Get in the Thai Spirit: Myths About Thai Food You Shouldn't Fall For

When you think of Thailand, what comes to mind? The tropical beaches? The friendly people? Or perhaps the Thai food that you can't wait to taste! Thai food has come to be one of the most popular types of cuisine found in restaurants all around the world. With its mouth-watering and richly flavored recipes, it isn't hard to see why Thai food has gained such popularity with people around the globe!

The cuisine has its own personality — it is colorful, flavorful, and aromatic and offers the world many delectable dishes that even the fussiest of palates won't be able to resist. While Thai cuisine is becoming increasingly popular, there are still many misconceptions about it that might taint one's experience of relishing the cuisine.

Here are some myths about Thai food you should avoid falling for if you want to experience all the exciting flavors that Thailand has to offer.

Myth - Thai Food Equals Coconut Milk

There are a number of curries and dishes in Thailand that utilize coconut milk, but it is not ubiquitous in Thai cuisine. Many curry pastes have little or no coconut milk at all, rather a blend of ground chilies, garlic, and galangal. There are also several soups that do not include coconut milk as an ingredient but rely on fish sauce and lime juice as a flavoring agent.

Myth - Thai Food is for Vegetarians

The notion that Thai food is vegetarian-friendly probably arises from its delicious vegetable dishes. Traditional Thai dishes often contain fish sauce, and even vegetable-based ones may call for shrimp paste, oyster sauce, or other ingredients that are off-limits to vegetarians. Although some Thai restaurants have adapted their menus to make them more appealing to vegetarian guests, it's the non-vegetarian ingredients that render this cuisine its distinct flavor.

Myth - Thai Food is Really Spicy

One of the most crucial elements of Thai food is balance and flavor. Instead of making your mouth burn with spices, what you will find is that there are usually layers of flavor that come together to make your taste buds tingle instead of hurting them. This can be best seen in dishes like Tom Yum Goong, where there's a wonderful balance between sweet, salty, sour, and spicy. The thing about all authentic Thai dishes is that there is no single dominant flavor or spice; that is— they aren't overwhelmingly spicy.

Myth - Thai Food Is Eaten With Chopsticks

There's a common misconception that, like most Asian cuisines, That food is also supposed to be eaten with chopsticks. That being said, chopsticks are more commonly used in China, Korea, and Japan than they are in Thailand. When eating out in Thailand, most locals will use a fork or spoon instead of chopsticks to eat their meals. However, if you do order any traditional noodle dishes (Pad Thai or Pad See Ew), they will be served with a pair of these wooden sticks. They're only used for noodle dishes, and it would be considered rude to ask for them with anything else on your plate/

The Thai food experience starts with the delicacies but is sustained and enhanced by the atmosphere of the place where you have it and the people that you share it with. So, if you want to have an authentic experience and are looking for the best restaurants in Madison Al for Thai food, we welcome you to Phuket Thai Restaurant and Sushi.