thai food

How do you stimulate your appetite on hot days? Having sour and sweet Thai dishes sounds like a choice. For drinks, you may go for Singha, but some Japanese sake can be a nice match too. Often seasoned with fish sauce, most Thai dishes are strong in umami, which is also emphasized by sake. Thai food and sake can thus surprisingly go well with each other as long as the food doesn’t taste too extreme. To see which type of sake pairs best, Saketora has previously done a food pairing dinner. While reading our report to get the tips of sake pairing, try on your own by buying our “Thai Food & Sake Pairing Set” with free shipping and extra 10% discount now!

4 Types of Sake
Thai Food & Sake Pairing Set
Thai Food & Sake Pairing Set
The above 4 sakes have different styles. Let’s compare them and pair with Thai cuisine or dishes of other countries! Free shipping and extra 10% discount are also available. Don’t miss out!

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Fresh Spring Rolls
The essence of fresh spring rolls actually lies in the dipping sauce. Sweet, sour and slightly spicy, it creates a great balance with the sparkling plum sake of Kuromatsu Senjo which is also rich in sweetness and tartness. Since the sauce is added with fish sauce, it is strong in umami and can create a harmony with the notes of white rice of the sake. Meanwhile, the mild sourness in the sauce can go well with Kiss of Fire too, which shows the flavors of milk and is quite rich in lactic acid. The notes of green apple of the sake can complement the freshness of shrimp and lettuce as well. However, Sawahime is too intense while Soutenden is too soft, so the balance is lost.
-MATCH RATE-
Kuromatsu Senjo ★★★★☆
Soutenden ★★☆☆☆
Kiss of Fire ★★★☆☆(3.5)
Sawahime ★★☆☆☆
Fresh Spring Rolls
The essence of fresh spring rolls actually lies in the dipping sauce. Sweet, sour and slightly spicy, it creates a great balance with the sparkling plum sake of Kuromatsu Senjo which is also rich in sweetness and tartness. Since the sauce is added with fish sauce, it is strong in umami and can create a harmony with the notes of white rice of the sake. Meanwhile, the mild sourness in the sauce can go well with Kiss of Fire too, which shows the flavors of milk and is quite rich in lactic acid. The notes of green apple of the sake can complement the freshness of shrimp and lettuce as well. However, Sawahime is too intense while Soutenden is too soft, so the balance is lost.
-MATCH RATE-
Kuromatsu Senjo ★★★★☆
Soutenden ★★☆☆☆
Kiss of Fire ★★★☆☆(3.5)
Sawahime ★★☆☆☆
Satay Skewers
Satay is savory and complex, so it needs a firm-structured and complex sake to pair with. Kiss of Fire, which was aged 3 years, is soft on the attack, yet well-structured and rich in umami, so overall it can complement well the intense nutty flavors of Satay. The lactic acid of the sake can also help cleanse the oiliness in the sauce, so it leads to an excellent balance. Kuromatsu Senjo, at the same time, is rich in acidity with lively bubbles, so it can refresh our palate. Sawahime is so robust, so a greater balance can be created if it is paired with dishes with more intense flavors. As Soutenden is light and soft, it would do a better job with lightly-seasoned food such as skewers simply sprinkled with salt.
-MATCH RATE-
Kuromatsu Senjo ★★★☆☆(3.5)
Soutenden ★★☆☆☆
Kiss of Fire ★★★★☆
Sawahime ★★★☆☆
Satay Skewers
Satay is savory and complex, so it needs a firm-structured and complex sake to pair with. Kiss of Fire, which was aged 3 years, is soft on the attack, yet well-structured and rich in umami, so overall it can complement well the intense nutty flavors of Satay. The lactic acid of the sake can also help cleanse the oiliness in the sauce, so it leads to an excellent balance. Kuromatsu Senjo, at the same time, is rich in acidity with lively bubbles, so it can refresh our palate. Sawahime is so robust, so a greater balance can be created if it is paired with dishes with more intense flavors. As Soutenden is light and soft, it would do a better job with lightly-seasoned food such as skewers simply sprinkled with salt.
-MATCH RATE-
Kuromatsu Senjo ★★★☆☆(3.5)
Soutenden ★★☆☆☆
Kiss of Fire ★★★★☆
Sawahime ★★★☆☆
Thai Crab Yellow Curry
Compared with Satay, Thai Crab Curry is more savory and richer in umami since it is added with eggs, milk and coconut. Sawahime, which is intense, complex and strong in umami with the flavors of cereal and milk, can strike a nice balance with the dish. Kiss of Fire, which is rich in umami with hints of cream, can be a pair too, but as it is milder than Sawahime, it seems a little bit overwhelmed by yellow curry. Kuromatsu Senjo is a safe choice, with its pleasant acidity and freshness counterbalancing the oiliness in curry. Yet, its impact is not as surprising as Sawahime which can bring out the sweetness in the curry. Soudenten is too soft, so it will definitely go better with dishes made with less spices.
-MATCH RATE-
Kuromatsu Senjo ★★★☆☆
Soutenden ★★☆☆☆
Kiss of Fire ★★★☆☆(3.5)
Sawahime ★★★★☆
Thai Crab Yellow Curry
Compared with Satay, Thai Crab Curry is more savory and richer in umami since it is added with eggs, milk and coconut. Sawahime, which is intense, complex and strong in umami with the flavors of cereal and milk, can strike a nice balance with the dish. Kiss of Fire, which is rich in umami with hints of cream, can be a pair too, but as it is milder than Sawahime, it seems a little bit overwhelmed by yellow curry. Kuromatsu Senjo is a safe choice, with its pleasant acidity and freshness counterbalancing the oiliness in curry. Yet, its impact is not as surprising as Sawahime which can bring out the sweetness in the curry. Soudenten is too soft, so it will definitely go better with dishes made with less spices.
-MATCH RATE-
Kuromatsu Senjo ★★★☆☆
Soutenden ★★☆☆☆
Kiss of Fire ★★★☆☆(3.5)
Sawahime ★★★★☆
Pineapple Fried Rice
Pineapple Fried Rice is one of the mildest and least spicy Thai dishes, so it will go well with a soft and light sake. Soutenden, with a gentle and soft mouthfeel, can makes a harmony with the fried rice. The flavors of green apple can also complement the sweetness in pineapple, enhancing the whole tasting experience. Kiss of Fire and Sawhime are, however, too complicated to the dish. Kuromatsu Senjo is rich in acidity, which also overwhelms the taste of the rice. Overall, these 3 sakes go better with dishes with stronger flavors.
-MATCH RATE-
Kuromatsu Senjo ★★☆☆☆(2.5)
Soutenden ★★★★☆
Kiss of Fire ★★★☆☆
Sawahime ★★☆☆☆(2.5)
Pineapple Fried Rice
Pineapple Fried Rice is one of the mildest and least spicy Thai dishes, so it will go well with a soft and light sake. Soutenden, with a gentle and soft mouthfeel, can makes a harmony with the fried rice. The flavors of green apple can also complement the sweetness in pineapple, enhancing the whole tasting experience. Kiss of Fire and Sawhime are, however, too complicated to the dish. Kuromatsu Senjo is rich in acidity, which also overwhelms the taste of the rice. Overall, these 3 sakes go better with dishes with stronger flavors.
-MATCH RATE-
Kuromatsu Senjo ★★☆☆☆(2.5)
Soutenden ★★★★☆
Kiss of Fire ★★★☆☆
Sawahime ★★☆☆☆(2.5)
Pad Thai
Pad Thai, with the combination of salty, sour and sweet flavors, can go well with a sake that is rich in umami, acidity and sweetness. Needless to say, Kuromatsu Senjo does the best, with the tartness from plum creating a harmony with the sourness in tamarind paste. Kiss of Fire, which is rich in umami, can also match well with the fish sauce while its milky flavors can complement the sour flavors of the dish. Sawahime, however, is too robust, so it will pair better with food with more intense flavors like the previous curry. Yet, Soutenden is too soft, so it is more ideal with food with less complicated flavors like Cantonese wanton.
-MATCH RATE-
Kuromatsu Senjo ★★★★☆
Soutenden ★★☆☆☆(2.5)
Kiss of Fire ★★★★☆
Sawahime ★★☆☆☆(2.5)
Pad Thai
Pad Thai, with the combination of salty, sour and sweet flavors, can go well with a sake that is rich in umami, acidity and sweetness. Needless to say, Kuromatsu Senjo does the best, with the tartness from plum creating a harmony with the sourness in tamarind paste. Kiss of Fire, which is rich in umami, can also match well with the fish sauce while its milky flavors can complement the sour flavors of the dish. Sawahime, however, is too robust, so it will pair better with food with more intense flavors like the previous curry. Yet, Soutenden is too soft, so it is more ideal with food with less complicated flavors like Cantonese wanton.
-MATCH RATE-
Kuromatsu Senjo ★★★★☆
Soutenden ★★☆☆☆(2.5)
Kiss of Fire ★★★★☆
Sawahime ★★☆☆☆(2.5)
Summary: Balance is the key.
The key of food pairing with sake is always “Balance”. Thai food is often complicated with salty, sweet and sour flavors and umami. A sake rich in umami and lactic acid with a firm structure is more ideal to pair with Thai dishes. The sparkling plum sake of Kuromatsu Senjo and Kiss of Fire Junmai Daiginjo are quite a good match this time. However, as the taste of each restaurant varies, if you are having some extremely savory food, Sawahime won’t disappoint you. Soutenden, on the other hand, is soft and fresh, so pairing it with simple food such as Cantonese dim sum can create a better impact. Food pairing isn’t easy but is always fun! Enhance your tasting and matching skills with Saketora’s “Thai Food & Sake Pairing Set”!