2. Sticky rice
Laos is known for its sticky rice, known as khao niaw. Stop by any table in Laos, and you’ll almost certainly find the ubiquitous scene of a pile of sticky rice served in steaming woven bamboo baskets.
In simpler meals, it can act as the main course. For others, it may be a side dish similar to bread and butter at a French restaurant. It is also frequently sold within markets as a portable snack, wrapped tightly in green banana leaves.
According to Smithsonian Magazine, it’s estimated that the average person in Laos consumes over 300 pounds (around 140 kilograms) of sticky rice per year!