Thailand And Laos Journey: 9. Exotic Thai Fruit

Thailand and Laos (and Myanmar if I can manage it)

Hello, Sawatdee kaa and Sabai dee,

My next trip will be Thailand and Laos, and this is all about the before, the trip and the after - similar to my Malaysia/Cambodia blog. I am putting together from start to finish - tickets, do's and don'ts, tours, where to stay, places to see, things to do, as well as useful extras like transport, good places to eat, what to wear, climate, tourist traps, tricks and tips and whatever else I can think of that will be useful.

If you have any tips or advice, please, feel free to leave a comment and add your bit - whatever you think may be helpful or interesting.
Cheers.

Friday, July 30, 2010

9. Exotic Thai Fruit

There are many delicious and exotics fruits in Thailand and Laos. To help first time travellers recognise them and their names, I have made a collage of the most common ones.

Above: Exotic Fruits

I have given the English name followed by the Thai word for these fruits. Going from left to right, top to bottom:

Row 1: Banana - Kluai, Pomelo - Som oo, Coconut - Ma praw, Papaya - Ma la gore, Star Gooseberry - Ma yom.
Row 2: Mango - Ma muag, Mango - Ra gum.
Row 3: Durian - Tou rian, Star Fruits - Ma feu-ung, Guava - Fa rang, Custard Apples - Noi nar.
Row 4: Lychees - Lin gee, Rose apple - Chom poo, Orange - Som, Pomegranate - Tub tim.

Bananas (Kluai)
There are several types grown in Thailand, some of which are
Kluai Hom - Fragrant Banana
Ripe fragrant bananas are a popular all-day snack. It goes well with breakfast cereals and is ideal for making banana fritters, cakes and ice-cream.
Kluai Khai - The Egg Banana
Has a thinner golden-yellow skin when ripe. It is eaten fresh or cooked in a light syrup. It is also popular as dried banana, candy, or cake.
Kluai Nam Wa -
Sticky and sweet when ripe, Kluai Nam Wa is valued for its high nutritional value. It is often used in a dessert known as Kluai Buat Chee in which slices of banana are cooked in coconut milk. It is also a key ingredient of steamed desserts made with glutinous rice, or rice flour, such as in Khao Tom Mut or Khanom Kluai.
Kluai Hak Mook
A cooking banana that is delicious when roasted or grilled.
Banana blossoms known as "Hua Plee" are used fresh as a garnish for the famous Pad Thai noodle dish, used in Thai salads or yam, or eaten raw as a salad vegetable served with chilli dips called nam prik.

DURIAN (Tou rian)
Peak season: May to August

Considered to be the 'King of Thai Fruits', Thais prefer a durian that is just ripe. The flesh should be slightly soft to the touch but without being crunchy.

Durians are an acquired taste and ripen quickly in the hot tropical climate. As the fruit ripens, the flesh takes on a creamy consistency and the intensity of the aroma increases. (Given this lingering and at times overwhelming aroma, durian is banned from hotel rooms, cinemas, aircraft, limousines, coaches and vans.)

To find out about other fruits click here AN INTRODUCTION TO THAI FRUITS.