Joanna James
Anyone who has been blessed with the opportunity to have had a taste of the flavoursome Thai cuisine requires no crash course on its savour. Behind the assortment of traditional Thai dishes are some fascinating facts that will captivate your inner foodie, just as its mouthwatering mix of flavours.
Anyone who's watched the American sitcom Friends knows that "Joey doesn't share food!" Well, should Joey ever happen to visit Thailand, he has no choice but to share food unless he doesn't mind coming off as rude. Instead of each person digging into their favourite dish, in Thailand, all the members of the family gather around a table and help themselves to a small portion of all the dishes on the table.
Ever wondered why Thai food is so finger-licking good that a mouthful of any random traditional dish would take you to paradise? You are about to be let in on a little secret. Almost every dish is made with the aim to strike the perfect balance of salty, sweet, sour, bitter and spicy flavours, treating you to a flavourful experience with every bite.
You say, "how's it going?" and Thais say "Gin kôw rĕu yang?", which translates to "Have you had rice yet?". Rice is an indispensable staple that Thais cannot go a day without eating. And this staple has even made itself to a popular greeting in the country. The widely popular cereal grain forms an essential part of a multitude of traditional dishes and is served at many hotel restaurants in Koh Samui the likes of Anantara Lawana Koh Samui Resort as well as at restaurants in other parts of the country.
Mangoes, pineapples, papaya, banana, grapes and watermelon—you name it, and you won't have to travel far to get your favourite fruit in the tropical country of Thailand. A fruit that one cannot possibly forget when speaking about Thai cuisine is durian. The Southeast Asian country is home to over 200 species of the large, thorny fruit and is a local favourite.
If there's one thing that you would almost never find in a Thai household, that would be an oven. No oven, so no baked foods either. Fried and grilled delights have taken over the local taste buds so strong that baking isn't a thing in Thailand. If you are so desperately after a baked treat, the only place to try your luck would be Chinatown.
Sugar craving foodies are in for a treat as Thais love their food sweet. Sugar finds its way to almost every Thai dish, even the ones you least expect, from pad Thai to green papaya salad. Folks watching their sugar levels need not worry, as the kind-hearted locals of the Land of Smiles are more than happy to tweak ingredients to your liking.
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A travel writer who has a pas...
