Thai cuisine is all about bold flavors, fresh ingredients, and a balance of sweet, sour, salty, bitter, and spicy tastes. Every meal feels like a mix of contrasts that somehow just works. You’ve got fragrant herbs like lemongrass, Thai basil, and kaffir lime leaves, paired with staples like fish sauce, chili, and coconut milk. Rice is at the heart of it all—jasmine rice is common in central and southern Thailand, while sticky rice rules up north and in the northeast. Meals are usually shared. There’ll be a spread of dishes—maybe a curry, a stir-fry, a soup, and a salad—all eaten with rice in the middle. The idea is to balance flavors across the meal rather than in just one dish. You might get the rich creaminess of massaman curry alongside the sharp, spicy crunch of som tam (green papaya salad) and the comforting warmth of a clear broth like tom yum. Street food is a huge part of everyday life. Walk down any road and you’ll find vendors grilling skewers of marinated meat, tossing noodles in sizzling woks, or dishing up hot bowls of noodle soup. Grab a plate of pad Thai, a bag of fried chicken with sticky rice, or a steaming bowl of boat noodles from a floating market. And if you’ve got a sweet tooth, there’s mango sticky rice, coconut-based desserts, and crispy pancakes filled with sweet custard. Different regions have their own twist. In the north, dishes like khao soi—a curry noodle soup topped with crispy noodles—are popular, while the northeast (Isan) is known for grilled meats, sticky rice, and punchy salads. Down south, expect fiery curries with plenty of coconut milk and fresh seafood. Even breakfast can be exciting—sometimes just rice and an omelet, other times noodle soups or patongko (Thai donuts) with sweetened condensed milk. No matter where you go in Thailand, the food is vibrant, flavorful, and often made to be enjoyed with others. It’s comforting, lively, and always about that perfect mix of flavors.

Thai cuisine is all about bold flavors, fresh ingredients, and a balance of sweet, sour, salty, bitter, and spicy tastes. Every meal feels like a mix of contrasts that somehow just works. You’ve got fragrant herbs like lemongrass, Thai basil, and kaffir lime leaves, paired with staples like fish sauce, chili, and coconut milk. Rice is at the heart of it all—jasmine rice is common in central and southern Thailand, while sticky rice rules up north and in the northeast. Meals are usually shared. There’ll be a spread of dishes—maybe a curry, a stir-fry, a soup, and a salad—all eaten with rice in the middle. The idea is to balance flavors across the meal rather than in just one dish. You might get the rich creaminess of massaman curry alongside the sharp, spicy crunch of som tam (green papaya salad) and the comforting warmth of a clear broth like tom yum. Street food is a huge part of everyday life. Walk down any road and you’ll find vendors grilling skewers of marinated meat, tossing noo...

Thai tea is a sweet, creamy drink made from strong black tea, usually Ceylon or a local version of Assam. It’s brewed with sugar and often flavored with condensed milk, giving it that rich, smooth taste and signature orange color. When served cold, it’s poured over ice, sometimes with a splash of evaporated milk on top for that creamy swirl. In Thailand, you’ll find it in tall glasses at restaurants or in plastic cups or bags from street vendors. Some places even turn it into a blended drink, like a frappé. There are variations too—like a version without milk called “dark Thai iced tea,” or one with lime for a citrusy kick. People drink it hot in the mornings as well, often with fried dough sticks.

Thai tea is a sweet, creamy drink made from strong black tea, usually Ceylon or a local version of Assam. It’s brewed with sugar and often flavored with condensed milk, giving it that rich, smooth taste and signature orange color. When served cold, it’s poured over ice, sometimes with a splash of evaporated milk on top for that creamy swirl. In Thailand, you’ll find it in tall glasses at restaurants or in plastic cups or bags from street vendors. Some places even turn it into a blended drink, like a frappé. There are variations too—like a version without milk called “dark Thai iced tea,” or one with lime for a citrusy kick. People drink it hot in the mornings as well, often with fried dough sticks.