lao lao, lao hai, lao khao

[Benjamin Barrett]

My apologies if this is already posted; having trouble posting for some
reason...

Alcohol from Laos, sometimes capitalized or italicized, sometimes not.

Benjamin Barrett
Baking the World a Better Place
www.hiroki.us

In the July/August 2005 edition of Archaeology, "Plain of Jars" by Karen J.
Coates uses lao lao, italicized:

"So I can understand lots and lots of <i>lao lao</i> on a grave site."
-----
>From February 12, 2005, by Nate
(http://tblogs.bootsnall.com/borderlines/archives/008332.shtml):

We got to see three separate sites where the jars were located, as well as
an old Russian tank and a village where we were shown how they make the
potent Lao lao (rice whiskey).
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Undated, QT Luong(?)
(http://www.terragalleria.com/theravada/laos/pak-ou/picture.laos4673.html)

Making of the Lao Lao, strong local liquor in Ban Xang Hai village.
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>From Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lao_cuisine#Beverages)

There are two general types of traditional alcoholic beverages, both
produced from rice: <i>lao hai</i> and <i>lao lao</i>. <i>Lao hai</i> means
<i>jar alcohol</i> and is served from an earthen jar. It is communally and
competitively drunk through straws at festive occasions. It can be likened
to sake in appearance and flavor. <i>Lao lao</i> or <i>Lao alcohol</i> is
more like a whiskey. It is also called <i>lao khao</i> or, in English,
<i>white alcohol</i>.
-----
-----
2001, by Walkter (http://www.drinkingsociety.com/khao.htm)

Made from distilled rice, "Lao Khao is Thailand's moonshine.
(There's probably supposed to be a quotation mark after khao.--ed.)
-----
September 2002, Toolbox Media Co., Ltd.
(http://www.farangonline.com/p_How_No_Lao_Khao407.asp?origin=The%20Big%20Rea
d)

For Junyee is one of hundreds of moonshiners who inhabit the towns and
villages of the far northern province of Chiang Rai, and we're about to
start cooking a fresh batch of the eye-glazingly potent, and strictly
illegal, local firewater known as lao khao (rice whiskey).
-----
-----
Apr. 26, 2003, The San Francisco Chronicle, "Soused in Laos or How I lost my
lunch so my host could save face" by Kevin Fagan
(http://www.azcentral.com/home/wine/articles/0426sousedinlaos26.html)

We had to sit in a circle on his floor and drink Lao Hai until we could
drink no more.
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2002, Laos National Tourism Authority
(http://www.asia-planet.net/laos/cuisine.htm)
Lao Hai (the jars of alcohol) are not only used as the custom or tradition
but they use it for worship the ghost, families rites or traditional
festival. Lao Hai and boiled chicken are the main components for any
ceremonies.
-----
January 09, 2005, The Boat Landing Guest House and Restaurant
(http://www.theboatlanding.laopdr.com/boat.html)
In some villages they may offer you "Lao Hai" - a wine made from fermented
rice in a jar which they will add unboiled river water. Ask the villagers to
boil water or offer to add your own bottled water  to the jar if you wish to
try the fermented rice wine with safe water. Lao Hai is drunk using reed
straws and can be a great way to have a party with the villagers.