{"id":4885,"date":"2014-11-14T15:05:29","date_gmt":"2014-11-14T20:05:29","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.explorica.com\/blog\/?p=4885"},"modified":"2014-11-14T16:53:07","modified_gmt":"2014-11-14T21:53:07","slug":"top-5-eat-thailand","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.explorica.com\/blog\/top-5-eat-thailand","title":{"rendered":"5 delicious foods you just <em>have<\/em> to try in Thailand"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><em>Article by program consultant Cara Suriyamongkol.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Due to the vast majority of my father\u2019s family being in Thailand, I\u2019ve had the incredible opportunity to visit multiple times over the last couple years. And while I love the golden-glinting temples and the hum of the tut-tuts buzzing in the streets as much as any other visitor, my true love, and the highlight of every trip, is immersing myself in the spicy-citrusy explosion of flavor that is Thai cuisine.<\/p>\n<p>I also understand if you\u2019re new to Thai food it can be a bit overwhelming sifting through the foreign names and ingredients, so here are a couple suggestions that I never leave without getting:<\/p>\n<h2>#5 Tom Yum Soup<\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-4941\" title=\"TomYum\" src=\"http:\/\/www.explorica.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/TomYum-530x352.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"530\" height=\"352\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.explorica.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/TomYum-530x352.jpg 530w, https:\/\/www.explorica.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/TomYum-300x199.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.explorica.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/TomYum-678x451.jpg 678w, https:\/\/www.explorica.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/TomYum-528x351.jpg 528w, https:\/\/www.explorica.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/TomYum.jpg 958w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 530px) 100vw, 530px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The official \u201cnational dish\u201d of Thailand, Tom Yum soup is probably the most quintessential Thai food you can dig into. It\u2019s spicy and tangy, flavored with lemongrass, lime, coconut milk and ginger (amongst lots of other good stuff). You usually can get it with any kind of meat, but the more traditional style is with shrimp and\/or other kinds of seafood.<\/p>\n<h2>#4 Thai Iced Coffee<\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-4993\" title=\"Thai Iced Coffee\" src=\"http:\/\/www.explorica.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/thai-iced-coffee-530x530.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"530\" height=\"530\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.explorica.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/thai-iced-coffee-530x530.jpg 530w, https:\/\/www.explorica.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/thai-iced-coffee-200x200.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.explorica.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/thai-iced-coffee-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.explorica.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/thai-iced-coffee-678x678.jpg 678w, https:\/\/www.explorica.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/thai-iced-coffee-528x528.jpg 528w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 530px) 100vw, 530px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>This one is a winner for me because of my hopeless sweet tooth. Thai iced coffee is usually made with espresso or a strong, dark coffee paired with the overpowering sweetness of condensed milk. Throw in some shaved ice and you have yourself one of the most ridiculously flavorful coffees in the world.<\/p>\n<h2>#3 Som Tam<\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-4937\" title=\"shutterstock_77180923\" src=\"http:\/\/www.explorica.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/shutterstock_77180923-530x353.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"530\" height=\"353\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.explorica.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/shutterstock_77180923-530x353.jpg 530w, https:\/\/www.explorica.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/shutterstock_77180923-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.explorica.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/shutterstock_77180923-528x352.jpg 528w, https:\/\/www.explorica.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/shutterstock_77180923.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 530px) 100vw, 530px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019re not into spicy, this is probably not going to do it for you. Otherwise, do not leave Thailand without tasting Green Papaya Salad! Unripe green papaya is shredded into thin slices (the thinner, the better \u2013 in fact, I always found the thinner the cut, the higher quality the papaya salad) and pounded with fish sauce, chili pepper, tamarind, lime juice and more. Som Tam also happens to be super accessible and inexpensive \u2013 it\u2019s one of the most common street foods you\u2019ll find.<\/p>\n<h2>#2 Curry<\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-4939\" title=\"green curry\" src=\"http:\/\/www.explorica.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/green-curry-530x352.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"530\" height=\"352\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.explorica.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/green-curry-530x352.jpg 530w, https:\/\/www.explorica.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/green-curry-300x199.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.explorica.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/green-curry-678x451.jpg 678w, https:\/\/www.explorica.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/green-curry-528x351.jpg 528w, https:\/\/www.explorica.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/green-curry.jpg 958w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 530px) 100vw, 530px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Of course, if you\u2019re heading out to Thailand in search of good food, you\u2019re likely a curry fan. There are lots of Thai curries and all of them are delicious \u2013 red, Phanaeng, green, Matsaman. However, if you\u2019re new to the scene and are uncertain as to which one to order, go for green curry. It\u2019s not as spicy as red, not as sweet as Matsaman, and just an all-around good choice.<\/p>\n<h2>#1 Kao Niow Mamuang<\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-4938\" title=\"shutterstock_139724338\" src=\"http:\/\/www.explorica.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/shutterstock_139724338-530x353.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"530\" height=\"353\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.explorica.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/shutterstock_139724338-530x353.jpg 530w, https:\/\/www.explorica.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/shutterstock_139724338-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.explorica.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/shutterstock_139724338-528x352.jpg 528w, https:\/\/www.explorica.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/shutterstock_139724338.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 530px) 100vw, 530px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>This is probably my all-time favorite food, otherwise known as \u201ccoconut sticky rice\u201d. Its sweet sticky rice with coconut cream sauce poured on top and served with a side of fresh, juicy mango. It\u2019s the perfect balance of flavor. On the one hand you have the creamy, soft and sweet thickness of the rice and on the other the bright freshness of the mango.<\/p>\n<h3><a title=\"Asia tours by Explorica Educational Travel\" href=\"http:\/\/www.explorica.com\/teachers\/select-a-tour\/asia.aspx?utm_source=blog&amp;utm_medium=organic&amp;utm_campaign=thai%20food\" target=\"_blank\">Want to visit Thailand?<\/a><br \/>\n<a title=\"Asia tours by Explorica Educational Travel\" href=\"http:\/\/www.explorica.com\/teachers\/select-a-tour\/asia.aspx?utm_source=blog&amp;utm_medium=organic&amp;utm_campaign=thai%20food\" target=\"_blank\"> Plan your next trip with Explorica!<\/a><\/h3>\n<p><em><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-4232\" style=\"margin: 10px 0px;\" title=\"carasuri-pic\" src=\"http:\/\/www.explorica.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/carasuri-pic-200x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" \/><\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong>Guest blogger: Cara Suriyamongkol, Explorica Program Consultant<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><em>Meet Cara, one of Explorica&#8217;s dedicated program consultants. Cara has had her fair share of adventures jet-setting\u00a0across the globe, including a year and a half living in China.\u00a0<em>So, to get the scoop on China tours, just ask Cara!\u00a0<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Article by program consultant Cara Suriyamongkol. Due to the vast majority of my father\u2019s family being in Thailand, I\u2019ve had the incredible opportunity to visit multiple times over the last couple years. And while I love the golden-glinting temples and the hum of the tut-tuts buzzing in the streets as much as any other visitor, <a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.explorica.com\/blog\/top-5-eat-thailand\">Read More &#8230;<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[457,456,43,425],"class_list":["post-4885","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-explorica-news","tag-asia-tours","tag-international-food","tag-thailand","tag-travel"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.explorica.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4885","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.explorica.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.explorica.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.explorica.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.explorica.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4885"}],"version-history":[{"count":29,"href":"https:\/\/www.explorica.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4885\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5012,"href":"https:\/\/www.explorica.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4885\/revisions\/5012"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.explorica.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4885"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.explorica.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4885"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.explorica.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4885"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}