Curiosity had its way with me once again - I can officially say that I have sampled fried silk worms and sipped silk worm poo tea, yes, the poo of the worm can be brewed into tea. Both were surprisingly delicious and silk worm poo tea is said to help lower glucose levels for diabetics.
Below, the silk worms are nearly three weeks old, growing quickly as they devour mulberry leaves, preparing to spin their cocoons.
The Bombyx Mori silk worm, with its birthplace in India, only eats Mulberry leaves where as the Eri silkworm, native to Laos, eats both cassava and papaya leaves, but not mulberry. The silk which is produced from the Eri worm is much rougher than that of the silky Bombyx Mori. I prefer the Eri silk for scarves because it presents a very natural look and is noticeably softer.
As I have mentioned before, GIANNA stresses the importance of natural dyeing in Laos, and a few of the colors carry deeply rooted superstitions. Indigo, for instance, is said to represent life. It is cared for in a very particular and natural way. One must not wear makeup nor be menstruating while while producing the many shades of Indigo. Nice compliments are also spoken to the color as it is drying in order to achieve the the most favorable outcome.
Ikat (Mutmee) designs involve various steps. The initial, very meticulous tying of the silk, must adhere to exact measurements in order to accomplish the precise pattern while weaving. The silk is then submerged into a boiling pot of natural dye, a combination of leaves, bark, or seeds. After drying, the ikat design is placed into the shuttle and woven into the warp.
Cultural beliefs of the shamanic Tai Lao
- To stop mischievous spirits from disturbing the warp yarns, weavers leave a knife sitting on the warp
- If the shuttle touches you while the weaver is working, they say you won't marry.
Visit the site, www.fibre2fabric.org/exhibitions/silk, for a thorough examination of sericulture, weaving & dyeing, and cultural beliefs. Jo, the inspiring owner, has opened this free exhibition in Luang Prabang where she focuses on exploring Lao culture through extraordinary crafts from a range of regions and ethnicities. I had the pleasure of joining her for lunch at her weaving center, where I first experienced silk worm poo tea.
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