Dying of spice, yet the taste makes the suffering worth it.

Thailand is no stranger to spicy food. For the uninitiated Filipino taste buds, it might be considered an assault to the tongue. Though once you brave through the pain, the country’s distinct spiciness is one you will miss.

Chiang Mai in Northern Thailand is a distinct destination where you’ll find different offerings to enrich your palate. One of its main go-to areas for a crash course on local flavors is the Anusarn Market. Here you’ll find the usual Thai favorites like Pad Thai, a dish consisting mainly of rice noodles, shrimp, and bean sprouts. Fresh lime helps balance the sweetness from the sugar and tamarind paste with a welcome sourness, while a dash of chili flakes adds a powerful kick. Seafood in the food market is abundant, as you can scarf down dishes rife with crab, squid, or shrimp. Daring travelers might also find joy in trying exotic dishes containing alligator meat, fried scorpions, crickets, and silkworms. For the familiar Western taste, there’s an Irish pub lurking around the corner where you chug down a Guinness to cool off.

Another standout location is the Kaomai Estate 1955, an extension of the Kaomai Lanna Resort in San Pa Tong, Chiang Mai. Formerly a tobacco barn, the venue finds its old brick wall tobacco drying barns transformed into a museum and dining establishment. Lush greeneries surrounding the area also make for the perfect Instagram-worthy snapshots. Once again, the spice strikes strongly from the meals being offered here. The Tom Yum Spicy Soup is a winner that will leave you sweating, yet satisfied, from every sip. Worth trying as well is the Larb-Kua, a savory minced meat dish. If you’re finding the heat too much to handle, its fruit shakes provide immediate relief. 

Aside from night markets and restaurants, Chiang Mai also has a strong focus on the science of food and supplement production. Take a trip to some of the town’s factories and you’ll find that attention to quality is a top priority. A visit to Chiang Mai University’s Glycemic Index Testing Center (GIC) also provides a glimpse into the state-of-the-art technology that goes into maximizing the potential nutrients one can gain from the food produced.

Our visit to Chiang Mai was made possible by Informa Markets to promote its upcoming “Food Ingredients Asia” and “Vitafoods Asia 2025” exhibitions. Both have a heavy focus on the importance of the food industry, food development, and the growing dietary supplement market in Southeast Asia. It is set to take place at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center, in Bangkok, Thailand, from Sept. 17 to 19, 2025.