Fruits in Thai Culture

Thailand is a country blessed with rich soil and abundant water for agriculture, and warm climate suitable for growing many varieties of fruits. Thai people are fond of growing fruits such as bananas, pomegranates, Mayom (a kind of gooseberry), jackfruit and papaya in their gardens for home consumption. They also grow fruits such as durian, mangosteen, bananas, rambutan and pineapples on a commercial basis. The fruits that are commercially are sold domestically as well as exported overseas. Thai fruits that are exported are delicious and are quite well-known throughout the world. They generate income for the country amounting to 23,000,000,000,000 baht annually. Fruits therefore play an important part in the countrys economy. Varieties, tastes, shapes, sizes and colors for sale, depend on the season and on the region of the country. Since various regions have different countries such as peaches, apples, strawberries and passion fruit, which are all temperate zone fruits, can be grown in regions where climate is cool, such as on the mountain-side of the North or the Northeast.

Fruits are not just a source of food but form an important part of the life of many Thais. Many agricultural families depends their livelihood on fruit growing. In addition, fruits also play an important part in religious, cultural and traditional ceremonies for many Thais. For example, fruit orchard men often present their first fruit harvest to monks in order to gain merit for themselves. During the Sart Thai festival farmers usually present kluay khai bananas along with krayasart sweets to the monks. During cremation ceremonies, coconut juice is used to wash the corps face. When planting fruit trees in their own garden, people prefer trees with names that rhyme with propitious word, such as mayo (a gooseberry like fruit) will make other people like or respect them. The plant khanun (jackfruit) will cause someone to help or support them. Many other fruit trees are more than just a source of food. For example, rakam trees (salacca sp.) make good garden or orchard fences or borders against encroachers. The coconut fruit, both young and mature, is not only good to each but the coconut shell can be made into toys, musical instruments and water ladles and containers. The coconut tree can be used to make tables and chairs or used as firewood. Coconut leaves can be used for wrapping sweets while the leaf stem can be made into toys.

Fruits are therefore of great benefit to man in many different ways. Fruits have been with us since prehistoric times and will always remain with us.