Does Thailand have organic products? where to buy in BKK?

[organicman]

Hi,

I'm kind of new to Thailand where I would like to understand if there is an organic market in Thailand? Where would i buy organic fruit and vegetables as well as personal goods (Shampoo, body wash, toothpaste, washing deo, deodorant, bug spray, dish washing liquid)? I'll be mainly staying in BKK where I current at present.

[petermik]

You can buy many items marked "organic" here in Thailand,sadly though what the label says and what in reality it turns out to be is a different matter,sorry to appear cynical but after two years living here I,ve come to realise this....

[PocoLoco]

Villa market stocks a wide range of "organic" produce, Big C has a limited selection too.

You should take the term "organic" with a grain of salt here in Thailand, stuff gets cross-contaminated easily with poisons that are used widely in Thailand but have been banned in Europe for clear reasons. Sometimes farmers claim it to be organic but it's not, here it's all about money, they don't care about your health.
Other organic products than produce you better buy imported, not locally made.

[gandalf12]

Try Balavi clinic they do a lot of organic and herbal products. They are on Rama 9 road

[Suradit69]

Villa market stocks a wide range of "organic" produce, Big C has a limited selection too.

You should take the term "organic" with a grain of salt here in Thailand, stuff gets cross-contaminated easily with poisons that are used widely in Thailand but have been banned in Europe for clear reasons. Sometimes farmers claim it to be organic but it's not, here it's all about money, they don't care about your health.

Other organic products than produce you better buy imported, not locally made.

"...here it's all about money, they don't care about your health."

Here? So in Farang Land businesses are only concerned about your health and money is the last thing on their minds. Amazing.

Mix gullibility with xenophobia and the absence of logic in the thinking of some farang is understandable.

The permitted “organic” pesticides can be toxic. As evolutionary biologist Christie Wilcox explained in a 2012 Scientific American article: “Organic pesticides pose the same health risks as non-organic ones. No matter what anyone tells you, organic pesticides don’t just disappear.”

****

In 2003, the U.K. Food Safety Agency tested six organic corn meal products and 20 conventional (non-organic) corn meal products for contamination with the toxin fumonisin. All six organic corn meals had elevated levels—from nine to 40 times more than the recommended levels for human health—and they were voluntarily withdrawn from grocery stores. By contrast, the 20 conventional (i.e., non-organic) products averaged about a quarter of the recommended maximum levels.

http://www.newsweek.com/dirty-truth-about-organic-produce-379464

Edited July 21, 2016 by Suradit69

[1FinickyOne]

A friend of mine lived next to an "organic" farm here - he said they sprayed every day...

not easy anywhere - food labelling in the West and calling every brand some variation of "nature's friend" or whatever is very deceptive.

If you are going to be here a while, get yourself a little hydroponics set-up and grow some of your own... or take your chances like everyone else.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

Have to agree with the majority sentiment above.

The label "organic" or "pesticide free" means nothing here, despite those products typically carrying higher price tags.

The reason we know this is, repeated testing surveys by outside labs have found widespread pesticide contamination (meaning higher than permitted levels or non-permitted chemicals) of produce that's been labeled as organic and/or pesticide free -- from everywhere from the local wet markets to the most upper end farang supermarkets.

There's for all intents and purposes no meaningful government enforcement, so like in so many other areas of endeavor, producers/sellers simply do whatever they want to do -- and truth in advertising is a frequent casualty.

Edited July 21, 2016 by TallGuyJohninBKK

[laochef]

All of the shops & farms have web-sites... Cheers, Chris Vegetables and Fruits

Adams Organic

Adams Organic offers more than 200 different products grown from non-GMO seeds under a strict 100-percent organic-crop principle that’s certified by the JAS (Japanese Agricultural Standard), the European Commission and USDA (United States Department of Agriculture). Best-selling products include free-range poultry and eggs. Weekly home delivery service is available. Check their weekly list here

Where to find: Tops Supermarket, Gourmet market at EmQuartier

Rangsit Farm

Founded in 1999, Rangsit Farm is located 500 meters above sea level in Pathumthani province. Their process is certified organic by the Department of Agriculture, Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, and the Royal Thai government. Rangsit focuses on rotating plant crops that won’t deteriorate the soil.

Where to find: Leading supermarkets

Harmony Life

Originally founded by a Japanese man who is determined to instill a harmonious synchronization between man and nature, Harmony Life now holds five different certifications after 15 years of working on a piece of land near Khao Yai. Only in-house fermented fertilizer from animals raised the natural way is used to grow crops, along with water from a 150-meter-deep well.

Where to find: Sustaina Organic Shop and leading supermarkets

Eggs

Hilltribe Organics

Aimed at improving the lives and income of hill tribes, Hilltribe Organic holds certification as the first chicken farm in Thailand to offer pasture-based organic eggs from free-range hens. The company claims that their eggs contain higher amounts of omega fatty acids, beta-carotene and vitamins than eggs from other sources. Lower in cholesterol and saturated fats, too. You can even find out which farm the eggs come from by the tracking code on the carton.

Where to find: Villa Market

Natural and Premium

Taste the flavor of eggs from happy, healthy hens that roam around freely.Natural and Premium does not use antibiotics to produce eggs as in conventional farming processes. Instead, they use bio-immunity enhancers, and feed chickens with pesticide- and chlorophyll-free grains to come up with premium produce. Five percent of profits go back to the farmers.

Where to find: Fuji Supermarket, Max Value at Gateway Ekamai, and Villa Market

Coffee and Tea

(Tea)

Chaidim

Chaidim offers handpicked organic and sustainably grown tealeaves. Their blends include tea from northern Thailand, Japan and China. Besides herbal instant teas, they also have tea-infused body care products and tea brewing equipment.

Where to find: Supermarkets at Central Chidlom, Gourmet Market at Siam Paragon, Villa Market at Soi Thonglor, Sukhumvit Soi 49 and 33

Harmony Life Tea

Harmony Life uses the leftover parts of vegetables to make instant tea such as organic carrot leaf tea, moroheiya tea, hibiscus roselle tea, herb blend tea and mulberry tea.

Where to find: Sustaina Shop Patisserie Potager

Siam Organic Jasberry Tea

Siam Organic, which produces Jasberry Tea, was founded in 2011 as a social enterprise that supports small-scale farmers in the northeast area. Rice and tea are grown using organic methods and thirty-three percent of revenues are directly allocated to farmers.

Where to find: Lemon Farm, Tops Supermarket

Kanchana (Organic Mulberry Tea)

Known as one of the biggest producers of organic mulberry tea in Thailand, Kanchana also produces variants such as mulberry tea with safflower and pandan, and mulberry tea with bael fruit in their plantation in Kanchanaburi. These teas are available in tea bags, powdered and in loose leaves. Processed with the same procedure as green tea but containing 200 times less caffeine, mulberry tea is also rich in antioxidants that improve health and build up the body’s immune system.

(Coffee)

Akha Ama

Processed and marketed by the Akha people of Maejantai, Chiang Rai, Akha Ama coffee is produced 150 meters above sea level in orchards that grow different kinds of plants and produce. Their popular beans are available in various signature blends and in different roast levels.

Where to find: Gallery Coffee Shop at Bangkok Art Cultural Centre

Mivana

Mivana, which started out as a social enterprise, has adopted methods designed for preserving and restoring more than 7,000 square meters of watershed forests in Chiang Rai. At Mivana, Arabica coffee is grown without harming or destroying trees. Coffee is harvested with hands, and are processed and packed within 24 hours to maintain the nutrition and flavors of the beans. Home delivery is available.

Where to find: Lemon Farm

Fish and Meat

(Fish)

Save Our Fish-Save Our Sea

Save Our Fish-Save Our Sea helps promote organic fisheries that engage in responsible operations. They offer fresh seafood caught in the wild by fishermen from Phang Nga, Petchburi, Song Khla, Pattalung, and Krabi at fair prices.

Where to find: Bangkok Farmer's Market at Gateway Ekamai, Seri Market, The Nine Rama 9

(Beef & Lamb)

Accidental Butcher

Steve Craig’s butcher shop distributes fine quality meat to many of the city’s renowned restaurants. Accidental Butcher also offers in-house cured and smoked beef and lamb, but is really famous for its 42-month-aged beef from the Cape Grim region and pure Wagyu beef from Robbin Island, both in Tasmania.

Where to find: Accidental Butcher Shop, 53 Ekamai Soi 10

(Chicken & Pig)

Sirin Farm

Sirin Farm has adopted Korean organic farming methods to grow chicken and pigs. The farm uses special feed from crops grown in their own farm and fertilizer made of animals’ excrement. Apart from corn-fed chicken and eggs, they also produce certified Berkshire (kurobuta) pork, and Perkin ducks.

Where to find: Central Food hall (Chidlom branch)

Joe Sloane

Think delightful handmade cheeses, head-to-tail charcuteries, cured meats, and yummy sausages and we bet you will think of Sloane’s. Owner Joe Sloane champions traditional British charcuterie and makes them with meat from free-range, herb-fed cattle.

Where to find: Sloane’s shop between La Salle Soi 34-36, Gourmet Market in Emquartier

Grain & Rice

Raitong Organic Farms

Raitong Organic Farms is famous for its rice, which is grown with farming methods passed on from generation to generation in the owner, Srikram Kewandee’s, family. Working with the farmer community in Hang Wao village in Srisaket, Raitong offers a range of rice and other organic products such as Ginger Fizz. This non-alcoholic drink is developed using local Thai ingredients. Rice farmers grow many of these ingredients during the off-season using the same organic cultivation methods that go into producing rice. Home delivery service is available.

Where to find: For Ginger Fizz; Gram, The Never Ending Summer, Sustaina Shop

Radiance Wholefoods

Popular among health nuts, Radiance offers wholesome healthy food, focusing on nuts, seeds and grains. Come here to stock up on organic ground acai, flaxseed, quinoa, amaranth grain, cacao nibs, camu camu powder, and maca powder.

Where to find: 128/2 Sukhumvit Soi 22

Sunshine Market

Sunshine Market gathers an array of rare healthy edibles in every range, from superfood to gluten-free and dairy-free eats, to organic and wholesome food. The shop also stocks up on natural body care such as baby body wash, pregnancy belly butter and natural soap.

Where to find: Sukhumvit Soi 31

Wine Garage

Wine Garage is the spot for great wines with reasonable prices. Apart from displaying popular labels, they also offer more than 120 organic labels grown in both the Old and New World.

Where to find: Another Story, 5/F EmQuartier

Broccoli Revolution

This hip vegetarian restaurant also serves organic wines. The list includes ten red and nine white wines from France, Germany, Italy and New World vineyards. Prices start at B220 for a glass, and B1,200 for a bottle.

Where to find: Sukhumvit Soi 49

G Four Organic Wine

G Four features a long list of biodynamic wines in their website. Biodynamic refers to wines created using agricultural methods that follow astrology and lunar cycles. Who would have thought the moon can affect the taste of your Chardonnay?

Where to find: Le Cafe des Stagiaires

condiments and sauces

Lum Lum

Upgrade your condiments and sauces with these organic alternatives from Chita organic farm in Li, Lumphoon. The farm has received certification from organizations such as the IFOAM (International Foundation for Organic Agriculture), the European Commission and the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture). Products include chili sauce, green curry and red curry paste.

Where to find: Leading supermarket and Lemon Farm

bread

Amantee

Amantee offers fine bread that doesn’t fail to impress our palates, ranging from croissants, baguettes, pain au raisin, rye bread and a range of organic breads made with imported ingredients.

Where to find: Another Story 5/F EmQuartier, Amantee bakeshop at 2240/12 Chan Kao Rd. and Soi Ruamrudee

Conkey’s

Conkey’s has put a spell on their loaves. This is as fine as bread could be – the right texture, beautiful hole structure, delightful smell and subtle acidity. The best part: no chemicals added. Apart from classic baked treats, Conkey’s includes organic products in their line once in a while. Find their bread at Conkey's shop or food flea market which you can update them on Facebook Page.

Where to find: Conkey's bakeshop at 72 Ekamai Soi 22

Cheese

Heaven on Cheese

Nakhon Sawan-based cheese maker Reinhard Matheis makes his signature products out of milk from a small local farm using traditional cheese wheels. You guess it: the end product is amazing and truly made with heart.

Where to find: Sloane’s shop in Soi La Salle

Mille Stelle

This cheese producer in Nonthaburi is fast becoming known for its burrata, which comes in a stringy, thin-shelled milky ball and wrapped in asphodel leaves. Home delivery services are offered.

Where to find: Villa Market and Tops Supermarket

Vivin

Vivin is well known for its foie gras, truffle, caviar and its FDA-certified goat cheese made from 100-percent raw goat milk from Chiang Mai. Vivin accepts online orders on their website.

Le Kombucha

Le Kombucha combines organic tea from Chiang Mai with seasonal tropical fruits and certified brown sugar to make healthy fermented tea. The process takes about five to seven days.

Where to find: Sourced Grocers

The Green Geek

The Green Geek offers kombucha in different fruity flavors. Try Pure Ginger, Strawberry Bliss or Lychee Chia Seed. The original remains a best seller.

Where to find: Grab and Green shop, G/F Interchange Building; Healthy Twist Café & Restaurant, Rama 4 Rd.

[nongsangcity]

After 30 years in the UK food industry...dont waste your time or MONEY on Organic produce.....You are paying for a product that doesnt taste any better and the amount of Pesticides one can use in Organic food Production would disappoint you....

[Estrada]

In Bangkok once a month at K-Village Farmers' Market:

http://www.bkkmenu.com/news/k-village-farmers-market-2016/preview

https://www.facebook.com/groups/thailandfarmersmarket/

There is a Villa Market there also.

[connda]

100% organic in my backyard. Want to be sure your produce is 100% organic? Grow your own.

[HerbalEd]

You can buy many items marked "organic" here in Thailand,sadly though what the label says and what in reality it turns out to be is a different matter,sorry to appear cynical but after two years living here I,ve come to realise this....

How have you proven that these organic foods are not organic? Did you actually test them? I'm betting you don't have any actual evidence and are only "assuming" here.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

[talisman01]

I recently found some excellent and innovative organic fruit juices at Em District International Food Hall which I can recommend though I have no connection whatsoever with them.

http://en.makeithappenjuice.com/

[mango124]

Clean green pure NZ organic eggs were found not to be....prosecution last year. At exhorbitant prices make it worth scammers while.

[augustwest]

In all of the supermarket s in the USA I had my doubts about organic produce being truly organic. With the little accountability here in Thailand it's just another way to squeeze mor profit without living up to any standard

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

FWIW, the government is hosting its annual Organic and Natural Expo this coming Thurs. through Sunday at the Queen Sirikit Convention Center in BKK. It's not just food items, but it does include food items, at least based on my past visits to this event.

If anyone there is selling "organic" or "natural" food products, before buying, I'd ask them to prove it!

Edited July 24, 2016 by TallGuyJohninBKK

[attrayant]

If anyone there is selling "organic" or "natural" food products, before buying, I'd ask them to prove it!

What would you accept as proof?

[attrayant]

Where would i buy organic fruit and vegetables as well as personal goods (Shampoo, body wash, toothpaste, washing deo, deodorant, bug spray, dish washing liquid)?

Bug spray? Heaven forbid any trace pesticides contaminate your bug spray! Edited July 25, 2016 by attrayant

[attrayant]

100% organic in my backyard. Want to be sure your produce is 100% organic? Grow your own.

A person eats, on average, about 600 kgs of produce per year. People who like to shout "grow your own" haven't really thought this through.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

If anyone there is selling "organic" or "natural" food products, before buying, I'd ask them to prove it!

What would you accept as proof?

Ongoing, independent testing and verification by some recognized third party -- not subject to influence by the grower or political manipulation by the government.

[attrayant]

That sounds expensive.