Sam rot (สามรส)

[Kanga Japan]

Does SAM ROT mean:

1. sweet, sour and spicy

2. sweet, sour and salty

I assume that it would mean '1' above, however '2' is also often mentioned.

Thank you for your help.

[Plotholes]

I don't have a definitive answer, but on the occasions I've come across this term, it seemed to refer to sour, sweet, and salty.

Pla tu sam rot (ปลาทูสามรส) http://www.eatingthaifood.com/2015/04/rice-and-curry-lampang/

http://shesimmers.com/2011/03/thai-three-flavored-sauce-newbie.html

[Kanga Japan]

Dear Plotholes,

Thank you for that. I couldn't find the article in Eating Thai Food, but read the She Simmers article and it seems that the third flavour is 'salty'. She Simmers is always reliable (ETF also), so I will go with that.

Thanks again.

[AyG]

Dear Plotholes,

Thank you for that. I couldn't find the article in Eating Thai Food, but read the She Simmers article and it seems that the third flavour is 'salty'. She Simmers is always reliable (ETF also), so I will go with that.

Thanks again.

But... but... the other great English language, female Thai food blogger, Tes, recently wrote to say it's "spicy". See http://tesathome.com/2015/09/22/three-flavors/

If Leela says one thing and Tes another, I'd usually conclude they were both right. However, look at the following which suggest it's spicy.

http://www.ezythaicooking.com/free_recipes/thai_sweet_sour_spicy_fried_chicken_sticks_th.html

http://www.foodspotting.com/places/317193-%E0%B8%81%E0%B8%A5%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%87%E0%B9%80%E0%B8%A7%E0%B8%B5%E0%B8%A2%E0%B8%87-%E0%B8%82-%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%A7%E0%B8%95-%E0%B8%A1-1-%E0%B8%9A%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%97-%E0%B8%AA%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%82%E0%B8%B2-2-kaowtom-1-baht-/items/507064-%E0%B8%99-%E0%B8%B3%E0%B8%88%E0%B8%B4-%E0%B8%A1%E0%B8%AA%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%A1%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%AA-spicy-dipping-sauce

https://www.kaidee.com/product-106818728/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/94687647@N00/7870878680

http://moddangcuisine.com/systemthai/product.php?id=66

http://thoranin-triwit.tumblr.com/post/76833647756/hot-and-spicy-dipping-sauce

http://www.paigin.com/directory/kanchanaburi/thewildlife/thewildlife-menu_uk.php

http://thai-cuisine-recipe.blogspot.com/2012/02/spicy-triple-flavor-fish-pla-sam-rod.html

Add to that personal experience, I'd say the third flavour is "spicy". It's like sweet/sour sauce with a few chillies added.

[Kanga Japan]

Dear AyG,

Thank you so much for that. You have done a lot of research!

My initial thought was that it would be 'spicy', rather than 'salty', considering the fact that it is Thai and also most of the recipes include chillies. Looking at the links you gave me, and considering your opinion, I may go for 'spicy', although there may be a possibility that it could refer to both.

An interesting thing is that in Japan the word for 'spicy' is 'karai'. It mainly relates to hot and spicy, however it also has another meaning which relates to salty.

Thanks for your help.

[Pla shado]

Mrs. Pla shado says that sam rot (สามรส) is any three part combination of the five primary flavors/tastes (sweet, sour, spicy, salty and bitter). She says the sam rot = three flavors = using any three tastes that suit your need.

[MaeJoMTB]

sam rot = three flavours

Usually referring to a sauce on fried fish.

(eg. Pla Tab Tim Sam Rot)

[tolsti]

When will you be publishing this oeuvre of Thai food terms Kanga? Will it only be in Japanese?

[Kanga Japan]

Dear Pla shado (and Mrs. Pla shado),

Thank you for your reply. Actually, I was just about to send the following, before I saw your post:

The more I go through sites to check on SAM ROT, the more confusing it becomes.

Results seem to see-saw, but slightly towards the 'salty' version. I just checked David Thompson's book and his description was (on page 528 of his Thai Food book):

"check the seasoning: the sauce should be sweet, sour, hot and salty"

It seems that the basic taste tends to centre on the sweet-sour, with both chillies (spicy) and nam pla (salty) included.

I think I might describe SAM ROT as 'sweet, sour and spicy/salty'.

I think Mrs. Pla shado may be correct, with the general usage of this term based on its use with fried fish, as MaeJoMTB states (thank you MaeJoMTB for your comment) and having a basic sweet-sour flavour. The confusion arose because it is often referred to as 'THE three flavours', rather than just 'three flavours'.

Thanks so much for your help.

[Kanga Japan]

Dear tolsti,

I hope to have the dictionary out in application format by the end of the year. I have basically finished the texts (thanks to the incredible help of the forum members) and have added photos.

It will be in English, Thai transliteration (simple/RTGS), Thai script and Japanese (kanji, romanized Japanese and the Thai pronunciation in katakana). Scientific names will also be included.

The schedule is tight, as I still have to get it checked (Thai and Japanese), but I am keeping my fingers crossed.

Thank you for your interest.

[tolsti]

Please make sure to give us on TV a heads up!....

[Kanga Japan]

I definitely will.

I could not have achieved this much without the help of the forum members.

[Plotholes]

So your project is on translating thai ingredients and food?

Sounds really interesting to me; as the YouTube videos I use to brush up on my Thai tend to revolve mainly around cooking shows . Somehow they capture my attention more than those Thai Larkon!

[Kanga Japan]

Dear Plotholes,

Yes, you are correct. It will be a dictionary of Thai ingredients, as well as standard ingredients - no recipes, but the names of a few common relishes, curries and snacks will be included.

The main items will be vegetables, fruit, meat, seafood, fungi, noodles, grains, flours, herbs/spices, nuts and seeds, plants/trees, oils, seasonings/additives, liquids, beans, insects/reptiles, sauces/pastes, cooking terms and utensils. Basically anything connected with cooking.

As photos will be included, you could possibly use it by looking at the photos and trying to guess what the word would be in Thai, Japanese or English (hopefully all the photos will be correct). I hope it will be of use to non-Thai speaking foreigners living in Thailand to help them shopping, etc.

I appreciate your interest.