Kai Pen
Kaipen is produced in the city of Luang Prabang in Northern Central Laos. During the hot dry summer months, when the river level is at its lowest, the green algae, called kai, is gathered from the river bottom.
It is washed in the river and then hung to dry. After drying for a day, the kai is pounded and pressed into thin sheets along with vegetables which may include green onions, galangal, garlic and or tomato, and sprinkled with sesame seeds. Kaipen is rich in vitamins and minerals and tastes similar to nori, but is slightly more sweet, bitter, and aromatic. Kai can be eaten by itself or used to flavor other foods. Eating fried kaipen while drinking a cold Beerlao would be optimal.
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