Local Wisdom of Miang Lifestyle and Community for Sustainable Development in Northern Thailand

Abstract

Miang or fermented tea leaf has been a part of the Mae Kampong community, one of northern Thailand’s famous tourist attractions, for a long time. Although the demand and popularity of Miang are decreasing, Miang is still important to the community lifestyle in various ways. Thus, this study aimed to investigate Miang consumption behavior, lifestyle, and wisdom in the Mae Kampong community, which would lead to sustainable development. The study involved a cross-sectional survey and a qualitative study. The research was done in Mae Kampong Village, Mae On District, Chiang Mai, Thailand. A total of 335 participants participated; 60.9% were female with an average age of 61.3 ± 12.2 years old. In all, 93.7% of the participants consumed Miang daily, mostly as a snack (86.5%). Consuming Miang as a staple food and beverage were less common. Furthermore, only 2.5% of the participants considered Miang as medicine. Miang is also the primary source of income and a tourist attraction. Additionally, Miang is an item in religious and local rituals. The Miang culture and the local lifestyle are bonded deeply as a sustainable economy, society, and environment. The wisdom in Miang culture encourages a better quality of life for the Mae Kampong community.