Thai cuisine

Thai food is fast becoming one of the most popular types of cuisine in the UK, although it is still trying to shake off the stigma that all Thai food is very hot and spicy. Of course this is just not the case, as Thai cuisine is made from a subtle blending of flavours so you can choose from very hot, hot and mild dishes.

If you've never tried Thai food before then you'll soon discover it is unique among the cuisines of Southeast Asia, as it has the consistency of Chinese food (without the complicated sauces) and the spiciness of Indian food (without the use of dairy products and curry powder). There are now hundreds of Thai restaurants across the UK, where you can sample this increasingly tasty international cuisine option.

The unique taste of Thai cuisine is made from delicate fusion of many different ingredients and spices, including lemongrass, basil, coriander, ginger, garlic, tamarind, galangal and kochai. There is a special skill in blending these ingredients, as the Thais are in fact blending five flavours - sweet, sour, salty, bitter, and hot, and that is why your taste buds are in for a treat with each mouthful.

There are many different dishes associated with Thai cuisine but perhaps the most well known are the Thai green and Thai red curries. In UK Thai restaurants the green curry tends to be the hottest, although in Thailand, you'll probably find that the red curry is a touch spicier than the green. Just about every Thai dish is served with rice or noodles, while seafood is also a popular ingredient in many Thai dishes.

When it comes to eating a traditional Thai meal you'll find there are various elements to it, typically soup, salad, curry and rice and various appetisers and sauces, which makes Thai food both filling and diverse.