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