A Brief Description of Thailand Food and Thailand Culture

Thailand food
It is beyond any doubt that food is a part of any gathering, thus, becoming the part of social occasions or itself the reason to celebrate. Normally, as per the western culture, a normal meal in any restaurant consists of starter, main course and then dessert. But in Thailand, the custom is a bit different with regard to Thailand food, as there is no single dish for a single person. As a general, all present in a gathering share the same dish together. So, it's better to have many guests together around the table than to enjoy with one or two as eating alone is considered a bad luck in the country.

One of the good things about Thai food is that they never dispose away the leftover food, as they consider it inauspicious and an enraging act to a female deity, 'God of rice'. Generally there are four seasonings in Thailand food- sweet, sour, salty and spicy. The food is satisfied only if it contains all the four tastes. Thai dinner mostly include meat, fish, noodles, vegetables and soup followed by desserts including fresh fruits and colorful rice cakes. Besides meals, there are snackers consisting of chicken or beef satay, spring rolls, salads, raw vegetable with spicy dips and sweets.

Thai Food

Thailand culture
Thailand culture is highly influenced by Buddhism in addition to some influence of Hinduism and other Southeast Asian neighbor. Thai art is the main item included in Thai Culture. Buddha image is the main constituent in different period having distinctive styles. At present, there is a fusion of traditional art with modern techniques. India has also laid much influence on Thailand literature. It includes the most notable work, Ramakien, the version of Indian epic, Ramayana. The poetry of Sunthorn Phu is also quite famous in Thailand.

A Brief Description of Thailand Food and Thailand Culture

Spoken drama is not given any importance in Thailand, but instead there is Thai dance, divided into three categories- Lakhon, Likay and Khon. A form of shadow pay, Nang Drama, is popular among southern Thailand. Folk music and classical music both are have their significance in addition to pop music.

Thai Food

Apart from it, one of the common customs included in Thailand is Wai, a common gesture that is similar to Indian Namaste. The hospitable and generous people of Thailand pay a lot of respect and homage to their elders, as it is the core of their faith and spiritual belief. Seeking blessings from the elders is considered important mark of respect.

A Brief Description of Thailand Food and Thailand Culture

Nancy Eben

Thailand Food

Thailand Hotels

Thai Food Culture

A highlight for many people on a Thailand holiday is experiencing Thai food culture. Traditional rituals, great hospitality and fresh, vibrant flavours ensure Thailand is a food lover's delight, with exciting offerings on every corner- from busy street stalls to more luxurious restaurants.

Thailand is the world largest exporter of rice, and it is the staple part of a Thai diet. Rice is by no means just a food source in Thai culture, but is also associated to certain gods and traditions, differing in certain regions. It is unacceptable in Thailand to leave rice on your plate to be thrown away, as it is widely believed that it will anger the 'god of rice' a female deity who ensures that everyone will have enough food to survive upon.

Thai Food

Interest in Thai food culture has increased worldwide and is now a popular cuisine to eat in the Western world, with dishes such as Thai green curry and fried rice and noodles populating many menus. However, as many travellers to Thailand will be able to vouch for, the native Thai food will taste very different to recipes adapted for Western palates, where the presence of Chili is often pared down and restaurants often divide their menus into starters, mains and desserts, which is uncommon in Thailand.

Thai Food Culture

Eating out in Thailand is often a social affair as dining alone is considered to be bad luck. Individuals will usually order one dish each and will share the meals between then group. It is considered a mark of respect and sophistication when an individual listens carefully to the orders of others around him and chooses a dish to complement his companion's choices. A typical Thai dining experience will include four different flavours all consumed together, salty, spicy, sweet and sour.

Thai Food

A common ritual in Thailand is to remove shoes before entering a restaurant or house, and to sit cross-legged on the floor to enjoy a meal. Dining tables are mostly used by the very wealthy and are even then close to the floor and usually made from teak.

Presentation is a key part of Thai food culture and chefs often strive to create delicate and intricate carvings from fruits and vegetables. Most people will have probably have seen examples of such creations such as flowers made from carrots, which have been submerged in ice water to retain their vibrant colour and strong texture.

Contrary to popular Western beliefs, most Thai's do not use chopsticks to eat (apart from noodles) but favour spoons and often only use forks to shovel food onto the spoon, rarely placing it into their mouth. Many Thai recipes are created using bite-sized portions of food so the need for knives is exempt.

Snacking is a cultural norm, with street stalls offering a variety of fares, from chicken and beef satay, to spring rolls, and sticky rice rolled into small balls.

Once a meal has been eaten, it is likely that the person deemed most wealthy or senior in the group will be expected to pay the bill. If a foreign person is dining with a group it is often considered to be them, so remember this if you are invited to a meal out whilst on your Thailand trip.

If you have adventurous tastes and want to experience real Thai food culture, why not look out for edible critters such as scorpions, beetles and a variety of bugs, many of which are deep fried and sold in Thai markets - perfect for a crunchy snack!

Thai Food Culture

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