Why Don'T Thai People Like Indian Food?

[transam]

<p>Over 40 thousand tem

Eh.

[JcCarlin]

Over 40 thousand temples in Thailand and millions of people bowing beneath the image of an INDIAN Buddha, its such bullocks they are trashing their gods homeland and native people! I never like to look down on others because of the food they eat or level of organization. I just look down on people who think they stand above the rest of us!

[transam]

Over 40 thousand temples in Thailand and millions of people bowing beneath the image of an INDIAN Buddha, its such bullocks they are trashing their gods homeland and native people! I never like to look down on others because of the food they eat or level of organization. I just look down on people who think they stand above the rest of us!

It's not an Indian Buddha, it's Buddha, the same as Catholicism has spread the world over. It's a belief, you either dig it or you don't. BUT, don't understand your post, sorry.

[NewlyMintedThai]

Over 40 thousand temples in Thailand and millions of people bowing beneath the image of an INDIAN Buddha, its such bullocks they are trashing their gods homeland and native people! I never like to look down on others because of the food they eat or level of organization. I just look down on people who think they stand above the rest of us!

How many anti-semites have worshipped Jesus the Jew over the years?

[smokie36]

I ate at the Rang Mahal the other weekend. Sunday buffet is still 850 Baht and is much improved on my last visit a couple of years ago. Excellent value.

A sprinkling of Thais, Indians and Western expats from what I could see. Bonus points if you can ask the Indian group for a song....

[tampasailor]

My Thai wife likes Indian food and we have gone to Indian restaurants in BKK and CM. Here in the States, many Indian people frequent Thai Restaurants.

[ITGabs]

It's strange but

The Indian food have different spices, and an extreme use of curry, cinnamon and cloves.

Usually Thai people don't like cinnamon and cloves (the bad smell), I love it.

Usually the Indian people (Hindus) that Thai recognize as indian are the black skin one, and since indians (political and religious) are so clasist, the poor indian all the time is trying to jump to a high class, even denying that they come from India (with a strong indian accent), this plus the bad higenics habits (sometimes really nasty) it makes that Thai people have a misperception about the quality of the indian food.

I met many indians in America, very nice people, I've been Hare Krisnha monk to when I was teenager, and later I lived with young people of every where in the world, in backpackers or in shared flats, so I understand the prejudices.

[Asianbloke]

@ITGabs

Please don't spread wrong ideas about India if you are misinformed.

Well, no bias against the dark compexion, several Indians have very fair compexion like that of Europeans.

Usually, south Indians have a darker complexion as compared to North Indians.You must understand that Indian society is very diverse.

Many Thais too have dark complexion (especially those who are not Chinese in origin) so why would Thais have such beliefs.

Please come to north India and you will find many Indians with very fair complexion.

And hey NOT all Indians are poor just like the Thais.

And do you know oeople from NORTH-EAST INDIA too have lighter complexion and oriental features like many in Thailand.

What about the prejudice that exists in Indian society wherein many Indians consider oriental Thai features as blunt while Indian features as sharp & nice? Do you know about it? Many Indians also use a derogatory term 'chinkies' for oriental looking people.

This is very wrong and an unacceptable practice but prejudices can run deep in any society.

And, Indian food is very diverse varying from one state to another so don't you generalize about the homogeneity of spices in Indian food.

[ITGabs]

Please not feel offended.

I mean the dark skin indians that "Thai people recognize as indians" because the other white or wherever color of the skin simple they don't recognize. Only making reference of that they see as bad higenic habits or untrust behavior for the "poor people" about the "misperception about the quality of the indian food" I never said that all the indian people is poor or that being poor or black is bad!! this is a society problem in India, as in many countries in the world.

The indian food that you can get in Thailand for the price of a normal Thai food is usually so similar to thai dishes, and the unique difference is the specias, ofcourse have more not only that 3 that I mention but as a example is good, since cinnamon and cloves are not usuall in Thai food and really they don't like so much (generally) muslims usually like it but that is another history.

Probably if you take the time and try with different indian food probably they like it (for me it's pretty similar) but for the price vs this cultural misperceptions about indians... I think is pretty hard, maybe with young people will be different.

[ARISTIDE]

Most Thai don't even know anything about Indian food and never tasted Indian food.

Most Thai don't get used to the smell of spices e.g cinnamon, cloves in their food etc..

Most Thai can't tell the different between Indian, Muslim, or Arab.

A lot of Thai food smell like rotten meat and in fact they do indeed rotten.

Most Thai don't know anything outside their country.

[Jingthing]

Most Thai don't even know anything about Indian food and never tasted Indian food.

Most Thai don't get used to the smell of spices e.g cinnamon, cloves in their food etc..

Most Thai can't tell the different between Indian, Muslim, or Arab.

A lot of Thai food smell like rotten meat and in fact they do indeed rotten.

Most Thai don't know anything outside their country.

They know enough (mostly) to think they don't like it and to turn their noses all crinkly if you even mention it.

Of course food ignorance isn't limited to Thai nationals. I love Ethiopian food but if you mention that the the majority of Americans who have never tried it, you are likely to hear an idiotic joke about starvation.

Edited September 11, 2012 by Jingthing

[ITGabs]

Most Thai don't even know anything about Indian food and never tasted Indian food.

Most Thai don't get used to the smell of spices e.g cinnamon, cloves in their food etc..

Most Thai can't tell the different between Indian, Muslim, or Arab.

A lot of Thai food smell like rotten meat and in fact they do indeed rotten.

Most Thai don't know anything outside their country.

About rotten I was surprised about the fish sauce

check this videos:

fish stomach sauce

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xc3XsOBtkk0&feature=relmfu

fish sauce

still i don't care, the food it's tasty anyways

[Taggart]

Probably one reason the Thai people don't like Indian food is because it's so boring nowadays. The first time I tried an Indian curry in Thailand was in Chiang Mai back in the late 80's with my Thai wife who learned to love a good Indian curry. I knew I was in trouble when I asked the waiter to make the dish we ordered "hot". He frowned and said "you mean spicy?". Sure enough, when it arrived the curry was neither hot or spicy, but bland, just like the other restaurants we've tried on visits since. It's no better here in Canada where we live. Most of them are boring, blah. To be honest, it's been well over thirty years since I last had a great Indian curry. You know, the one where you ask for it "hot", and the tears are streaming down your cheeks, and you keep grabbing for the water glass with every single bite. Probably the closest resemblance is British style curries, which I learned to eat while living and working in Glasgow and London in the late 70's. From what I can gather after doing some research on the web, the restaurants over in Britain at the time were run by Punjabi's and Bengali's (Northern India)..

[ttnice30]

The heaviness caused by Ghee is the real reason I think for Thai's that have tried what passes as Indian food in the restaurants around the world. The fact that this food is basically Bangladeshi though (the thick heavy ghee soaked sauces) and not Indian does prompt me to say that actually when my Thai ex wife and my thai gf try real Indian food they have enjoyed it. They do not like the stodgy oily gunk though that is quite suitable for people that have consumed 10 pints of lager. They especially enjoyed the Goan style of food.

Most Indian Restaurants are either owned by Pakistani or Bangladeshi.

[smokie36]

Probably one reason the Thai people don't like Indian food is because it's so boring nowadays. The first time I tried an Indian curry in Thailand was in Chiang Mai back in the late 80's with my Thai wife who learned to love a good Indian curry. I knew I was in trouble when I asked the waiter to make the dish we ordered "hot". He frowned and said "you mean spicy?". Sure enough, when it arrived the curry was neither hot or spicy, but bland, just like the other restaurants we've tried on visits since. It's no better here in Canada where we live. Most of them are boring, blah. To be honest, it's been well over thirty years since I last had a great Indian curry. You know, the one where you ask for it "hot", and the tears are streaming down your cheeks, and you keep grabbing for the water glass with every single bite. Probably the closest resemblance is British style curries, which I learned to eat while living and working in Glasgow and London in the late 70's. From what I can gather after doing some research on the web, the restaurants over in Britain at the time were run by Punjabi's and Bengali's (Northern India)..

Britain still has great curries. So does India funnily enough.

I've yet to have the same eye watering experience in Thailand but plenty of good places.

[Anonymous1713]

Yes, because it smells bad to them. My wife hated to shop at the Indian market in my country and usually just sent me in to get chilies but it was no big deal because I lived in India for a bit but I also do not like the food or the smell but I love Thai food.

[worgeordie]

Lots of Thais dont like Indian curries because of the smell,

and maybe they look down on Indians,Thais can be very

Xenophobic,

They dont like the smell of curries,Lamb,Beef, but think

the smell of putrid fish is heaven.

This year we had some Thai friends around for Xmas

dinner, Turkey and all the trimmings, and I could have

torn my hair out when 2 ladies covered the whole meal

in chili powder !!!

regards Worgeordie

[nalaknarak]

Many people have told me that they don't like Indian curries because they are oily and the spices are too strong. However, many like basmati rice though.

[Seismic]

Sorry. Thai people only eat Thai food.

Like most of the answers here that seems to be a generalisation. I cook or buy Indian food regularly,my wife and most of her family cant get enough of it.

Having said that my wife and her family also like my English cooking, Italian cooking and cant seem to get enough of my Pizza's, victoria sponge cakes, Apple pies, full english breakfast's and scotch eggs.

[KarenBravo]

I am shocked when people who consume meat (flesh of dead animals which is subjected to putrefying bacteria as soon as the organism dies besides being an inhuman practice) talk about body odour of many Indians who consume a diet free of flesh.

You are so uninformed, I find it funny. Eating meat is inhuman? Don't think so. The evidence is sitting there in your mouth. It's called teeth.

We have canine teeth which only carnivores have. For the record, we are omnivores and our teeth prove it.

[nalaknarak]

Sorry. Thai people only eat Thai food.

Like most of the answers here that seems to be a generalisation. I cook or buy Indian food regularly,my wife and most of her family cant get enough of it.

Having said that my wife and her family also like my English cooking, Italian cooking and cant seem to get enough of my Pizza's, victoria sponge cakes, Apple pies, full english breakfast's and scotch eggs.

I also disagree with Chops. Thailand is home to different ethnic groups. There are people of South Asian origin who enjoy Indian food too. And these people are Thai citizens by birth. The so-called "Thai" people don't just eat Thai food. They eat Chinese, American fast food, Japanese etc. etc. Oh and now some Korean dishes are getting popular. Hence, Thai people don't just eat Thai food.

[KarenBravo]

Thais do eat Indian food, though, they think it's Thai food.

Two examples are Massaman curry and rotis with curry.

[IMA_FARANG]

Frankly it;s a perception thing.

Thais have seen Indians eating with their hands on Television, and they assume that's how ALL indian food is eaten.

To them that seems unclean and oncouth.

Now i know that's not how ALL Indian food is eaten, but many Thais just assume ALL Indians eat like that ... handfuls of rice and curry and everything eaten with the one hand.

Since many of them have seen nothing elsw, that scene to them is what Indian food means.

After all, they saw it on Thai PBS television....and it must be true.

[Jingthing]

As far as eating with your hands yes that is a common custom in India, as it is in Ethiopia and I imagine other countries. As a westerner I enjoy that if it's something like scooping up a curry or stew with some kind of bread. But with rice, I just couldn't. The Indian attitude is that the food tastes better not having the go between of utensils. I rather admire that philosophy but I won't go there ... with rice. (On the other hand sticky rice with dips is rather nice, using hands!)

Edited January 13, 2013 by Jingthing

[draftvader]

As far as eating with your hands yes that is a common custom in India, as it is in Ethiopia and I imagine other countries. As a westerner I enjoy that if it's something like scooping up a curry or stew with some kind of bread. But with rice, I just couldn't. The Indian attitude is that the food tastes better not having the go between of utensils. I rather admire that philosophy but I won't go there ... with rice. (On the other hand sticky rice with dips is rather nice, using hands!)

It is a style that needs immersion to learn. When we first arrived in India we sat down in a "Hotel" (a hotel can have a restaurant and rooms or just a restaurant but, seemingly, not just rooms....that is a lodge...or it isn't...very confusing....anyway) and I looked about for the cutlery as the food was piled onto the banana leaf in front of me. Seeing none I looked around at the people around me and saw what they were doing. What choice did we have? One of the best meals of my life. Since then I will always eat my Thali with my hands. In Bangkok's truly Indian eateries I see about 50% of the Indians eating with their hands. My assumption is that they are probably tourists or visiting relatives rather than local Indian residents (you can tell by whether they speak Thai or English to the Thai waitress).

Whatever the deal I almost always see a group of Thais having a good time trying the food in my favourite Indian restaurant. They tend to order far too much, take loads of photos and have a lot of fun trying it.

[sirtrevor]

I am shocked when people who consume meat (flesh of dead animals which is subjected to putrefying bacteria as soon as the organism dies besides being an inhuman practice) talk about body odour of many Indians who consume a diet free of flesh.

You are so uninformed, I find it funny. Eating meat is inhuman? Don't think so. The evidence is sitting there in your mouth. It's called teeth.

We have canine teeth which only carnivores have. For the record, we are omnivores and our teeth prove it.

Our teeth are nothing like teeth of carnivores. They are'canine' in name only. In fact most of the evidence we have is that our teeth are more like herbivores than anything else. Take a look at a chimpanzee's teeth. They are 95% herbivore. Carnivore's jaws have little to no lateral movement, compare that to ours.

Edited January 14, 2013 by sirtrevor

[KarenBravo]

Sorry mate. It is an indisputable scientific fact that we are omnivores with teeth to match. Omnivores are meat-eaters.

[sirtrevor]

'Our dentition evolved for processing starches, fruits, and vegetables, not tearing and masticating flesh. Our oft-cited "canine" teeth are not at all comparable to the sharp teeth of true carnivores.  I lecture to over 10,000 dentists, dental hygienists, and oral specialists every year, and I always ask them to show me the “canine” teeth in a person’s mouth – those that resemble a cat’s or dog’s teeth – I am still waiting to be shown the first example of a sharply pointed canine tooth.If you have any doubt of the truth of this observation then go look in the mirror right now – you may have learned to call your 4 corner front teeth, “canine teeth” – but in no way do they resemble the sharp, jagged, blades of a true carnivore – your corner teeth are short, blunted, and flat on top (or slightly rounded at most).  Nor do they ever function in the manner of true canine teeth.  Have you ever observed someone purposely favoring these teeth while tearing off a piece of steak or chewing it?  Nor have I.  The lower jaw of a meat-eating animal has very little side-to-side motion – it is fixed to open and close, which adds strength and stability to its powerful bite.  Like other plant-eating animals our jaw can move forwards and backwards, and side-to-side, as well as open and close, for biting off pieces of plant matter, and then grinding them into smaller pieces with our flat molars'

John A. McDougall, M.D.

Sorry for the long post, but it certainly is not indisputable. We are natural plant eaters. To say otherwise is to ignore the best evidence there is: - our bodies.

Sent from my GT-I9300T using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[KarenBravo]

Omnivores also eat plants.

[draftvader]

So, why don't Thai people like Indian food? Just to get us back on topic here!