Thailand Thai Rice

Posted on July 6, 2010 by Mike

In Thai the word for eat is ghin khao while in English it translates to eat rice,  which is quite appropriate,  when you consider that Thailand is the worlds biggest rice exporter.

Rice grown in Thailand comes in many varieties, it is mostly long grained and can roughly be  divided into, heavy grained, Khao Nak, soft grained Khao Bao and Khao Jao which is light and fluffy plus many regional variations.

Visitors to Thailand will usually find Thai rice presented to them with their food in one of three ways, it will either be fried, steamed or sticky. Mostly you will be offered polished or rough white rice but wholegrain versions are available. Rice flower is also used to make noodles, so if you eat Pad Thai for example the noodles are actually made from rice.

Thais also have a sweet tooth so expect to see sweetened sticky rice with fresh mango or other fruits. The rice is usually sweetened by adding condensed milk. Somewhat sweet and sickly. Although unsweetened sticky rice is excellent with barbecued meats and a sauce.

To cook Thai rice,  most Thais use a traditional rice cooker, this tends to take the guess work out of the cooking process and ensures they don’t end up with a starchy goo.

Of all the varieties of rice available in Thailand, Thai Jasmine rice is probably best known because of its high quality and aroma when cooked.  The Thai name for jasmine rice is Khao Hom Mali which literally translates into “smelling of a jasmine flower.”

When you purchase Thai jasmine rice it appears silky to the touch and translucent.  However once cooked the rice becomes opaque and white/brown. Jasmine rice is an excellent source of dietary fibre and certain B vitamins with niacin. Because it is gluten free it makes an excellent alternative source of carbohydrates and protein for people who are intolerant to wheat.

Thai jasmine rice is only grown in a small area of North East Thailand while other varieties of Thai rice are grown in various locations with the main production areas being centred North of Bangkok.

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  3. Thai Visa-Volunteer Thailand
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  5. Thai Neighbours-Dealing with Problems in Thailand
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  • http://www.thaisabai.org Martyn

    Mike I got your email and have updated your link although for the time being I have left its name as it was.

    This new site looks promising and with a bit more work will look the dogs bo**ocks. WordPress is a great blogging platform and if I can help out with anything then email me.

  • http://www.thailand-blogs.com Mike

    Hi Martyn

    Many thanks. I love WP already, although its a bit frightening actually
    changing files on your host and getting your head round things after Blogger!
    I still have loads to learn. Any tips would be appreciated.

    Kind regards

    Mike

  • http://ricks-eastasiablog.typepad.com/ricks_east_asia_blog/2010/06/getting-motorcycle-fever-again.html SiamRick

    I'm liking this start a lot, Mike. I like the simplicity of it; it's neat and without distractions. I've been thinking of doing the same thing with mine, prune a lot of stuff and just let the posts and a couple of other bits remain. In fact, I removed some things a couple of months ago. Clearly, I need to do more, in other words, “less is more” which probably has a bigger impact. Good stuff.

    I should also check out the WordPress blogging template. I admire the display style for both your and Martyn's blogs.

  • http://www.thailand-blogs.com Mike

    Rick thank you, hopefully it will grow with time. I have a lot of subscribers to My Thai Friend so I am a little worried I will loose them in the new format and URL, hence the email. That said I have learned a lot about blogging through the pages of My Thai Friend so hopefully I won't make the same mistakes again.

    I am getting to like WP a lot although I still have loads to learn. Its certainly more flexible than Blogger.

  • http://www.thaisabai.org Martyn

    My tip would be to install the All in One SEO plugin, it's a great tool.

  • http://www.thailand-blogs.com Mike

    Hi Martyn yes I am running that thank you.

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