Appetizers are a kind of snack enjoyed while waiting for the main meal. This tradition, originally from French culture, has been practiced in the United States and England since the 1960s.

Grains that gently stimulate the appetite, such as potato sticks, salads, and stews, are commonly served as appetizers or canapés. These appetizers enhance your appetite, allowing you to fully enjoy the main course.

Taking advantage of these benefits, you can prepare a unique version of this popular snack in Myanmar's style by incorporating traditional tea leaves. Tea leaves are a familiar snack in Myanmar. In this guide, we'll walk you through a step-by-step recipe to create three types of delicious canapés using tea leaves and simple ingredients found in every home. You can also watch the tutorial video at the end. 

With these ingredients, you can easily create delightful appetizers at home without the need for a restaurant.

Let's start with the first canapé.

• Begin by seasoning the cleaned shrimp with salt and pepper.
• In a pot, melt the butter. Once melted, add the shrimp and cook until they turn red, which should take about 2-3 minutes.
• Ensure both sides of each shrimp are evenly cooked by flipping them.
• While the shrimp cooks, slice the breadsticks into 2cm thick pieces. Lightly toast the bread with the remaining butter until it's golden brown, which should take around 3 minutes.
• Next, blend the avocado into a paste. Mix in the mayonnaise and pickled tea leaves to create a flavorful mixture. Don't forget to cut the apple into small pieces.
• Spread the avocado, tea leaf, and mayonnaise mixture onto the toasted bread slices. Top them with the cooked shrimp, apple pieces, and parsley to create an attractive and tasty canapé.

Now you can enjoy a mouthwatering appetizer that not only looks appealing but also delights your taste buds.

The second type of canapé:

• Start by separating the yolk from the hard-boiled eggs.
• Mix the egg yolk with pickled tea leaves and add a touch of mayonnaise.
• Cut a few tomatoes into small pieces.
• Put the mixed egg yolk into the boiled egg white.
• Add the chopped tomatoes and mint as toppings.

These simple steps will result in the second variation of these delightful canapés.

The third canapé:

This 3rd appetizer is incredibly simple and easy to prepare.

• Start by adding a touch of soy sauce to the rice along with a few portions of pickled tea leaves.
• Next, shape the rice into bite-sized balls.
• Coat these rice balls with egg yolk and then cover them in dry breadcrumbs before frying them in hot oil. This process is just as simple as making regular homemade fried meatballs.
• Once the tea leaf rice balls turn reddish-brown, take them out of the pot and allow the excess oil to drain. Using a kitchen tissue or oil-absorbent tissue can further help remove excess oil, and we recommend this for other fried foods as well.
• Another essential ingredient for this palate-pleasing dish is a tomato. Remove the tomato seeds, clean it, and cut it in half. With these steps done, everything is prepared.
• Stuff the pickled tea leaves into the halved tomato and place the fried ball on top. After securing it with a toothpick to prevent it from falling, you now have the final canapé with a savory aroma and taste.

An important tip is to use high-quality pickled tea leaves. This ensures you won't need to be concerned about the taste and quality of the tea leave. Starting with fresh and good-quality ingredients forms the foundation of crafting delicious dishes.