Destination Thailand
Flavours of Thailand
Thailand is blessed with an abundance of foods of different types, flavours, textures, colours and aromas. The cooking process, like many things in Thailand can be a creative and fun process. By blending the five primary flavors that the human tongue is able to discern, many of the dishes to be found in Thailand present the consumer with a tantalizing dining experience. The ingredients providing the flavours in Thai food, often work together in unexpected ways to present tastes both rich and delicate.
Fresh Spicy Variety
Thai food presents in a huge variety of ways from simple fare such as steamed rice and dried fish with a spicy sauce, to complex soups brimming with flavours and goodness. There are endless varieties of starter foods, sweets and deserts, not to mention an amazing array of fruits, vegetables, herbs and spices. Drinks are made from freshly picked or dried flowers, fresh and dried fruits as well as herbs and are often available on the streets wherever food is served.
Rice & Noodles
Rice would be the staple of most Thai diets closely followed by noodles which are available in many forms ranging from hair like ‘sen mee’ to ribbon like ‘sen yai’ for your noodle soup. There are crispy noodles, rice noodles, yellow noodles, fried noodles and more.
Culinary Influences
Due to Thailand’s geographical location, it is possible to find influences from neighbouring or nearby countries such as Malaysia, Myanmar, Laos, China, Vietnam and Cambodia. Thailand is a real mixing pot of cuisines. A visit to Chinatown will introduce the visitor to not only Chinese fares but for the adventurous, a quick visit down Sampeng Lane might bring you to a small cafe offering thin crispy Indian pancakes with spicy vegetable filling and sweet tea, a delight for breakfast. Or a visit to almost any evening food market will overwhelm the visitor with choice such as sumptuous satay skewers with peanut sauce and a relish of vinegar with chilli and cucumber to balance the palate.
Tastes from Home
Thailand is host to a large expatriate population and burgeoning middle class which has lead to an increase in the demand for international quality foods and today it is easy to find trendy cafes or restaurants offering fusion cuisine blending western and eastern foods in a mouthwatering explosion of tastes. Food is truly one of Thailand’s highlights!
