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Aloe Vera (Aloe vera syn. Aloe barbadensis)
Aloe contains at least three anti-inflammatory
fatty acids that are helpful for the stomach, small intestine and
colon. It naturally alkalizes digestive juices to prevent over acidity
- a common cause of indigestion. It helps cleanse the digestive
tract by exerting a soothing, balancing effect. |
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Banana
In Thailand there are twenty different varieties of bananas, each with a different name. They range in size from small tiny ones to large, fleshly types. Thais eat banana in many different ways. They can be pure, dried, boiled, fried or served in sweet coconut milk. They are also delicious when simply picked ripe and enjoyed fresh. |
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Butterfly Pea Flower (Clitorea Ternatea)
It helps the growth of your hair. In Thailand,
they include this flower in Shampoo and conditioner for its black
color substance helping you |
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Coconut (Cocos nucifera)
It is one of the important ingredients in
Thai curries and dessert. Its ripe fruit produces a sweet and refreshing
juice. Coconut Oil is used to treat stiffness when combined with
others mixture. |
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Cucumber (Cucumis sativus)
Benefit from the natural healing properties
of cucumber, rich with hydration and vitamins. |
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Custard Apple
A knobby textured fruit about the size of a tennis ball and light green in colour. The name "custard" is appropriate in describing the flesh of this fruit which is best eaten with a spoon. The very sweet tasting meat is filled with tiny black seeds. |
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Deodorant Stone
The stones have been used in Thailand for hundreds
of years as a body and foot odour prophylactic, as a cure for pimples
and minor skin complaints, and as a water purifier. Chanin's are not
selling the stones as water purifiers due to the time and financial
commitment required to get it approved for that purpose. The combination
of mineral salts has a fairly unique property of preventing bacterial
growth. Because of the large molecular structure there ids no absorption
into the skin. It leaves no toxic residue or by products. |
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Durian
Durian is a distinctive and unusual tasting fruit, with a flavour that people seem to either love or hate. Its extremely strong aroma is enough to stop may people from tasting it at all. However, those who like durian will go out of their way to enjoy this rich, unique tasting fruit, which is the most expensive of all Thai fruits. |
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Galangal (Languas galanga)
Its color is similar to ginger, but more whitish.
Mostly used in Thai soups and curries. The fresh roots are used traditionally
to relieve digestive ailments and cure skin diseases. In spa treatments,
it is used in body wrap helping the slimming process. |
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Ginger (Zingiber sp)
Ginger is good for relieving coughs, stomachaches,
muscle soreness, exhaustion and boosting blood circulation. It is
good for used in massage oil or bathing for its smoothing and warming
effect. |
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Guava
A fruit originating in Central America and the west Indies but now grown in many tropical countries, the guava is noted for its fragant, exotic flavour. Popular for snacks, this fruit can be eaten ripe or when still green by dipping crunchy slices in salt or sugar. Tasty and highly refreshing, guava can be made into luscious drinks, delicious ice cream or rich jams and jellies. In Thai the guava is called "farang" also the name by which foreigners are known. |
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Ivy Gourd Leaf (Coccinia grandis)
Pieces of vines or cuttings, bird-dispersed
seeds, probable dispersal by feral pigs. On Guam, only one sex of
the plant is present (male), so spread is entirely by roots, pieces,
and cuttings. The shoot tips are used in Asian cooking, so long-range
dispersal is often the result of introduction by humans. |
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Jackfruit
The size of a large melon, this fruit is divided into multiple sections. Each section contains a waxy textyred meat which is surrounded by seeds. The jackfruit has a distinctive aroma and succulent taste. While the fruit is usually eaten raw, Thais also fry it in batter. |
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Kaffir Lime Leaf (Citrus
hystrix)
The kaffir lime leaves are a very popular spice
in Thailand; their characteristic flavour appears in soups, stir-fries
or curres (see coconut for a list of other ingredients to Thai curries).
Strongly lemon-like. Although many people judge the fragrance crude,
dominating and penetrating on first contact, most will find it uniquely
refreshing after having grown accustumed to it. Kaffir Lime helps
to tone the skin. Benefits include the soothing of sore and sching
muscles, and easing of respiration with the ingredients camphor, menthol,
and the reduction of tension through the heat and aromatic properties
of the herbs. |
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Langsat
A native of Thailand, the langsat is a small round seasonal fruit. After breaking the thin, whiteish skin with your fingers, you'll find translucent and juicy flesh with a slightly tart flavour. This falls apart into five segment, which often has seeds that are not to be eaten. An excellent thirst quencher, the langsat is best eaten raw. |
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Longan
A relative of the lychee and rambutan, this special fruit has a sweet, delicate flavour. Longans grow extensively in northern Thailand in the Chiang Mai area, especially from June to August. Squeezed between the thumb and forefinger, the shell is removed to reveal a delicious juicy pulp. |
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Lemon Grass (Cymbopogon citratus)
The fresh taste of lemon grass is typical for
Southeast Asia and Sri Lanka. The spice is most popular in Thailand,
Vietnam, Cambodia and on the Indonesian islands. In Thailand, finely
ground fresh lemon grass is added to curry pastes (see coconut). Its
fine fragrance goes well with poultry, fish and sea food. |
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Lime (Citrus sp)
Lime has a very strong sweet citrus smell, which
is help stimulating and refreshing the body. Its oil should be applied
very gently for bathing or massaging as it may irritate your skin.
If applied as a poultice, it will help breathing problems. |
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Menthol
"Phimsen" or Menthol has a sharp and
strong mint smell. It helps refreshing mind, and ease respiratory
problems, coughs, blocked sinuses, sprains, and similar conditions. |
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Mint (Mentha sp)
Mostly it is used to garnishing the Thai dishes.
With its refreshing smell, it is used in many treatments like foot
treatment and body wraps. |
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Nut Meg (Myristica fragrans)
It is an amazingly wonderful spice with numerous
uses. Mix with massage oils, and use as a ligament to treat muscular
& joint pains. Can also be added to baths, etc. |
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Papaya (Carira papaya)
In Thai cuisine, papaya is used in many ways,
in Salads, or the ripe fruit acid from its peel can helps softening
the meat. It also helps exfoliate and smoothes the skin when apply
its fruit to your skin. |
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Pineapple
Thailand is one of the largest producers of this flavourful juicy fruit which is best planted in sandy seacoast soil. The pineapple grows year round, not on a tree as some people expect, but on a low plant. Pineapple is a versatile fruit used for desserts, drinks, and savoury dishes. |
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Plai (Zingiber sp)
External use as anti-inflammatory for sprain
and muscular pain, wound healing, therapeutic massage and for a steam
bath |
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Pomelo
The pomelo is similar to a grapefruit, although its sections can be peeled apart more easily. The meat is succulent, with a delicious sour-sweet flavour. Available all year round there are many varities with the flesh varying from pale yellow, orange to red. |
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Rambutant
The name for this fruit is derived from the Malay worg "rambut" meaning hair. This is because the fruit's rind is made of red and yellow spiky points. Peeling away this orange rind, a firm, white, translucent flesh is revealed. Thais are experts at delicately carving away the sweet flesh from its center seed. |
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Rose Apple
Bell-shaped, the rose apple has a glossy skin that is either green of pink in colour. It has a crisp, crunchy taste, which is extremely refreshing. The figure of the fruit is similar to a pear. Thais like to eat it dipped in salt and sugar. |
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Sapodilla
The dull and unattractive skin of this fig-like fruit is deceiving. Peel away the outside with a knife and you reveal a soft, succulent flesh with a honey flavour. This fruit is often carved into decorative shapes and is a definite favourite with Thais. |
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Sea Salt
Natural Salt is an essential element in the
diet of not only humans but of animals, and even of many plants. Use
of natural salt is as old as human history. Natural Salt is one of
the most effective and most widely used of all food seasonings and
natural preservatives.
Natural salt is source of 21 essential and 30 accessory minerals that
are essential to our health. |
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Strawberry
Although not a native, strawberry grown well in Thailand's northern rolling hills. During the cooler months of December to March, villagers bring charming handwoven baskets filled with this luscious red fruit to market. Thai strawberries are medium size, juicy and very rich in flavour. |
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Sweet Basil (Ocimum basilicum)
"Horapa" or Sweet Basil is used extensively
in aromatherapy for ailments such as stress, migraine, colds and hay
fever. |
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Tamarind (Tamarindus
indica)
You can make a drink from it with a tablespoon
of tamarind pulp and a tablespoon of sugar mixed in a glass of water
and ice. But be careful about how much you drink because it can be
a mild laxative.
In Thailand, the wood of the Tamarind tree is the best cutting board
because it is soft for the knife and you frequently cutting boards
made from flat cuts from a tree 4 inches thick and up to 3 feet in
diameter. |
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Thai White Mud
Thai White Mud (Din So Pong) was traditionally
used ad talcum powder after shower. It offers cooling, healing and
protecting natural body and face treatment for centuries. Not really
like a mud but more like a thick white chalk, it effervesces in water
also has pleasant smell and traditionally. Din So Pong helps draw
out impurities, heals wounds, clears rashes. |
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Tumeric (Curcuma domestica)
Called Khamin in Thai. This orange-colored rhizome
is dried and crushed to form a powdered spice and coloring for many
kinds of food. It is used in herbal medicine to treat stomach discomfort
and in traditional cosmetics for skin care. When crushed, the oil
the rhizome yields is an efficient natural moisturiser and it also
has antiseptic properties. |
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Watermelon
The rich Thai soil gives local watermelons their delicious flavour. Watermelon comes in two colours; rich ruby-red and a more unusual golden yellow. This fruit is often used as the centerperce for fruit carving because intricate designs can be made by using the fruit's thick, green rind. Watermelon makes delicious refreshing fruit drinks when its pulp is swirled in a blender. |
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