During the Sustainable Food Systems field course students spent a few days in Ban Mae Mae, a village just outside Chiang Dao.  As part of their experience in this village, the students learned hands-on about the village’s primary source of income – harvesting and fermenting Mieng Tea leaves – and also how to make a tasty dessert from the fruit of Black Sugar Palm.

It’s difficult to explain the experience that comes with staying in a village like Ban Mae Mae, where the families go out of their way to welcome ISDSI students and villagers always greet you with a smile.  However, hopefully these photos give you a glimpse of into some of the activities students enjoyed while in the village.

Learning the art of picking tea leaves.

Picking tea leaves is a team effort!

Using the leaves, after they have been fermented, to wrap up a mix of spicy chillies and sweet coconut.

Cutting the fruit of the Black Sugar Palm to get the jellies out from inside.

Every fruit has 3 jellies inside, and after combining all the fruit they will be mixed with coconut milk and other ingredients to make a sweet dessert.

It’s always a joy to see how close bonds between students and their host families are formed in such short periods.