Somphet market

   Somphet Market, Ming muang market (Thai language) or Kad Somphet (in Northern Thai language), is our first stop on the cooking course. We will teach and show you how to select ingredients, identify each ingredient, and demonstrate what food we can cook using these ingredients at the old local market in Chiang Mai.

A little tip : "Kad" in Northern Thai language is market 

A picture of the front of Somphet Market.

   The market is located on Moon Mueang Road, lane 6. Inside the old city wall before Jang Sri Phum.

The symbol of the market entrance includes tuk-tuks parked at the front.

   The market occupying the area around a two-story old building from the beginning of the road to the wooden row rooms.
Originally, this market area used to be a parking lot for the Warm House Foster Parents - Warm House Foster Parents' Sons and Daughters, who were engaged in the business of selling sand and gravel.This wooden warehouse was used for parking up to 10 trucks

The old building : the wooden row rooms (60-70 years olds)
In Thai we call type of this grocery "Sho Huai"

   On the opposite side, it used to be a market called Chamninrakan Market. As Chamninrakan Market attracted more people for buying and selling, the merchants expanded to sell on the side of the parking lot, eventually transforming it into Ming Muang Market.

Both markets together are commonly referred to as Sompetch Market, named after the Sompetch Gas Station (across from Wat Dok Eung) until now.

   Besides the name Sompetch Market, there is also another name, "Mr. Market," because in the evening, young housewives who work as civil servants gather for leisure and shopping. 

Thank you for the information from : Somphet market history

  The first place we will stop is the vegetable stall. The stall owners are Auntie Lee and Uncle Tha, who will provide us with fresh and local vegetables to learn how to select and purchase, and what we can cook with these ingredients.

The front of Auntie Lee and Uncle Tha's vegetable stall.
 
 

Uncle Tha and his signature items

Plentiful vegetables and essential Thai foods ingredients

Acacia, Cha-Om (Thai language ) or Pak La ( Northern Thai langusge) 
The local vegetables in Thailand have a strong aroma and flavor.

Ceylon Spinach, known as 'Pak-Plung' in Northern Thai language,
is a famous local ingredient used in Northern Thai cuisine.

For our next station, we will visit the egg stall owned by Sister Jan.
In Thai cuisine, we commonly use three main types of eggs: chicken eggs, duck eggs, and century eggs. In Thailand, chicken eggs are brown, duck eggs are white, and century eggs are pink.

In this section, we will explain how to choose eggs, how to identify whether they are good or bad, and the different types of eggs.

Chicken eggs in Thailand 

Century Eggs ( Pink ) and Duck eggs (white)

The last station before we let you explore the market on your own is the coconut shop owned by Auntie Bua. Here, we will explain about coconuts in Thailand, the types of coconuts available, and how to order and purchase coconuts in Thailand.

A man and coconut grater

Our teacher Perm show how to hand-make coconut milk

We've enjoyed sharing with you about our cooking class, food, and ingredients in Thailand. 

If you're interested in Thai food and cooking, you're welcome to join our cooking course.