Journal of multidisciplinary academic tourism ISSN: 2645-9078 2019, 4 (2): 109 - 121 OLD ISSN: 2548-0847 www.jomat.org A General Overview on the Far East Cuisine: Cuisines of Thailand, Korea and China ** Sevgi Balıkçıoğlu Dedeoğlu*, Şule Aydın, Gökhan Onat ABSTRACT Keywords: Far east cuisine Thailand The aim of this study is to examine the Thai, Korean and Chinese cuisines of the Far East. Far Eastern Korea cuisine has a rich culinary culture that has hosted many civilizations that serve as a bridge between past China and present. Thai, Korean and Chinese cuisines are the most remarkable ones among the Far Eastern Ethnic Food cuisines. Therefore, these three cuisines have been the main focus of this study. In this study, cuisines’ history and their development are explained by giving basic information about these three countries. After this step, the general characteristics of the cuisines of these countries are mentioned. Finally, some of the foods that are prominent in these countries and identified with these countries are explained in Article History: general terms. Submitted: 04.06.2019 Accepted:07.12.2019 Doi: https://doi.org/10.31822/jomat.642619 1. Introduction With the reflection of postmodern consumption East can be highlighted in order to be able to mentality on tourist behavior, national cuisines attract them to these regions. As a matter of fact, have reached another level of importance as tourist the popularity of many cuisines from the Far East attractions. Despite the fact that local food has an regions is gradually increasing and they are important place in the past as a touristic product, becoming an attraction element. For instance, the benefits gained through authentic experiences while various food in Thailand occupy the highest are much more at the forefront nowadays. The spots in the World's most delicious food ratings, increase in the benefit that a tourist can get from Korea (South Korea) is endeavoring to bring its local food reveals that local food is a subject that cuisine to the forefront through the elements that needs to be emphasized more. would create cultural awareness on Korean food. China, on the other hand, forms the basis of Far When the international touristic activities in the East cuisine. Most Far East countries have been world in 2017 are reviewed, it is seen that the shaped by the influence of Chinese cuisine as a number of people participating in touristic result of the Chinese influence which had been activities is 941 million in total from the continents ongoing for years. Therefore, it can be claimed that of Europe (672), America (211) and the Middle-East these three national cuisines should be paid (58). In addition, it can be indicated in the light of attention to in the context of being marketed as a the analysis based on the whole continent that touristic product. international touristic travels are carried out within the confines of the continents themselves In this study, three important Far East cuisines (NTWTO, 2018). At this juncture, especially for have been examined and analyzed. Within this those individuals who are to participate in the scope, not only the history and cultural international touristic activities from the development of the countries but also their continents of Europe, America and the Middle geographical and climatic characteristics were East, the cuisine of Asia and especially the Middle taken into account, and the processes of formation * Corresponding Author Review Paper PhD Candidate, Nevşehir Hacı Bektaş Veli University, Department of Gastronomy and Culinary Arts Sevgi Balıkçıoğlu Dedeoğlu *: Email: [email protected], Orcid Id: 0000-0002-4881-8560 Prof. Dr., Nevşehir Hacı Bektaş Veli University, Faculty of Tourism, Department of Tourism Management Şule Aydın: Email: [email protected], Orcid Id: 0000-0002-8760-643X Res. Asst., Recep Tayyip Erdoğan University, Faculty of Tourism, Department of Gastronomy and Culinary Arts Gökhan Onat: Email: [email protected], Orcid Id: 0000-0001-5072-948X Jomat is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Derivable 4.0 International License. **A previous version of this paper was presented at 4th. International Gastronomy Tourism Studies Congress Sevgi Balıkçıoğlu Dedeoğlu, Şule Aydın, Gökhan Onat of the culinary cultures were tried to be explained. 67 million people (Wikipedia, 2019a). While 75% of Lastly, general information was presented focusing the Thailand population is comprised of ethnic on the showcase products of these cuisines. Thais, 14% is comprised of Chinese and the rest is comprised of other ethnic groups (Malaysian, 2. Thailand Indian etc.) (London, 2008: 78). Thailand's General Characteristics Thailand, the historical name of which was Siam Thailand is comprised of 6 regions involving and the current official name of which is Thailand Northern, Southern, Western, Central, Eastern Kingdom, resides in the central region of the and Northeastern Thailand. In the south of Indochina Peninsula (Mishra, 2010: XI). Indochina Thailand, there is the Gulf of Thailand, and in the peninsula is a region stretching from the east of west, there is the Andaman Sea. Although there is India in Southeast Asia to the south of China. This equatorial climate in a very small region of is why Thailand has borders with four countries Thailand, tropical climate is dominant in general. which are Laos in the north, Malaysia in the south, In addition, monsoon climate is seen in the Myanmar in the west and Cambodia in the east southern regions. While the period between the (Wikipedia, 2019a). months of May and October in Thailand goes on with high levels of precipitation with the effect of The archaeological findings suggest that there was the monsoon rains, the months of March and April habitation in the prehistoric periods in the are those times at which the heat and humidity are geographical location that is called Thailand now. at their highest in Thailand. A cool climate is seen It is estimated that agriculture and stockbreeding between the months of November and February in this region began approximately 12 thousand (Wikipedia, 2019b). years ago. Modern scholars state that the Thailand people came from North Vietnam or China and that The History and Development of Thailand Cuisine they settled in the Southeast Asia as of 8th century The national cuisine of Thailand is called Thailand (London, 2008: 24). According to another source, it cuisine (Wikipedia, 2019c). As a result of the Thai is believed that the Thailand people came from the cuisine having been in mutual exchange with the Altai Mountains in North Mongolia (Moore, 1975: cuisines of the neighboring countries, it was 22). The Thailand people living in the plains and influenced by the cultures and hence, cuisines of river valleys of the southeastern Asia continent led those countries. It was influenced by Malaysia in their lives by fishing in the small villages, growing the west, Vietnam and Cambodia in the east, the rice and gathering food from the jungle. While the Yunnan region of China and Laos in the north, and families living in Thailand villages were comprised Myanmar in the northwest. Thailand cuisine is of elementary families, the family members worked comprised of four regions involving Northern as rice farmers trying to make their ends meet Thailand, Central Thailand, Southern Thailand (London, 2008: 24-25). This situation ensures that and Northeastern Thailand. In addition to these Thailand be among the leading countries with regions, there is Thailand Royal Cuisine, the regard to rice export in our day (Mishra, 2010). history of which dates back to ancient and multicultural kingdoms, yet this cuisine generally Although Thailand is the unadulterated center of reflects the characteristics of Central Thailand civilizations such as Egypt, Mesopotamia and cuisine. Thailand is the only state that escaped the China, it is not as well-known as them. However, colonization of western countries in the Southeast Thailand is among the first centers of civilization Asia region in the Second World War. This in humankind development (Mishra, 2010). This is attribute enabled their cuisine to preserve its why it was home to many different nations. When authenticity (Wikipedia, 2019d). On the other the Thailand Kingdom was first established, it was hand, the cuisine of relatively western countries influenced by Buddhism and Hinduism religions influenced Thailand cuisine as well following the (Mishra, 2010: 1). Therefore, it can be stated that beginning of the diplomatic relations with the west. 90% of people living in Thailand are Buddhists, In 1511, with the visit of Portuguese diplomat to and the rest are Muslims, Christians or followers the Ayutthaya kingdom, a Portuguese dish called of Sikhism and Hinduism religions. Within the "fios de ovos" was adapted to Thai cuisine as "foi remaining part, the majority is comprised of thong". In addition, they encountered Chile Muslims (approximately 6%). Thailand Muslims peppers for the first time brought from the are not Malaysians. They came from Iran, American continent around the 16th and 17th Pakistan, India, China and the Arabic world centuries. The Thailand cuisine, with the influence (London, 2008: 71). According to 2014 data, of the Persian and Indian cuisine, adapted the Thailand population is comprised of approximately 110 Journal of multidisciplinary academic tourism 2019, 4 (2): 109-121 massaman and yellow curry to their cuisine the balance of the main ingredients should be (Wikipedia, 2019c). taken into notice rigorously (Chongchitnant, 2016). General Attributes of the Thai Cuisine Another important attribute of the Thai cuisine is Since Thai people owned rich agricultural areas that dishes are served with the sauce and throughout their history, Thailand is an seasoning called nam chin. Different kinds of agriculture-based country. Rice, on the other hand, sauce can be offered such as fish sauce, lemon juice, forms the basis of Thailand people's agriculture.