Last Updated on October 10, 2024 by Alice Benny
Thai food Culture is one of the most internationally renowned cuisines, and is often considered a global favorite. Having spent some time in Thailand, I’ve noticed that they have a very strong food culture, which I feel is very special and unique to Thailand.
I noticed many things myself, but it wasn’t until I had that private cooking course in Chiang Mai that I got a true understanding of the Thai people’s food culture, and started to appreciate the little details they pay much attention to. Here are some typical things that I found stood out in the Thai food culture:
Thai food culture is very social
In fact, I rarely saw a Thai person eating alone. Usually they eat in groups, either with family or friends. The Thai people are very social people in general, and eating is something they like to do together. Even at the restaurants and shops, all the staff sat down together at lunch time, with a big meal for everyone to share.
In Thai cuisine, there is no specific meal for breakfast, lunch or dinner
The Thai food culture is anything goes. They eat whatever meal they want. They can eat fried rice for breakfast, noodles for lunch and soup for dinner, or the opposite.
They never eat cornflakes and yoghurt as a meal. My cooking teacher GayRay told me that they see western meals such as cornflakes, toast, and even pizza as just snacks.
Thai food culture balances the fundamental senses in their meals
What I love about the Thailand food culture is that they always balance their meals with the five fundamental taste senses. In the West, we usually choose one or two per meal, either salty and spicy, or just sweet. In Thai food they combine all five senses; salty, spicy, sour, sweet and bitter – into one and the same meal.
This makes the food so interesting for your taste buds!
Thai street food presentation
No matter whether it’s a street food restaurant or a hotel, your meal will always be served with pretty decorations. This could be flowers, nicely cut cucumbers or fruit.
Thais don’t eat with chopsticks or use a knife
Unless you’re eating a western style steak, you will be served with a fork and spoon. Thai people eat with their spoon in the right hand, and the fork in the left. They often have chopstick availables, which is something influenced from China, but most Thai people can’t actually eat with chopsticks. This is what they told me, and I haven’t seen any Thai people using chopsticks yet.
Most Thai people love snacking
Thai people love to snack, and often do so when they’re on their way somewhere. Sweets and desserts are usually not eaten on meal times, but as snack. When you’re invited to a Thai person’s home, you’re always greeted with a welcome snack, which for the record was the best snack I’ve ever had.
They put a plate on the table with roasted peanuts, coconut (sweet), ginger (bitter), lime (sour), shallots, and chili (spicy), which you fold into a betel leaf, drizzle some palm sugar and eat together with your host (shove it all in at once). It’s a feast as well as a shock for your taste buds, but I couldn’t get enough of it!
Thai people never waste food
Thai people always finish the food on the plate. They believe that wasting rice brings bad luck. When I think about it, all the healthy rules I’ve learned about food, what you should eat and how you should eat, the Thai people follow. They don’t eat dessert after meals, they makes sure to get all the five food senses and they don’t eat bread and cornflakes for breakfast but proper meals.
5 Things I’ve Learned About Thai People While In Thailand
(photo credit: Marshall Astor – Dave_B_)
