In Myanmar, there are various kinds of cuisines, depending on the tradition of each national race and the place they are residing. People in every region have their own style of food according to the climate of the region.

Now, we'd like to present a dish which you will find whenever ceremonies are held in the Inlay region in Southern Shan State. That dish is the bitter bean soup. The main ingredients are cow-pea, soy bean, garlic, Indian nightshade plant, a little bit of salt and the most important ingredient is the "Say Kar Plant" or chiretta plant comes from the Chiretta plant which grows all around Shan State.

The leaves from the Chiretta plant are dried and then powdered. The plant is a medicinal plant.

First, clean cow-peas and boil them for about 45 minutes. When the cow-peas are boiling, the other ingredients must be made ready for cooking. Next, the right amount of soy bean are pounded. You'll need to pound some ginger and boiled Indian nightshades, also.

Then, cow-peas have to be well pounded. Later, pounded soy beans, ginger, garlic and Indian nightshades are all added together. You need to add in a little amount of salt and you boil them again. Although this soup is only a side-dish to the whole meal, you can say it still plays an essential role in the entire meal.

Then you add in the Chiretta powder only when you are ready to eat.

This dish is good for health and also delicious to consume. It is said to cure malaria and other diseases.