EAT IN ASIA / Food destinations / Thailand - thai food
Original Thai food during a jungle trek in Thailand
Nothing is better than an original Thai food cooked by local tribes. Although these meals are prepared in a very basic and in a very simple way, they are gorgeous! Actually, these meals are so great, because of their simpleness and due to these basic cooking methods.
Natural ingredients, basic utensils, real fire from burning wood and a lot of patience. No hurry, no stress, just patience and chill.
And that is what you can experience only if you decide to do at least two days and one night trekking. Only then you will be able to feel these magical moments and enjoy the night in a unique atmosphere. That is also when you will be able to experience the cooking process that will be done together with your mates and hosts. Apart from that, that trek will give you a possibility of sharing duties but at the same time the possibility of spending a relaxing evening under the sky full of stars.
No matter in which area you are trekking you will definitively have a possibility of experiencing something unique. Different regions, different tribes, and different cultures. That all means different resources, different cuisines, and different ingredients in prepared dishes.
However, whenever you go, you will get something indigenous, something unique and something that you will rather not get in any other place apart from these small tribal villages.
That is why you should definitively try it and experience at least one night in the jungle. Even if it had to be a relatively light trekking and a very slow one, do it. The most important thing is to see the beauty of the wild area and to spend that gorgeous night.
Choose one or more of seven Thai Hill Tribes and spend a night with them. Each of these Hill Tribes - Lisu, Mien, Palaung, Karen, Hmong, Akha and Lahu, has their own customs, their own culture and their own cuisine. If you have an opportunity to stay with a couple of these tribes that would be great. Thanks to that, you will be able to spot differences between them and to experience even more.
Although many of them do not speak English, or even if they partially do it, their vocabulary is very basic, there is always a possibility of communicating with them. Try to use your hands and show what you mean or want. They will definitively do their best to help you and to facilitate your life.
All these Thai Hill Tribes are very helpful, and they do really care about your feeling. They really want you feel like at home. Moreover, they treat you as part of their family and do all to support you.
For each meal they will try to prepare something that suits all tastes and preferences. No matter whether you are vegetarian, vegan or a regular meat eater, the served or prepared together food will be good for everyone.
Another thing is, that if you are afraid that these meals would be too spicy, do not worry about it. They will serve chili paste, hot sauces, and fish sauces separately. Thanks to that, you will be able to season your dish in the way you like it the most.
Do not miss this incredible experience and try it at least once.
Usually, a jungle trekking starts early in the morning. Tourist agencies offer a free pickup so you might be asked to be ready at about 7 or 7:30 AM at your hotel or hostel. If your hotel offers breakfasts, ask for a take-away box so that you can have it on the way. Check also our post on What to eat before a jungle trek in Thailand? to prepare yourself for the trekking.
The first meal that you will have in the jungle is an incredible lunch.
First day lunches in the jungle during the trekking in Thailand
This lunch is prepared beforehand but do not worry, it is fresh and packed just before the departure. Nothing that you would get would be from the day before or old. I am pretty sure that all these lunch sets they prepare just before the departure, believe me. If you have an option to touch it, you will definitively be able to feel that this lunch package is still warm, what means that it had to be cooked not so long time ago. Sometimes these lunches are carried by guides but sometimes, if the group is bigger, you will be asked to put it into your backpack.
The lunch package is relatively small. It has a pyramidal shape, and it is wrapped in a banana leaf. Fruits that will be served during the lunch would be carried by guides.
The first day lunch very often consists of a fried rice with some extra toppings. Usually, that would be a fried egg or an omelet. Sometimes you might get a fried rice with tofu. However, in most cases this meal is a vegetarian lunch, and no shrimps or fish sauce is added to it.
Apart from that, some fruits would be served as a dessert too. It is really nice. They quench your thirst easily and water you. Secondly, they provide you with extra healthy sugars that are needed during the trekking. Juicy pineapples and watermelons are the most popular. They are nicely sliced, and all darkish elements are cut off.
The whole lunch is served in the real jungle. The selected place for the meal would either be close to the river, or close to the waterfall, or just on a flat, shadowed area. No matter where it would be, your guides will do all to make you feel really exceptionally. All meals will be probably served on cut long banana leaves and nicely arranged.
You will be able to fully enjoy both the wilderness of the nature and the local Thai cuisine. Enjoy the uniqueness of that moment, listen to all sounds around you, chat with your new friends and observe the surrounding.
After you finish your lunch, you will usually have an option to rest for a short while. Thanks to that you would not have to start your trek just after finishing eating. If the trekking is not too long, usually there is no hurry. You will have enough time to relax and to chill. And do it!
Dinner in the Hill Tribe Thai village
This moment is always magical. No matter in which village you stay you will experience something gorgeous. Apart from great views, unique accommodation, wonderful people and this relaxing moment after a strenuous day trekking, you will have an option to try local Thai food. This food will be prepared in a traditional way, with local ingredients, local spices and with local herbs. Very often the rice that will be served will be the one cultivated by the local tribe. This rice is very often still collected manually and separated manually. That means, that it is much more valuable and much healthier than a regular rice from shops or markets, which is harvested by machines and cleaned mechanically.
This dinner is a collection of different dishes. Every person will find something to eat for oneself and will definitively not starve. Dishes that will be served will come in multiple forms. That would be a composition of regular meat dishes with these vegetarian and with these vegans. If you have any allergies, let your guides know about it earlier and they will try to find a substitute for you and will prepare something especially for you too. If you do not eat wheat, or if you are on a lactose-free diet, inform them about it. They will eagerly prepare something that would be good for you too.
Another nice thing is that if you ask them to be able to eat dishes that they eat or at least to try them, you will be able to do so. Remember, that these dishes are spicy and include a lot of chilies.
To sum it up – the dinner in a Hill Tribe Thai Village is a highlight of the evening.
The best dinner dishes in a Hill Tribe Thai Village
Curries are the most popular. They are relatively easy to be prepared, can be modified in multiple ways and seasoned according to all tastes. Apart from that, vegetables are obligatory. Thai cuisine is full of them. And that applies to all curries too. They are colorful, aromatic and include many local herbs and spices. Apart from that, vegetables in curries are usually served with tofu or with an egg.
Meat dinner dishes for a dinner in a Hill Tribe Thai Village
- Yellow chicken curry
This chicken curry is super aromatic. Has a creamy texture thanks to the coconut milk and has a lot of oriental notes.
What is in this dish? Chicken, boiled potatoes, some greens, and this wonderful yellow curry sauce. Although the name yellow curry might be for you a synonym of a spicy dish, this time it will not be like that. Guides will keep an eye on the seasoning process, and they will guarantee that this curry has only moderate notes. They will add some salt, a little bit of a brown sugar and some coconut milk that will be a nice counterbalance for slightly distinguishable spicy chili flavors. By the way, if you are a fan of yellow curries, check our post on Stir-fried seafood in a yellow curry.
- Green chicken curry
Green chicken curry is much more basic and less aromatic than the yellow one. However, it is also worth trying, especially if you have an option to have it with Thai small eggplants. This curry is definitively not spicy, it has a nice texture and apart from the delicate chicken meat, you can nicely distinguish eggplant’s parts. These chunks are soft but not like a sponge. That is why these Thai eggplants are way better than these regular, purple eggplants that so often are overboiled and have a mashed texture.
Obviously, both curries come with plain rice that is served in abundance.
Now let’s move to the non-meat dinner menu list. This menu is usually even richer! Yes, it sounds strange, but that is like that. Many people either do not eat meat at all, or try to avoid it, or just eat only seafood and fish. to make the life easier, usually some dishes are prepared with tofu curd, and some are with an egg. Apart from that, all sauces like a fish sauce or any other ingredient that might include meat or fish proteins or aromas is excluded. The guides really, do care about it and try to do their best.
Non-meat dinner dishes for a dinner in a Hill Tribe Thai Village
- Tofu curry
Curry with tofu is a great option to try too. You might think that it is just replacing chicken or pork with tofu, but no, it is not like that.
Apart from the preparation of the basic ingredient like potatoes or eggplant, all other steps are different. As I mentioned above, fish sauce and special curry mix powder is not added either. These ingredients are skipped since that they probably include or may include meat components. That is why they are automatically excluded.
It also does not mean that the meal is bland. No, not at all. These tofu curries have their own special flavors that come from many additional spices and herbs. Then the added coconut milk nicely gives sweety notes. On the other hand, some soy sauce adds a little saltiness to the curry. Tofu curries also have more vegetables than these meat versions. As tofu curd greatly absorbs different aromas, these curries are wonderful. With every spoon you can enjoy the plethora of sublime notes and textures.
- Fried pumpkin with eggs
Even if you think you dislike pumpkin or are not a big fan of it, you must try it. The pumpkin that was prepared during the trekking by the Hill Tribe Thai cook was gorgeous! I had never had before anything like that. It was well seasoned, thinly sliced, not overcooked, and the pumpkin had a great slightly crunchy texture.
Apart from that, it was nicely mixed with eggs. Finally, the oil used for frying, created a wonderful, delicate, and smooth sauce.
Then comes a selection of dishes with tofu that are not curries. Even you might not be a vegan or a vegetarian, it is good to try them too. As tofu absorbs flavors easily, these dishes are really good. Lack of the meat ingredient also is not a big problem and even if you think these meals might be flavorless, try them and be surprised by how aromatic they are. They are super tasty, have great sauces and are relatively light.
- Fried vegetables with tofu
Well, that might mean everything. And no matter where you have it, you always get something else. Different plants, different regions, and different spices. All that makes such a basic dish so different every time.
However, cabbage, carrots and onion are almost always. That was also something we expected to see in the evening meal in the jungle. Spartan conditions, difficult cultivation methods, a lot of hills and either lack or abundance of rain and water.
All that could not signify huge crops and a very wide vegetables’ selection. But in the dinner dish during our trekking, we got much more we expected.
Broccoli, pumpkin, bok choy and some long beans were a very nice attraction. All these vegetables created a beautiful, colorful, and appetitive dish.
Vegetables were crunchy but at the same time well fried. Their texture was ideal. As each vegetable was added separately and in a special order, all of them could reach at the end the same level of tenderness.
Tofu cubes are prepared at the beginning of the frying process. Thanks to that it can absorb a lot of aromas from each separate vegetable. At the far end, the soy sauce is added and some mild spices.
- Fried green beans with tofu
Proteins with proteins. Yes, but how good and how rich in nutrients! Thai long green beans are super. As long as you like beans or peas, you will definitively love it too! Although it is a relatively simple dish and not many other ingredients are in it, it is still super tasty and valuable.
The delicate tofu cured is mixed with crunchy green beans and a wonderful light and aromatic sauce make this dish a wonderful counterbalance to other protein meal options like meat curries.
All these meat and non-meat dishes come with plain rice in the amount whichever you want. Apart from that, spices like salt and chilies are served separately too.
Fruits
Finally, fruits are served too! So super delicious, so juicy, and so sweet. Pineapples are almost always, and that is great! They are incredibly wonderful! You must have at least a small part of it even though you might think you have no more space in your stomach after such a wonderful dinner. But, as the trekking was long, you burned a lot of energy, you really do deserve it!
Your guides will do everything to make these fruits be served nicely. They are precisely cut and deprived of all darkish elements. These people would do all they could to make these evenings special for you and let you feel as at home.
On the other hand, they will make you feel like their guest and their friend. That is so wonderful!
Then comes night. A beautiful night. A magical night with the sky full of stars. It is so wonderful to sit close to the fire, to talk, to sing, and to play together and have this awesome sky above yourself. Living in cities, towns, or even in regular villages, you hardly ever have an option to see something so spectacular like here in Thailand. in the place that is far in the mountains in the northern part of Thailand.
Grab a cup of tea, or have some local bear like Singha or Chang and enjoy this silence, these unique moments and try to listen to the nature and your rhythm.
Yes, it is tempting to spend the whole night like that but remember that the next day is also the next day of your trekking in the jungle! So, be prepared for it! Sleep well, relax and let your body regain energy and strength.
Although breakfasts are not served super early in the morning, you will always have an option to admire the sunrise what means that you will have to wake up relatively early. But that sunrise is worth it. That is another magical moment that you should not skip. Clouds, raising sun, beautiful colors, and a lot of fresh air! That is the only moment during the whole day to be able to experience it!
After the sunrise, the preparation of the breakfast starts. It takes a lot of time because during that time not only the first meal has to be prepared, but because your guides will be preparing lunches for the trekking too.
They are trying to do their best to accelerate the work, but still there is a lot of things to be done.
Breakfasts in the jungle during the trekking in the Thai Hill Tribe Villages
For some of you, the day may start early in the morning. The tempting perspective of the sunrise in the jungle might be stronger than the will to sleep. But for some of you, it will definitively not be a morning spent in a hurry and with a lot of pressure. No matter to which group you fit, your day will start with a cup of hot tea or coffee.
A morning cup of tea or coffee in the jungle in Thailand
That is so nice, just sit on a wooden or on a bamboo bench and admire the wonderful view. Everything around you is so beautiful! The nature, exotic plants, hills, and mountains till the horizon. So gorgeous!
Your hosts and guides will prepare all you need to start your day. They will usually bring two big kettles. One of them will be full of water and the second one with tea. This time, your tea will be different from the one you buy on stalls - Thai Milk Tea or even from the one you know from Japan or Taiwan.
The kettle with tea will have a jasmine green tea brewed inside. The second kettle, the one with hot water would be ideal for preparing a morning cup of coffee from a sachet.
This tea is perfect. It is very aromatic, has long leaves and has a proper strength. Even the second brewing that gives a weaker aroma, is still good.
Nescafe coffee is on a daily basis. That is the most popular brand in Thailand and is easy to be prepared. That is why that is what you will get in the morning too. Separately a coffee creamer will be served too as a substitute for a regular milk.
Finally, the breakfast would be served. So, what shall you expect to get for your breakfast in the jungle?
Scrambled eggs and toasts
Scrambled eggs with toasts are the most popular morning dish menu during the trekking. They are relatively easy to be prepared and they suit almost all tastes. Toasts would either be grilled on a pan or will be served slightly heated over the fire. Hardly ever they would be served straightforwardly from the package.
Unfortunately, vegetables are very rare, and we got them only once. Well, we were really surprised when that breakfast was paired with julienned carrot. Strange, but still, something nice and something that makes the meal more colorful.
Scrambled eggs were slightly salted and served with no extra spices or herbs. If you wish, you might ask for an additional salt or some chili.
Scrambled eggs and rice
This is a good alternative for everyone that skips wheat or cannot eat it due to gastric disorder. The rice is plain. It is prepared with no salt and with no spices. However, scrambled eggs are nicely pairing with it. Although the dish might seem to be very simple and bland, it tastes well. Maybe that is because it is served just after being prepared, or maybe that is because you are in in such a nice place that all other factors do not play such a significant role!
All meals are served on plates, so there is rather no possibility of getting more scrambled eggs but there is always an extra bread for all those that need more calories. Apart from that, some butter and jam are served too. Thanks to that you can finish your breakfast with something sweet too.
Toasts with jam
Toasts with butter and jam are a good alternative to a regular breakfast with eggs. It is a light and a simple meal. Apart from that, it is definitively a safe meal in which you will not get any local ingredients. While it consists mainly of carbs, it is also a good source of a quick energy that you will need during the trekking. So, if you prefer to have a continental breakfast like you usually have for example in Europe, choose that set.
Fruits
Finally, come fruits! Yes, I will repeat it once again. No matter how full you were, you must take at least a small serving of them. They are so delicious, so juicy and so sweet! I promise, once you take the first slice of them, you will have problems with stopping taking all next!
After that, you will have some time to relax, to pack your backpacks and to enjoy views. During that time, your guides will pack your lunches and all the stuff that will be needed during the trekking.
Lunch during the trekking in the Thai jungle
Your breakfast is over. Everything is packed, you have a lot of energy and a lot of will to see something new and something beautiful. Waterfalls, hills, rice paddies and many other beautiful landscapes will stupefy you. Then, after a couple of hours will come the lunch time. Usually, the lunch area will be a scenic one. It will be close to a waterfall, at the riverbank or just in a shadowed placed that will have a nice view.
Guides will prepare the table for you and will give you your lunch packed in a banana leaf. Opening this natural lunch box is always a nice moment, during which you might feel like a child on a Christmas Day. And although the meal inside might not be the most sophisticated one, it will definitively be a good one, and you will enjoy it!
Fried instant noodles with tofu and vegetables
These noodles are almost a must. They are almost always served as a lunch dish during the second and the third day of the trekking. Maybe it is not the best type of noodles, but these noodles are well prepared, have a lot of vegetables and they usually come with tofu.
This lunch box is of course wrapped in a banana leaf and prepared early in the morning. Vegetables are crunchy, but well boiled and soft. Sometimes a soya sauce is added at the end of the frying process of the meal. This sauce nicely changes the color of noodles and gives an extra Asian flavor. Apart from that, during the cooking process, tofu curd absorbs a lot of aromas. All that make the whole dish really tasty.
Salted fish and rice
In case you skip wheat flour, or you cannot eat instant noodle, ask for an alternative. I did so, and I was proposed a salted fish with rice. That was a great choice!
The fish was freshly fished in the river and soaked in an extremely salted water for the whole night. After that, the fish was covered with a thin salty layer that worked like a lemon juice for ceviche. Although the fish was neither boiled nor fried, it was not raw inside and had a delicate flesh. Unfortunately, it was extremely salty, but when it was paired with plain rice, it created a great meal.
Fruits
Yes, no matter which day of the trekking it is, fruits are obligatory. There is no need of my repeating that it is a must to have some of them after this lunch too. Especially during the lunch time, it is really important. Remember that you have already lost a lot of water during the trekking in the jungle and your body needs hydration, vitamins and minerals!
So, as you can see, these jungle meals are wonderful. I am not saying you should go for a trekking only because of them, but believe me, they are really delicious!
Author: Beti – A passionate traveler and lover of Asian cuisine, especially Thai and Japanese dishes, Bernadeta brings her culinary and cultural experiences to life in her writing. Beyond her travels, she’s an avid technology enthusiast with a deep interest in data processing, merging her love for exploration with analytical insights.
Photographer: Adalbert – An aficionado of computers and photography, Adalbert captures the essence of diverse cuisines with a discerning eye. A connoisseur of rich flavors and particularly fond of meat-based dishes, he combines his technical skills with his passion for the culinary arts in every shot.
