Tuesday, November 2, 2010

SiamSato, Ceylon Flowers and Abaranth

At the 7-11 I noticed this in the refrigerator.
It was in the beer section...so I grabbed a bottle, because it was so cheap. Only 25 Baht. I opened it when I returned home and poured some in a glass. No bubbles, barely any colour...what’s going on?
I smell it, it smells sort of like beer. The taste, to me, a little like a weak, thin Moselle with a tiny dash of beer. For a wine drinker who can tolerate beer...it’s not bad! I still had no idea what it was, so off to Google I go. Of course everyone either knows about it or is asking why no one has told them about it.

Siam (สยาม) Sato (สาโท Rice wine) Wiki says Siam Sato is a traditional Northern Thailand type of beer. Wiki also says “Due to internal migration of people from Isan throughout Thailand, sato (like many forms of northeastern Thai cuisine) have become increasingly familiar to the larger Thai population, as well as to the expatriate and tourist communities.” It has? Nobody told me.

“The increased awareness and availability of commercially-produced sato have increased its popularity.” Well, I like it.

Alcohol content 8%, somewhere between beer and wine. Made from rice, sugar, yeast, water and a culture. ...and there are others out there.

“Ruan Rak (Sweet Home): 7% alcohol, a drier sato with a slightly sweet aftertaste. A more subtle Sato, but famous for headaches and hangover the next day.

Gru Pli (Long-Horned Bull): 4% alcohol, a pungent nose, reminiscent of overripe fruit. Made from black sticky rice. Nice flavor, becoming more mellow with each sip. The most expensive of the three and my favorite commercial Sato.” - Nakhon Ratchasima

It’s nothing like the rice wines I’ve tasted in China or the Japanese Sake varieties. Have you tried it?

In an effort to stop eating out all the time I headed off to the supermarket to buy supplies. But with no real kitchen to speak of, my culinary delights are limited to raw creations. I like to try new things, so today I picked up some Ceylon flowers (centre) and Amaranth (left) to add to my tuna salad...and white raddish etc.
They're dark green, so that's got to be good. Amaranth (ผักโบม - Vegetable Baum or Pak Baum) comes from a huge family, this one is obviously in the vegetable category (not the grain) and is high in calcium and other goodies.

The Ceylon flower, well that was a little harder to investigate. I like to know what I'm eating :) The Thai label had this written on it คอกผักปวัง...does it really mean 'Wang vegetable stalls last year' ? Wang, does it grow in a pool of water? Also tasting like spinach, but with a slightly gluey texture...I'm probably meant to cook these?

The salad was yummy!

Snap's other blog Chiang Mai Thai

6 comments:

Anonymous said... Best Blogger Tips

Well it is obvious you are progressing with your culinary adventures and gaining further appreciation of exotic food. Good to learn that you enjoy your pursuit. Siam Sato...Tuna & Abaranth, which reminds me the boss bought out Mitre 10s stock of weed-n-feed to combat the creeping oxalis taking over her domain. Ah well now for my crunchy rasin toast and tomato juice brekkie. Still in the dakky trakky down to 8.3 deg Amberley and further out--[15 here.] The boss said the food looks interesting, but just made this big cauldron of chicken noodle soup.....Al-Pal@ 291

Snap said... Best Blogger Tips

I love trying different foods and that the boss might enjoy looking at them. It makes me think...when we finally return home, I may have to eat way to the house ;)

Martyn said... Best Blogger Tips

Snap I've never seen or heard of SiamSato before and I've spent a fair bit of time in Isaan. I must have been walking around with my eyes closed.

The way you describe it sounds to me like it might be a decent drink. At 8% strength I'm going to track it down and give it a good go this Christmas.

Snap said... Best Blogger Tips

Martyn, since discovering it, I can't find it anwhere (yet) other than at the 7-11 around the corner. I guess the other 7-11's would stock it.

It's very light and easy to drink...probably a bit too easy.

Catherine said... Best Blogger Tips

Snap, since hearing you talk about SiamSato, I did a look as well as I've never heard of it either. But the home brewing kit looks good :-)

Snap said... Best Blogger Tips

Catherine, I'm going to serioiusly look into the kits, for when we return home...but for now, our apartment contract states no flamible liquids/gases, lol.

If you know where I can buy a 'kit', please let me know...I'll smuggle it back with Stray in January.

PS. I turned my comment moderation back on...was missing notifications. Let me know if you get stuck in the abyss again.