The popularity of Thai food in the world can be attributed to one main factor – the freshness quotient. Known for its use of only fresh ingredients such as vegetables, meat, herbs, spices, and seafood, the cuisine is rich in flavor, aroma, health and nutrition.

Fortunately, for those of you who love Thai food and can’t spend a day without it, there are plenty of reasons to ‘dig’ into it. Not just a healthier choice, but Thai food is easy to cook and requires some standard sauces and items to dish out a yummy, tummy filling meal. Whether you are in North America, Canada, or Australia, New Zealand, the appeal and fragrance of Thai food permeates the atmosphere! While most Thai restaurants try to serve authentic Thai cuisine, only few actually come close to it.

If you have just started a love affair with Thai food, you should learn how to cook various recipes yourself. But before that, learn the basics. Only a strong foundation in Thai food cooking can help you make Thai, the way Thais do in Thailand! Here are some knowledge tips to get you started:

• Thai Meal – a typical Thai meal isn’t served the way we serve food in the West. Instead, it consists of one main dish (rice/noodle) and several dishes to complement it. All dishes are served at the same time.

• Rice – a staple part of Thai food, the fragrant Jasmine rice is integral to Thai cuisine. Long-grained, soft after being cooked, and nutritious Jasmine rice is served either as simple steamed rice with rich curries, or stir-frys, or as part of dishes that have substantial amounts of lime juice, lemon grass, and chillies. Sometimes, curries or stir-frys are combined with rice to create a dish known as ‘Khao Rad Gang,’ which is considered to be a quick, but healthy meal-time dish. Sticky rice is mostly used for desserts along with fresh fruits such as mangoes.

• Noodles – extremely popular and a Chinese contribution, Thais use rice noodles instead of any other type. Combined with fresh vegetables or meat and seasoned with fresh herbs and spices, noodle dishes like Pad Thai or soups are always in high demand.

• Eating Thai food – Thais gave up using chopsticks in favor of forks and spoons. Hold the fork in your left hand and use it to shovel rice/noodles into your spoon, held in your right hand. The tribal’s of Thailand eat sticky rice by making small, round balls from it and dipping these into various side dishes.

Get the inside scoop on Thai food by visiting our Thai Food website - http://www.templeofthai.com/ and embark on a aromatic journey of one of the most popular cuisines in the world.