Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
DRINKING WATER
Drink water in Myanmar only when you know it has been purified - which in most
restaurants it should be. You should be suspicious of ice, although we've had lots of
ice drinks in Myanmar without suffering any ill effects. Many brands of drinking wa-
ter are sold in bottles and are quite safe, but check the seal on the bottle first. A 1L
bottle, usually kept cool by ice or refrigerator, costs about K300 or K400 at most
hotels.
Beer
Apart from international brands such as Tiger, ABC Stout, Singha, San Miguel and other
beers brewed in Thailand and Singapore (typically costing K1700 for a 375mL can or
bottle), there are a couple of Myanmar brews. These include long-established, joint-ven-
ture Myanmar Beer, which is slightly lighter in flavour and alcohol than other Southeast
Asian beers (to the palate of at least a couple of researchers). Among the locals, Myan-
mar draught is the favourite; a glass of it will set you back only K500 or so. Some fine,
newer brands brewed in Myanmar include Dagon and Skol.
Liquors & Wines
Very popular in Shan State is an orange brandy called
shwe leinmaw.
Much of it is dis-
tilled in the mountains between Kalaw and Taunggyi. It's a pleasant-tasting liqueur and
packs quite a punch. Near Taunggyi there's a couple of vineyards making wine and in
Pyin Oo Lwin there are several sweet strawberry-based wines.
There are also stronger liquors, including
ayeq hpyu
(white liquor), which varies in
strength from brandylike to almost pure ethyl; and
taw ayeq
(jungle liquor), a cruder
form of
ayeq hpyu
. Mandalay is well known for its rums, and there is also the fermented
palm juice known as toddy.
Myanmar's fruit offerings vary by region and season. Don't miss Pyin Oo Lwin's straw-
berries and Bago's pineapples. Mango is best from March to July; jackfruit from June to
October.
