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3. Food, Vegetable and Herbs Mon’s food is unique. Mon people apply local vegetables in their cooking. The vegetables that they use are normally succulent mucilage and sour vegetables such as Ceylon spinach (A-Nerng Larn in Mon language), Look San (Look A-Lod in Mon language, it is a large hard , that is similar to Turkey berry, producing its around early 5th lunar month or late 6th lunar month), Indica (Ha Prao in Mon language, it produces a large green hard fruit which is similar to a fruit of yellow oleander mixed with pumpkin.It produces its fruits around late 9th -10th lunar months), Okra (Bor Ka-Tard in Mon language) and Roselle (Ha-Jeb in Mon language). These vegetables can be collected from around their houses because Mon people normally them behind or front of the house on Maeklong river bank. Examples of Traditional Mon Foods

1. Moringa Leaves and Mung Beans Curry (Fatana Hnaiderngbod Kamaeboy in Mon language).

(Central Data Center, Ministry of Culture, http://www.m-culture.in.th)

2. Monkey Apple and Morning Glory Curry (Fa-A To Ka Hnerng Hwoon in Mon language)

3. Elephant Ear Plant Sour Soup (Fa-Kraw in Mon language) 2

(Central Data Center, Ministry of Culture, http://www.m-culture.in.th) 4. Raw Banana and Young Tamarind Leaves Curry (Fa Prard Ka A Nah Maeng Klon in Mon language)

(Central Data Center, Ministry of Culture, http://www.m-culture.in.th) 5. Vegetable Sour Soup (Fa Kanekoo in Mon Language) 6. Look San Sour Soup (Fa A Lod in Mon language)

(Central Data Center, Ministry of Culture, http://www.m-culture.in.th)

7. Dillenia Indica Sour Soup (Fahaprao in Mon language) 3

(Central Data Center, Ministry of Culture, http://www.m-culture.in.th) 8. Khao chae, dry-cooked rice in cold water, eaten with condiments (Perng Dard in Mon language)

(Central Data Center, Ministry of Culture, http://www.m-culture.in.th) 9. Spicy and Sour Fish Dipping Sauce (A Worge A Jorm in Mon language)

(Central Data Center, Ministry of Culture, http://www.m-culture.in.th) 10. Palm Fruit Curry with Mung Bean

(Central Data Center, Ministry of Culture, http://www.m-culture.in.th)

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11. River snail curry with bitter ginger

(Central Data Center, Ministry of Culture, http://www.m-culture.in.th) 12. Great Morinda and Raw Banana Spicy Salad

(Central Data Center, Ministry of Culture, http://www.m-culture.in.th) 13. Spicy Vegetable and Basil Soup

(Central Data Center, Ministry of Culture, http://www.m-culture.in.th)

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14. Pla Kim Khai Tao with (Vermicelli and taro in coconut milk)

(Central Data Center, Ministry of Culture, http://www.m-culture.in.th) 15. Popped Rice in Syrup (Popped rice made from sticky rice)

(Central Data Center, Ministry of Culture, http://www.m-culture.in.th)

Herbs and Vegetables of Mon 1. Ma San (A-Lod in Mon language) is a perennial plant and Monocotyledon. The leaves are very similar to Dillenia Indica leaves, but they are about three times larger than Dillenia Indica leaves. It can be found in Kanchanaburi Province and Ratchaburi Province. At the present, it is hard to find the tree and just a few people recognise it.

(Central Data Center, Ministry of Culture, http://www.m-culture.in.th) The taste of Ma San fruit is sour with a clear and sticky fluid which is edible. 6

To use, it is similar to Dillenia Indica fruit that is used for cooking sour soup but Ma San fruit need to be roughly pounded to get its clear and sticky fluid. However, pounding too heavy can ruin its taste. 2. Dillenia Indica (Ha Prao in Mon language)

“Dillenia Indica”, or “Ha Prao” in Mon language, is a large hard green fruit. Mon people normally add the fruit in curry to make the taste sour.