Thailand: A pile of red chillies for sale in a Chiang Mai market

Popular in the west for the past 20 years, Thai cuisine now ranks beside French, Italian and Chinese as one of the most highly esteemed in the world. Perhaps the essence of Thai food is the liberal use of chillies, garlic and lemongrass, with the emphasis most definitely on the chillies. Just like all peppers from the Capsicum family, a surprising number of everyday fruits, flowers and spices which we accept, without thought, as being indigenous to Southeast Asia are, in fact, relative newcomers. The chilli pepper is today so widespread, prolific, and popular that Thai cuisine can scarcely be conceived of without the fiery ingredient. Despite being so difficult to believe the chilli did, in fact, originate in South America.