Thailand is a predominantly Buddhist destination, which makes it all the more spiritually appealing for travellers trying to get away from the baggage of consumer living . Buddhism was introduced to Thailand in 6th century BC by Siddhartha Gautama Sakyamuni, the figure we recognise more readily in the West as Buddha. At a rather basic level, Buddhism is about finding harmony, or, a ‘ Middle Way’ and it has influenced much of Thailand’s culture, including its food. Thai cuisine is influenced by both India and China, and informed by its Buddhist background, shown in meals that are crafted and prepared with a Zen philosophy.

In Thai cooking, all things supposedly lie in harmony with each other, the sour complements the sweet and colours and spices are combined with careful measure. Meats are usually cut into small pieces or shredded, keeping with a Buddhist notion of easy digestion. Thai food was originally a waterborne food, so most of the ingredients will be fish, plant, or herb all forming a culinary sense of balance. When travelling there will be a huge amount on the menu, so try everything if you can and pay attention to the flavours, colours and balance of your meal. In particular look for clear soup, filled with parcels of minced pork, a steamed rice dish, fried fish, and a spicy salad with chillies and lemon juice. Thailand will provide many fresh fruits to pick from, like papaya or mango to soothe a sweet tooth at the end of a meal. It’s a healthy way of eating and full of renewing and energising qualities, and the spicy salads are particularly good for you.

The Thai Green Curry, famous on our European shores is a warming curry made with fresh green chillies and basil, and one of the spiciest of all Thai’s curries. The brave traveller may want to put their taste buds to the test and compare this green curry from island to island, the use of spices may differ slightly and you could find some have more of a kick than others. The cuisine of Thailand is an important part of its heritage and with flavours, herbs, spices, and colours crafted through the ages to keep with their Buddhist theme. If you are interested in Thai cuisine, or perhaps making your own version of the Thai Green Curry, go to UKTV for useful recipes to help you start. If you’re booking holidays or excursions to Thailand, don’t forget to organise your travel insurance in advance. Have a look at Go Travel Insurance who list a backpacker’s insurance and lots of others, so you can easily find one which one suits you best.