Fah Thai Magazine May-June 2017

FRUIT SEASON
ALL YOU CAN
TOUCH AND EAT
is often sold next to mangosteens
appropriately named, “the Queen of
Fruits” for their cooling properties.
For the less adventurous, durian ice
cream, pastries made with the fruit
paste and even the extremely mild
durian chips provide various levels of
introduction to the ‘King of Fruits’.
The jackfruit, with an equally
dramatic prehistoric looking exterior
like the durian (green, bumpy
yet unprickly shell and varying
in size from a large watermelon
to a small boulder), is another
tropical fruit enjoyed in many
forms. Once opened, the interior
reveals a treasure chest of golden
individual fruits. Jackfruit has a
distinctive heady sweat and fruity
aroma, usually the first indication
that you are near the source. The
flesh, fibrous and sweet flesh can
be enjoyed raw when perfectly ripe,
resembling a delectable macedonia
of apples, pineapples, mangoes and
bananas. The unripe fruit provides
a vegetarian meat substitute and
is used to make savoury curries.
Even the large seeds are edible and
nutritious once roasted, boiled
or baked.
Delving even further into the
fruits of Thailand, there are a few
surprises. The Thai tree berries
(makham thet) popular in the
Isaan provinces (North Eastern)
look beautiful and tempting and
resemble a circular blushing
tamarind pod. They have
Above
The form and colour
of this Thai tree berry
stands out. Its fibrous
texture is fluffy and
gives a sweet taste
when ripe.
Below
A consolation to
the heat of summer
is the presence of
juicy mangoes and
in Thailand, it is
usually partnered
with coconut sticky
rice.
a spongy looking interior and the
older the berries, the deeper red they
become and consequently, sweeter.
Peel off the husk, eat the pulp while
removing the seed. Similar to the
tree berries is the acidic ‘mayom.’
Locally known as star gooseberries,
these small green sour berries are
eaten dipped in chilli, salt and
sugar. You may find them added to
som tum (papaya salad) or even as
flavouring to sorbets and local ice
cream.
From the more familiar but
surprisingly sweet pineapples
and mangoes, to the tropical and
beautiful rambutan, custard apple
(noy-na) and mangosteen and
even the controversial durian,
Thailand is a fruit garden.
All hail the eastern provinces of Trat,
Rayong and Chanthaburi, places actively
growing fruits enjoyed by people who
come from near and far. Referred to as
Thailand’s Orchard of the East, these
provinces produce a profusion of fruits
year-round, which are at their best and
plentiful around the end of April to the
middle of July.
A popular activity to consider
are orchard visits where you can gain
knowledge on how the fruits are grown
and harvested. Many offer Fruit Buffets
with visitors eating as much as possible
of the best fruits of the season, sliced,
served with refills! Many buffets start at
a little more over 100 baht and can cost
more depending on the fruit choices.
Places to eat as much fruits as you want:
CHANTHABURI
SAW SUDJAI
sawsudjai.com
SUAN BAN RAO
suanbanrao.com/th
RAYONG
Several orchard tours are available in
Rayong. Among the most famous are:
SUPHATTRA LAND
Tel: +66 (0) 38 892 048-9,
+66 (0) 89 936 5933
suphattraland.com
SUAN YAI DA
Tel: +66 (0) 89 099 1297,
+66 (0) 89 043 1330,
+66 (0) 38 664 369
facebook.com/suanyaida
SUAN PA-NUN
Tel: +66 (0) 81 300 9518,
+66 (0) 81 861 6927,
+66 (0) 38 664 477
on.fb.me/1BDTLb3
SUAN PU YAI SOMKUAN
BANN LANG
Tel: +66 (0) 81 761 9497,
+66 (0) 81 991 3233
facebook.com/
suanpuyaisomkuan
TRAT
The province celebrates a Fruit
Festival in the Khao Saming
district, which has the highest
concentration of fruit orchards.
Here’s a chance to try fruits grown
in one of Trat’s many fruit orchards,
and also see many competitions
– from fruit-eating, fruit-carving,
and parade float competition. Try
culinary creations from fruits that
are savoury and sweet.
For more information, please contact:
TAT Trat Office
Tel: +66 (0) 39 597 259-60
Email: tattrat@tat.or.th