The History of Thai Food

Bangkok Food Market and Trade
Photo: ISHS.org

As I sit here in my favorite pan-Asian bistro, my mouth begins to water just thinking of the many possibilities. Ah, the anticipation! Should I order one of the Thai curries with its luscious addition of coconut milk and desired spiciness that is just as thrilling as it is delicious, or maybe I'll order pad thai with its splash of sour, hint of sweet and a touch of salty? All of these flavors encompass what I love about Thai food, but I wonder, has it always been this amazing?

According to Chef Opart, the flavors loved and savored by fans of Thai food were not always around. Before there was the spice trade and occupying influx of immigrants, Thai food was actually quite simple.

As with much of the food from the Asian world, rice has always been the centerpiece of every meal. Added to this was a simple side dish of a local meat. Chicken, fish, and shrimp were not coated with rich sauces to which we are so accustomed, but were simply cooked over an open flame, a barbecue of sorts.

This all changed when the spice trail blazed through Thailand. Suddenly spices of curry, coriander, and chili flooded the land, but spices weren't the only things to find its way into Thailand. Other country's culinary culture found its way as well. Take the common Thai curries.

One could thank the many people from India, a country known for its bold use of spices, that found their way into Thailand. And, as it usually happens, these immigrants brought with them their culture's culinary talents. One of these being the dynamic and unique dish called curry, but India is only one of the many countries that influenced Thai food.

Malaysia, Laos, China, Vietnam all have had their influence in what I enjoy every time I walk through these doors. After hundreds of years of hybridizing and customizing other country's foods to fit perfectly within Thailand's existing culture and society, we now have what is known as modern Thai food. It is this amalgam of flavors that contribute to my love (addiction?) of this food.

Now, back to that decision. Curry or pad thai? Curry or pad thai? ...