| There are many things that are | | | | Thais as well as foreigners. 'Maeng Lak' or |
| characteristics of Thailand, and have made a | | | | hairy basil (Ocimum americanum) is |
| brand name for Thailand. These are Thai | | | | indispensable in 'Khanom Chin Nam Ya' and |
| boxing, Thai dance, Thai silk, Thai rice, | | | | 'Kaeng Riang'. 'Makrut' or kaffir lime |
| Thai fruits and of course, Thai food. The | | | | (Citrus hvstrix) whose leaves are used in |
| ingredients that make Thai food amazing are | | | | many Thai dishes, gives a unique aroma and |
| Thai 'herbs', which, together with 'spices', | | | | flavorl it is a major ingredient of the world |
| have been ingeniously blended in Thai | | | | famous Thai soup, known as 'Tom Yam Kung'. |
| cuisine. The recipes of Thai food have as | | | | Like Thai spices, Thai herbs are uniquely |
| their main ingredients. | | | | blended with Thai dishes such that they are |
| | | | inseoarable. 'Tom Yam Kung'. For example, is |
| Although most herbs are used are used as | | | | world famous because it contains a blend of |
| condiments or seasoning materials, Thai hers | | | | many herbs (and also a few spices), among |
| are somewhat different from all other herbs. | | | | them kaffir lime leaves, lemongrass stem, |
| They have characteristic taste and aroma that | | | | limejuice and chili (the last three, although |
| are not found in other herbs. They have | | | | not the leafy nor soft flowering parts of |
| characteristic taste and aroma that are not | | | | plant, but are treated here as herbs since |
| found in other herbs. For example, 'Horapha' | | | | they come from fleshy part of the plant). Two |
| or Thai basil (Ocimum basilicum), the same | | | | other related types of Thai dishes, 'Yam' and |
| species as the well-known sweet basils, has | | | | 'Phla'. Will not taste as good without such |
| distinct aroma and flovor from that of other | | | | herbs as kitchen mint, lemongrass and lime. |
| sweet basils and is well suited for several | | | | |
| Thai dishes, which cannot be replaced with | | | | In addition to adding flavor to the dishes, |
| other sweet basils or other herbal materials. | | | | most Thai herbs also provide health benefits |
| These dishes include 'Kaeng Khieo Wan', | | | | from their inherent medicinal properties. |
| 'Kaeng Phet', 'Phat Makheua Yao', stc. | | | | Thus, it is fair to say that Thai herbs. With |
| Similarly, 'Kaphrao' or Thai holy basil | | | | their beautiful form with nice green color, |
| (Ocimun tenuiflorum), has a distinct flavor | | | | are added as a flavoring, seasoning, or |
| and aroma from other holy basil (which has | | | | garnish, making Thai dishes both tasty and |
| rarely been used as herbs as herbs in other | | | | beautiful, as well as soothing the gtomach |
| countries); it has made Thai dishes, such as | | | | with their stomach with their refreshing and |
| 'Kai Pat Bai Kaphrao', very well known to the | | | | medicinal properties. |