Thai Food Culture

Food plays an important part in the culture of any country and learning about Thai Food Culture is a most enjoyable experience.

Usually a meal in Thailand will consist of several Thai food dishes covering a range of flavours and textures which are always served with large amounts of steaming hot fragrant rice. There is a lot of sense in this as everyone at the table can sample several different dishes rather than just the one. The food is served all at the same time, there are no starters followed by main courses. Desserts are not common but plates of assorted fresh fruits may be available. Thai people love to eat and will never turn down an opportunity for a meal in between various “snacks”. The freshness of Thai food and the wonderful spices used has made Thai cuisine famous throughout the World. The presentation of food is yet another part of Thai food culture that is especially appealing, many dishes brought to the table looking like works of art. Thailand is also rightly famous for the high standards of Fruit and vegetable carving.

For Thai people, eating food is a pleasure to be shared. Just look around you in any Thai restaurant and you will always see Thai people in fairly large groups. It is not just the company that is shared but also the food. With the exception of breakfast and sometimes brunch, a typical Thai meal will include several dishes placed in the centre of the table to which each person will help themselves to a little or indeed be served a spoonful of one dish or other by one of the other guests. Even if you are unfortunate enough to be eating alone, it is considered bad manners to pile your plate with food. You should just put a spoonful from one of the dishes at a time onto your plate. Thai people eat using a fork and spoon. The fork is used to help push some food onto the spoon. Except in posh restaurants and tourist hotels, knives are noticeable by their absence. Chopsticks are only used with a few noodle dishes and some Japanese food.

Should too much food have been ordered, the uneaten food will be taken home in a ubiquitous plastic bag to be consumed at a later date. Thai people believe that to throw away uneaten food will upset the God of Rice.

“American share”, meaning everyone pays a little towards the meal is not common in Thailand. Generally, the senior person or wealthiest person at the table will pay the bill. On a table with Thais and foreigners together it will very often be one of the foreigners who will be awarded this high status!