Tha-Na-Ka : Burmese traditional natural make-up cream.
Thanaka (သနပ်ခါး) is a yellowish-white cosmetic paste made from ground bark. It is a distinctive feature of the culture of Burma, seen commonly applied to the face and sometimes the arms of women and girls, and is used to a lesser extent also by men and boys.
The wood of several trees may be used to produce thanaka cream; these trees grow abundantly in central Myanmar. They include principally Murraya spp. (thanaka) but also Limonia acidissima (theethee or wood apple).
Thanaka cream is made by grinding the bark, wood, or roots of a Thanaka tree with a small amount water on a circular stone slab called 'Kyauk pyin' which has a channel round the rim for the water to drain into.
