edwardandtubs Posted November 25, 2007 Share Posted November 25, 2007 Today I went to my usual freshly squeezed 100% orange juice vendor to get my morning dose of vitamin C goodness and he announced this time he'd added salt. It was gross. As if the Thai diet doesn't have enough salt in they're adding it to orange juice now? What next - fish sauce and chili? I'm sticking to TipCo juices from now on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eek Posted November 25, 2007 Share Posted November 25, 2007 Its normal to add sugar and/or salt to drinks in hot countries. Something about replacing lost nutrients. Ok, this it explains it better: "People living in hot countries and those who use a great deal of energy, such as athletes, lose more salt than the average person. This is lost through sweat in such large amounts that they can suffer from muscle cramps and heat exhaustion. Some athletes replenish the body's supply with salt tablets" source: www.saltinfo.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
samran Posted November 25, 2007 Share Posted November 25, 2007 As if the Thai diet doesn't have enough salt in they're adding it to orange juice now? They've been doing it for a little longer than the duration of your stay. You ain't in Kansas anymore, Dorothy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edwardandtubs Posted November 25, 2007 Author Share Posted November 25, 2007 (edited) Its normal to add sugar and/or salt to drinks in hot countries. Something about replacing lost nutrients.Ok, this it explains it better: "People living in hot countries and those who use a great deal of energy, such as athletes, lose more salt than the average person. This is lost through sweat in such large amounts that they can suffer from muscle cramps and heat exhaustion. Some athletes replenish the body's supply with salt tablets" source: www.saltinfo.com Eating a normal Thai diet must give you at least double the recommended daily allowance of salt, even for a hot country. I think it's more to do with Thais having a "salty tongue" than the OJ vendors worrying about replacing their customers' lost nutrients. Edited November 25, 2007 by edwardandtubs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sbk Posted November 25, 2007 Share Posted November 25, 2007 Just ask him for no salt. Since its fresh squeezed it shouldn't be a problem. It is, as samran points out, a very old practice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patri Posted November 25, 2007 Share Posted November 25, 2007 (edited) The reason for adding salt in orange juice actually is to make the juice sweeter... since the little saltiness would help to accentuate the sweetness of the juice.. You can try it with Coke too. It works! Edited November 25, 2007 by patri Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThaidleHands Posted November 25, 2007 Share Posted November 25, 2007 Eating a normal Thai diet must give you at least double the recommended daily allowance of salt, even for a hot country. I think it's more to do with Thais having a "salty tongue" than the OJ vendors worrying about replacing their customers' lost nutrients. How dare you cast such aspersions! All street vendors in Thailand are trained nutritionists with advanced degrees in organic chemistry and biosciences. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sbk Posted November 25, 2007 Share Posted November 25, 2007 Why not ask the vendor? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheEmperorOfTheNorth Posted November 25, 2007 Share Posted November 25, 2007 I've been specifying "no salt please" when ordering fruit juices (esp. soury ones) for years. This might work for you too. They add it to lessen the soury taste of certain juices, specifically lime & orange juice. Similarly, they often serve salt (+sugar and/or chilli) with fruit. Same concept. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jingthing Posted November 25, 2007 Share Posted November 25, 2007 The salt is a minor problem compared to the sugar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GuestHouse Posted November 25, 2007 Share Posted November 25, 2007 I think the reasoning behind the salt is one of balancing flavours. Take a Thai cooking course and a great deal of the teaching addresses this need to balance sour/sweet/salty. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lazeeboy Posted November 25, 2007 Share Posted November 25, 2007 I think the reasoning behind the salt is one of balancing flavours.Take a Thai cooking course and a great deal of the teaching addresses this need to balance sour/sweet/salty. i like the taste when added to oj ,i eat pineapple with salt ,much more refreshing than sugar Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seonai Posted November 25, 2007 Share Posted November 25, 2007 you can say 'Mai sai greua' - not with salt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phibunmike Posted November 25, 2007 Share Posted November 25, 2007 I've been specifying "no salt please" when ordering fruit juices (esp. soury ones) for years. This might work for you too.They add it to lessen the soury taste of certain juices, specifically lime & orange juice. Similarly, they often serve salt (+sugar and/or chilli) with fruit. Same concept. Love that word ! May I use it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JetsetBkk Posted November 25, 2007 Share Posted November 25, 2007 As if the Thai diet doesn't have enough salt in they're adding it to orange juice now? They've been doing it for a little longer than the duration of your stay. You ain't in Kansas anymore, Dorothy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rinrada Posted November 25, 2007 Share Posted November 25, 2007 and definately....'mai sai pong su lot'........mai chai...mai chai..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chicowoodduck Posted November 26, 2007 Share Posted November 26, 2007 The salt is a minor problem compared to the sugar. And my doctor wants me to go on a low salt, low sugar food plan..........somethings smacks of the devil here. I'll watch my back for the food police. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jetzie Posted November 26, 2007 Share Posted November 26, 2007 we sprinkle some salt in our coke too, to reduce the gas. normal in asia, maybe not so in western tts why you're surprised Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mr_hippo Posted November 26, 2007 Share Posted November 26, 2007 I often put a pinch of salt in coffee - it reduces the bitter taste. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dominique355 Posted November 26, 2007 Share Posted November 26, 2007 Why so outraged? It has been a long standing custom here to add salt to all kind of fruit juices and dishes, from OJ to "nam ma nau" to salt and chillie mix for sour mango etc. etc. After a while you get so much used to it that you don't want to miss it anymore; happened to me. I asked my Missus why they add salt. She said, to make it sweet. Ok, whatever, I just prefer is with salt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
naka Posted November 26, 2007 Share Posted November 26, 2007 I think the reasoning behind the salt is one of balancing flavours.Take a Thai cooking course and a great deal of the teaching addresses this need to balance sour/sweet/salty. Which they do by adding a handfull of chilli and MSG Naka. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BangkokFightClub Posted November 26, 2007 Share Posted November 26, 2007 hate it when they put salt (and sugar for that matter ) into juice . tastes awful ! I tried to ask about it before buying a bottle , but usually it doesn't help : poor vendor just tries to make a sell ... stopped buying orange juice from the street some time ago bangkokfightclub.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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