to visit Laos?  Check out what the world is saying about why you should visit Laos now.