Food Culture in Thailand

Food Culture in Thailand

Food is an important part of Thai culture. The food of Thailand is well-known for the use of fresh herbs (rather than dried,) and also for its fish sauce and shrimp paste. In western culture, we tend to think of Thai food as one cuisine, but each region of the country has its distinctions because the area is influenced by its neighboring country. The unique blend of spices used helps give Thai cuisine its fame but, in Thailand, the presentation of a meal can be as important as the taste.
The dishes we may see in modern day Thailand began forming as early as the thirteenth century. Historical dishes consisted of different meats and seafood that were mixed with local vegetables and available spices. They were typically served with rice. Later the Chinese introduced noodles and the steel wok to Thailand and chilies were introduced in the seventeenth century by Portuguese missionaries. Thai cuisine has also been heavily influenced by its neighboring countries. Thailand’s food is heavily influenced by India, which is where their curries come from.
Sweet, salty, sour and spicy are the four fundamental flavors of a Thai meal. These flavors are included in most Thai meals, and often all show up in a single dish. These flavors are so important that often a meal isn’t considered satisfying without all four. A lot of Thai food uses hot spices that are toned down by fresh herbs such as lemongrass, garlic, turmeric, galangal (blue ginger), fingerroot (Chinese ginger), kaffir lime leaves, and Thai basil. Thai food also uses lots of lime juice, coconut milk, and coconut sugars. Other important ingredients include cilantro, coriander, dark soy sauce, roasted chili paste, yard long beans, rice flour, oyster sauce, curry paste, dried shrimp, and five spice powder. Thailand is split into four regions, northern, northeastern, southern, and central. The regional differences include hot and spicy northern food, southern food using curries full of coconut milk and fresh turmeric as well as more seafood, and northeastern using lots of lime juice.
Thai food is meant to be eaten in a group, if eating alone, Thai’s often pick up snacks. Popular snacks include spring rolls, chicken or beef satay, raw vegetables with a spicy dip, soups, salads, and sweets. These things can be easily picked up along the road. When eating together, a typical Thai meal is served as a single dish of noodles or rice served under stir fry or curry sauce. Sometimes rice is served with complementary side dishes such as vegetables, dip, sauces, stir fry, soup, and a simple fruit dessert. Rice is a staple food in Thailand and Jasmine Rice is native to Thailand. This sweet smelling rice is a long grain variety with a nutty flavor that grows in abundance in paddy fields in Thailand. Food is eaten one dish at a time rather than mixed and usually with rice on the side. Other strains of rice are eaten as well. When eating out, the more the merrier. Each person orders a different dish, creating a balance of different foods that will be passed from one person to another and eaten separately.
Presentation is key to Thai food culture. Formal presentation techniques were formed to please the king. Thai food is often served with carved fruits, vegetables and chili flowers on elegant platters. Chefs create exquisite designs out of simple fruits and vegetables to decorate their dishes. The carvings are done with only a paring knife and ice water. Thai food is generally eaten with a fork and spoon (chopsticks for soup). The silverware is uses a bit differently than in western culture. The fork is held in the left hand and is used to push food onto the spoon. Some tribes do eat with their hands and others only their right hands.
Some popular dishes include khao pad- fried rice with chicken, beef, shrimp, pork, crab or coconut or pineapple; pad thai - rice noodles pan fried with fish sauce, sugar, lime juice or tamarind pulp, chopped peanuts, and egg combined with chicken, seafood, or tofu; tom yam- sweet and sour soup with meat; Pad kaphrao- meat stir fried with Thai basil; yam- any sour salad; and Kao niao ma muang- a dessert of sticky rice and mango.
Food plays a big part in the culture of Thailand and Thai people take pride in their creations and for a good reason. With the perfect blends of spices and gorgeous displays of food Thai food is defiantly superb and a personal favorite.

http://www.joysthaifood.com/2008/04/a-little-history-about-thailand-and-thai-food-facts/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cuisine_of_Thailand
http://www.sawadee.com/thailand/food/index.htm
http://thaifood.about.com/od/thaifoodandculture/a/foodculture.htm