Thai Food Thai food is growing in popularity throughout the world, however you will not taste better food than you will in Thailand. Traditional Thai cuisine is essentially a marriage of centuries-old Eastern and Western influences harmoniously combined into something uniquely Thai. Originally, Thai cooking reflected the characteristics of a waterborne lifestyle. Aquatic animals, plants and herbs were major ingredients and large chunks of meat were avoided. Subsequent influences introduced the use of sizeable chunks to Thai cooking. A typical Thai meal should consist of a soup, a curry dish with condiments, a dip with accompanying fish and vegetables. A spicy salad may replace the curry dish. The soup can also be spicy, but the curry should be replaced by non spiced items. There must be a harmony of tastes and textures within individual dishes and the entire meal with the following five tastes being catered to: pungent, sweet, sour, bitter and salty. Thai food is eaten with a fork and spoon. Even single dish meals such as fried rice with pork, or steamed rice topped with roasted duck, are served in bite-sized slices or chunks, eliminating the need for a knife. Thai culture ensures that meals are a social affair, as this way more dishes can be ordered. Each dish is shared between the table and therefore the more people present, the more tastes can be enjoyed. Generally speaking, two diners order three dishes in addition to their own individual plates of steamed rice. Soups are enjoyed concurrently with other dishes, not independently. Spicy dishes are "balanced" by bland dishes to avoid discomfort. The meal is often followed by sweet desserts and/or fresh fruits such as mangoes, durian, jackfruit, papaya, grapes or melon. The fruit served depends on the season, with more than 30 different varieties of fruit being grown and harvested in the country throughout the year.