If you’re familiar with Thai cuisine, you may already know about the flavors that come along with every dish. Even those new to the cuisine can generally associate at least one taste with their favorite dish. Here at the Giant of Siam, we’re proud to be one of the oldest restaurants in Nashua. With such an honor comes the withholding of providing authentic cuisine from Thailand. And you bet we love to incorporate traditional Thai flavors.
While some dishes incorporate many of the flavors at once, some utilize just one or two. However, this is no easy task. The secret to creating the most authentic dining experience lies within the delicate balance of the flavors. With influences from both Western and Eastern cuisine, you can imagine Thai food is a very unique experience. No wonder it is has become one of the most popular cuisines worldwide!
On the top of the most recognizable flavors of Thai cuisine is the spice level. With the use of various Thai peppers, garlic, ginger, and other ingredients, chefs create varying levels of Thai spice. While delicious, this category is often the most misunderstood. For instance, many think of Thai food and think of uncontrollably high heat levels. But, did you know that you have full control over the amount of spice used in any dish? All you have to do is ask your server! For more information on Thai spice level, be sure to read our previous article.
Next in line with the recognizable flavors is the sweet category. Depending on the meal, different types of sugars are used to sweeten the dish. Generally, palm sugar is the go-to. There are two forms of palm sugar that are created from the nectar of two separate sources, the coconut tree and the sugar palm tree. Palm sugar is found in some of the most popular dishes like pad Thai.
What’s sweet without sour? While many dishes contain small hints of sour, Thai soups and salads are predominant for their sour taste. By using ingredients like tamarind, lime juice, lemongrass, mango, and pineapple, the sour pucker is quickly created.
And then there is bitter. Certainly not for everyone, this taste is one that makes appearances in Thai cuisine, but not very often. The bitter experience is usually gained from the use of the bitter melon and raw leaves from many plants.
No matter which cuisine is your favorite, salt is a universal taste. However, in Thai cuisine, the salty flavor comes from fish sauce. In fact, fish sauce is one of the most popular ingredients found in a traditional Thai kitchen. In its purest form, fish sauce is the liquid resulting from the fermentation of anchovies and salt over 12 to 18 months.
When it comes to restaurants in Nashua, Giant of Siam is the only option for a truly authentic Thai experience. We invite you to visit us and experience the five flavors of Thai cuisine for yourself!
Visit us today in the heart of downtown Nashua.
