Comments on: The Fresh Flavors of Thai Food

By: paul

paul — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 07:28:03 +0000

Looks great!!! Thanks

By: Win

Win — Fri, 26 Jan 2007 01:04:03 +0000

Dear, Barbara

I stumbled upon your blog and I love it!Very nicely assembled and very informative!

I’d like to throw in my 2 cent worth in the debate about kaffir lime though.(Being Thai, I always call it makroot anyway) I can see how people take offense of the word kaffir being used.In islamic term it literally means an infidel and the word has been bandied about a bit in fundamentalist islamic schools (even here in the UK). Besides, it is a derogatory term in South Africa, akin to the “n” word in American English. And maybe because the irregular shape of the kaffir lime fruit, it was then known as the “kaffir” lime, indicating inferiority.

By: Barbara

Barbara — Tue, 25 Jul 2006 12:29:14 +0000

The division between medicinal and culinary herbs is -NOT- along strictly morphological botanical lines as you claim, Aeryn. The leaves of the kaffir lime tree–which are -certainly- used culinarily, are definatelly from a shrub or woody plant–trees definately being woody and all. And yet, they are not to my knowledge used medicinally.

The leaves and flowers of a chammomile plant, being green and soft, is the “green,” and “leafy” part of a non-woody plant. However, they are more commonly used medicinally than culinarily.

You are also ignoring the culinary and medicinal uses of seeds, roots, and rhizomes of both woody and non-woody plants.

By: Aeryn Honey

Aeryn Honey — Tue, 25 Jul 2006 09:42:15 +0000

Herbs are the plants generally grown for the various purposes like medicinal, culinary or in some cases even for spiritual value. Medicinal herbs are shrubs or the woody plants, whereas a culinary herb is non-woody plant. The green, leafy part of the plant is typically used. General usage differs between medicinal herbs and culinary herbs.

By: Barbara

Barbara — Tue, 25 Jul 2006 03:34:50 +0000

Yes, Christopher–no one seems to know exactly how the name kaffir came to be associated in English with the lime leaves.

It is a mystery for the ages, I suppose.