mangosteen

mangosteen

Firstly it is not to be confused with the fruit mango….it is an entirely different plant. Mangosteen is an exotic fruit bursting with amazing health benefits. What does it do? Well…it is renowned for its ability to reduce pain and fever as well as increase energy levels. Oh..and it contains a very high concentration of xanthones. What are xanthones you ask? They are just about one of the most powerful super antioxidants ever discovered…that’s right read it again. What does that mean? Ok..Xanthones are protecting your body by fighting those nasty free radicals and supporting the immune system, structural system, digestive system, brain and skin in many ways with anti-bacterial, anti-viral and anti-fungal properties. The super antioxidants called xanthones are found in Mangosteen’s outer rind (called the pericarp).Just look at the health benefit of mangosteen…

Star apple

fruit in Thailand

A fruit with a star shaped cross section. As it ripens it turns from green to yellow. The fruit has a tart taste and is a good source of vitamin C.

Fruits and vegetables against cancer

Fruits and vegetables against cancer 

Thailand has a choice of eating fruits and vegetables all year round. It has properties to inhibit cancer Because fruits and vegetables are dietary fiber. Helps the digestive system Absorption of nutrients And excretion in equilibrium. Some fruits and vegetables close to us. Effect stops cancer cell growth was 50-70 %

Vegetable Humming Bird Sesban Agasta Sesbania grandiflora Desv in science name or Dok Kae in Thai

This is small tree, about five to six meters tall, is native to many Southeast Asian countries and is believed to relieve headaches, cough, and colds. The tree’s flowers, with its cream-colored petals and light green base, are used in vegetable dishes such as the Tagalogs' Bulanglang and the Ilokanos' pinakbet. Katuray flowers have a slightly bitter taste and must be added to the pot at the last minute to avoid overcooking. You can also make them into a salad by quickly blanching the flowers and then submerging them in an ice bath to cease cooking.

Star Gooseberry

The  gooseberry prefers moist soil. Although it usually grows from seeds, the tree can also be multiplied from budding, greenwood cuttings or air-layers. It bears two crops per year in South India: one in April-May and the other in August-September. Elsewhere, it is mainly harvested in January.
The juice can be used in beverage, or the fruit pickled in sugar. When cooked with plenty of sugar, the fruit turns ruby red and produces a kind of jelly, which is called mứt chùm ruột in Vietnamese. It can also be salted.
The fruit is called "Grosella" in Puerto Rico. Since the fruit is tart, it is often eaten in "Dulce de Grosellas". The preparation of this dessert consist in simmering the berries with sugar until they are soft and turn red in color. The liquid from the cooking is also used as a beverage.

Butterfly Pea

Butterfly Pea

In Thailand I grew butterfly pea plants on a trellis, but often enjoyed the harvest from friends’ gardens. In the Thai village lifestyle in the old days we shared or exchanged our surpluses with one another. The vines can produce many flowers a day, so often they went unused. This meant that at any  moment there were always flowers waiting for you in someone’s garden and we helped ourselves when needed. The pigment in the flowers comes from anthocyanins, and has long been widely used in Thai and Malaysian cuisines for blue or purple food coloring for butterfly pea sticky rice. In Thailand, any foods prepared with shades of blue, purple or pink come from dok anchan. In addition, southeast Asia uses the flowers in traditional Ayurvedic medicine.

In addition to wearing a blue butterfly pea flower – ดอกอัญชัน (dok anchan) or Clitoria ternatea – behind my ear while working in my garden, I would like to introduce you to its properties as a Thai culinary flower. Butterfly pea is an annual vine that is native to the land in southeast Asia near the equator. Thais love dok anchan for it beautiful unique looks and for its culinary uses as a food coloring and as an edible flower. My friend Somrak uses dok anchan in her Thai cooking at home, shredding it into a fine ribbon and adding it to rice salad, or for making a tea, or adding blue color extract to steamed jasmine rice. Many hotels in Thailand greet guests with a welcome drink made from dok anchan. But above and beyond all of these uses, our ancestors recognized it for its medicinal benefits, which include its anti-depression, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer properties. The blue concentrate added to hair products also promotes healthy hair growth

 dried butterfly pea flowers

                                             Thai desert with dok anchan blue color

Tamarind Candy | Makham Gao | มะขามแก้ว

Tamarind candy is a type of candy made from the fruit of the tamarind tree, which normally grows in tropical locations such as Africa, India, and parts of Asia. and Thailand  The tamarind tree is also common in Mexico and some parts of South America. Tamarind candy is known for having a sweet and sour taste, and it may be found most often in specialty food stores that carry items from a variety of different countries. In areas where the tamarind tree is common, the candy may be much easier to find. Tamarind candy is often described as being chewy, much like chewing gum, and it is normally sold in small containers with each piece rolled in sugar.

The taste of tamarind candy does not appeal to everyone. People who do not enjoy the candy often complain of the chewy texture and the sour taste the candy is known for. Some people may not like it because there is such a conglomeration of flavors mixed in with each piece. In addition to being both sweet and sour, many people also claim that the candy has a spicy, tangy taste as well. Some types of tamarind candy still contain the seeds and strands of veins from the tamarind fruit, and this might also make the candy unappealing to some.

People who enjoy tamarind candy often choose to make it at home rather than purchasing it. The candy can be made using tamarind paste, brown sugar, and chili powder, along with water, confectioner's sugar, and salt. The ingredients are typically boiled together, stirred carefully, and then poured into a baking dish and allowed to set up in the refrigerator. After several hours, the mixture can be broken up into candy-sized pieces and rolled in sugar. Tamarind fruit can be used in place of tamarind paste, but this method is normally much more involved and may take longer to prepare.

Even though many people associate the use of tamarind with candy making, it also has many other uses. People in India and other countries where the tamarind tree is common often use the fruit as an ingredient in certain meals. Tamarind is typically hard to find fresh in countries where the tree is not native, but it does occasionally turn up at farmers' markets and grocery stores all over the world. People who want to try tamarind candy but do not have immediate access to a store that carries the candy or the ingredients to make it may be able to order the candy ready-made from various Internet sites.

Dried bananas

Banana trees are one of the common trees that come to mind when dreaming of the tropics. However, did you know that it's not really a tree? It is actually the world's largest herb. Still, due to its size, it is commonly thought of as a banana tree.

No matter what size your yard, there is a banana tree to fit it. While most species grows best in the warmer climates, there are cold-hardy varieties. They make good house plants with enough light and water





















 Dried bananas are useful as snacks and for decorating desserts and cakes. This version is simple and does not use any preservatives which can sometimes cause allergic reactions.

DRIED JACKFRUIT

Dehydrated fruit, another alternative way to preserve fruits. Dried fruits retain most of the nutritional value of fresh fruits. The specific nutrient content of the different dried fruits reflects their fresh counterpart and the processing method. In general, all dried fruits provide essential nutrients and an array of health protective bioactive ingredients, making them valuable tools to both increase diet quality and help reduce the risk of chronic disease.

JACKFRUIT

DRIED JACKFRUIT

Thai Food & Thai Cooking

Thai food is globally popular due to its tasty combination of sweet, sour and saltiness, appetizingly enhanced by tanginess from an assortment of chilies used in typical dishes. This flavorful blend which has become characteristic of traditional Thai food remains distinctive in local fare until present days.

Thai food combines the best of several Eastern cuisines: the oriental bite of Szechwan Chinese, the tropical flavour of Malaysian, the creamy coconut sauces of Southern Indian and the aromatic spices of Arabian food. Thais then add an abundance of fresh ingredients, coriander plants, chilies and pepper. The result is like a cuisine minceur' of the Orient, with small portions of lean meat, poultry and seafood, and plenty of fresh vegetables and salads.