Thai Soups – Warming, Fragrant and Delicious

Whether you’re dining in a Thai restaurant or experimenting with recipes at home, the country's famous soups offer a comforting and aromatic experience.

Here’s a closer look at three of the most amazing Thai soups: Tom Yum, Tom Kha, and Poh Taek.

Tom Yum: Spicy and Sour

Tom Yum is perhaps the most well-known Thai soup, celebrated for its bold, spicy and sour flavours. The soup typically features ingredients like lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves, galangal, and chillies, giving it a fragrant aroma.

Often made with prawns (known as Tom Yum Goong), the soup balances the heat of chillies with the refreshing citrus notes of lime and the richness of the fish sauce.

What sets Tom Yum apart is the way it hits the taste buds with a complex flavour profile. While the spiciness is not everyone’s cup of tea, the combination of sour, salty, and sweet flavours ensures a harmonious and satisfying taste.

For those dining in a Thai restaurant for the first time, Tom Yum is a must-try, particularly for those seeking a warming and energising dish during the colder months.

Tom Kha: Creamy Coconut

For a slightly milder but equally fragrant option, Tom Kha is a creamy alternative to Tom Yum. The key ingredient in Tom Kha is coconut milk, which lends the soup its distinctive smoothness and sweetness.

Like Tom Yum, Tom Kha includes lemongrass, galangal, and kaffir lime leaves, but the addition of coconut milk mellows the spiciness.

It is often made with chicken and includes mushrooms, making it a hearty and satisfying option for those looking for a comforting meal.

Tom Kha is perfect for those new to Thai food, as it offers a gentler introduction to the flavours of Thai cuisine while still providing the fragrant and aromatic qualities that are a hallmark of Thai soups.

Poh Taek: Seafood and Spices

For seafood lovers, Poh Taek is an aromatic soup that in local Thai restaurants usually showcases the freshest catches of the day.

Poh Taek allows the flavours of seafood, herbs, and spices to shine through without using coconut milk. Often featuring a combination of prawns, squid, and fish, the soup is enriched with the same fragrant ingredients like lemongrass and kaffir lime leaves, alongside Thai basil, which adds a distinctive aniseed flavour.

Poh Taek is known for its bold and vibrant flavours, with the natural sweetness of the seafood enhanced by the tanginess of lime juice and the heat of chillies. The soup is less creamy than Tom Kha and more focused on the freshness of its ingredients, making it an excellent choice for those who appreciate the taste of seafood without overpowering sauces.

Whether you opt for the fiery Tom Yum, the creamy comfort of Tom Kha, or the seafood richness of Poh Taek, Thai soups offer a culinary journey full of warmth and fragrance. While they are relatively easy to prepare at home, experiencing one of these soups in a Thai restaurant is a must for those who are looking for the perfect introduction to the wider world of Thai food.