SKIP AHEAD
- Quick Facts
- Popular Thai Drinks
- Drinking Etiquette in Thailand
- Drinking Culture in Thailand
- Interesting Facts About Drinking in Thailand
Drinking is a way to stay hydrated during the day, but it can also be a way to socialize with locals. Thai people have a strong drinking culture and, when visiting Thailand, you will get to taste their many specialties. Inexpensive Thai beers like Chang or Leo can be found everywhere and are an ideal fresh break.
You can also try one of their liquors made from fermented rice or have a cold co*cktail in the heat of the night. Lime juice stalls are pretty much everywhere, and Thai iced coffee is perfect to start the day with a kick.
Read our short article and learn more about drinking in Thailand!
Quick Facts
- For Thai people, drinking is a sharing experience, a way to relax and have fun with friends.
- Try the famous Thai beers like Singha and Leo.
- Customized co*cktails are increasingly popular in many high-end restaurants and bars.
- It is important to know and to follow the local drinking etiquette.
- Shout "chon!" to propose a toast and surprise your Thai friends.
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Alisa was a great listener to all the things we wanted to incorporate into our trip. We discussed everything throughly, and when I had questions, she had answers the next day. I really appreciate her responsiveness and detail with me. I feel like we are in the best hands with Alisa and Asia Highlights. , Mar 2024 | Very great experience our driver D was…
Very great experience our driver D was never late and always had waters and a cold towel for us and our tour guide Som was very informative and had amazing English I recommend them both highly for anyone else traveling Rylan Coache, Feb 2024 | Excellent guide in Siem Reap
Our recent time spent in Siem Reap was made even more memorable by our expert guide, Som Piseth. Som was knowledgeable, attentive, flexible and super helpful - we learnt so much about Siem Reap and Cambodia in our 3 days with him. His English was excellent and his knowledge of, and pride in, his country was outstanding. We would highly recommend Som for anyone wanting an excellent guide in Siem Reap! Sharon Townshend, Feb 2024 | Asia Highlights trip to Thailand
Our first tour guide in Bangkok, Marie, was great to tour around with. She was extremely friendly and knowledgeable and spoke wonderful English. Our next stop in Chang Mai we were greeted by our new tour guide, Rafael. He too was extremely friendly and knowledgeable and spoke wonderful English. He made it feel as if we were traveling around with a long time friend. Every time we arrived at a new destination, we were greeted at the airport by someone with a sign with our name making our travels easy. I would definitely recommend Asia Highlights to anyone looking for a well planned trip of a lifetime! Tricia, Feb 2024 | Amazing Thailand experience
The tour guides were all knowledgeable and accommodating, especially Mayuree in Bangkok- absolutely wonderful. We felt taken care of and every step of the way was catered to our needs. Ashley White, Feb 2024 | Private tour perfect for our times
Asia highlights organized a private tour with our requests. Everything was perfect ?? the driver Tom and the guide Ying were always on time with a smile in their face. Always willing to help and make our trip perfect.Bangkok is a very hot city so we minimized the time outside. The driver always had cold towels for us in the van and cold beverages. Virginia, Feb 2024 | Thailand
We loved Chiang Mai and Susie did a great job showing us several temples, taking many pictures of us with the elephants at the sanctuary (a definite highlight of the entire trip!), and making sure we were well fed, which became a running joke between us.We had a very relaxing few days in phu*ket enjoying the beautiful beaches. Kai was great, answering all of our questions and giving us a nice tour of the old town. The all-day speedboat tour of the Phi Phi islands started off a little shaky as the sea was quite rough so if you’re at all uncomfortable bouncing around in a speedboat, you might want to skip that tour. Things did calm down as the day went on and some of the areas they took us to for swimming, snorkeling, etc were really beautiful. A couple of the islands were too crowded with people. Andrea Roberts, Feb 2024 | What a Wonderful Trip
What a Wonderful Trip! We booked with Sharon and our trip was great - guides were waiting for us at each stop, and they were all very nice and helpful. I cannot stress how amazing the guides were - they made the trip. Rachel, Feb 2024 | Ask for Victor!
If you are traveling to Bangkhok you need to request Victor. He made our trip amazing! My family completed bucket list items with his guidance. He knew exactly how to get us places, kept us on time, made us feel safe, educated us on history, spoke excellent English and was genuinely a nice man! Everyone we encountered was awesome- but Victor is the reason for my 5 star review! Sandy, Jan 2024 | Thank you Alisa for helping us plan a…
Thank you Alisa for helping us plan a wonderful trip to Thailand. We had a great time. The tour guides were wonderful as were the hotels you booked for us. We will definitely contact you to plan our next trip Carol Yeung, Jan 2024 | Ying was the best
Ying was the best. She was really knowledgeable and kind. Thank you Ying for wonderful experience in Thailand! Sylvester Yeung, Jan 2024 | Very well organized
Very well organized. Our tour guide, Ying, was amazing! She had full knowledge of every location we visited and made sure our itinerary was fulfilled as expected. She was extremely helpful for our airport experiences, and made sure we arrived at an appropriate time. David M. Kang, Jan 2024 | Family trip to Thailand
We were lucky to be greeted by Marie and her driver.In Marie, we have made a friend for life. She is incredibly smart and knowledgeable about her home country. From the vast number of temples to safely traversing Chinatown.She helped give us tips on our free days, locate left behind lost clothing and arrange for pickup. She even helped check us in for our flight to Chiang Mai.She prepared us ahead of time for every event we had scheduled and bonded with our kids, 3x 13 year olds. Justin Levenbrook, Jan 2024 | Thailand with and amazing tour guide Ying
I highly recommend Ying as a tour guide in Thailand. Her expertise in Thai culture, combined with her passion for food and genuine love for her country, made the tour an exceptional experience. If you're looking for a guide who will not only show you the sights but also immerse you in the local culture and help you discover delicious Thai cuisine, Ying is the perfect choice. Diana Irizarry, Jan 2024 | Asia Highlights Thailand trip
Asia Highlights provided us with a great travel trip. They made it very easy to navigate through Thailand with everything going very smoothly. From the easy transportation to the great day itinerary everything was awesome. Will definitely look to use this agency again in the future. Taylor Jones, Jan 2024 | Perfect 2 WK Thailand Trip for a Solo Female Traveler
Bank was our guide in Bangkok and he showed us around the city with ease and we were able to see and try things I never would have planned on my own. After Bangkok, our small group flew to Chiang Mai for Yi Peng lantern festival and that was a breathtaking experience that I will never forget! Pop was our guide in this city and she was knowledgeable, kind and caring which made our experience even more memorable. Tia, Dec 2023 | We recently have just returned from Thailand
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On our 5th day of our trip with Asiahighlights. We felt well taken care of before and it hasn’t changed since we started from Bangkok to Hanoi (guide Kim was verrry knowledgeable!) to Halong Bay (spectacular scenery) to Hoi An (guide Nhieu Tran, giving great local (shopping) tips and insights). Stefan Eisenhut, Dec 2023 |
Popular Thai Drinks
Drinks (any kind of drinks) are part of a country's culture, and enjoying them is a way to bond with locals and experience their lifestyle. Having a drink with someone is anspecial way to socialize, and joining groups of Thai people for a drink or two can be really fun.
Beers are extremely popular, and the most famous brands are quite inexpensive. You can find industrial or craft beers – both kinds are ideal during the long tropical nights. For something stronger, try one of the many co*cktails inspired by Thai culture. Fruit juice and Thai iced coffee, will keep you hydrated during the day, while amazing your taste buds.
Beers
Beer is a popular drink in Thailand, and the most common brands are Singha, Leo, and Chang. Read more about Thai Beers.
They are inexpensive and easy to find everywhere. Singha is a pale lager, and it is the most famous Thai beer abroad. It is also possible to arrange tours of the brewery located in Bangkok. Leo,another lager, is cheaper than Singha and almost as popular. Chang is extremely popular all over Thailand. It is the cheapest top brand beer you can find, and it is a little bit stronger than Singha and Leo (6.4 percent).
Besides industrial beers, you can also find some really good craft ones. For example, Full Moon Chalawan Pale Ale, with its fruity notes and sour taste; it is an easy drink for the long hot days. Eleventh Fort Black India Pale Ale is dark brown, with coffee and chocolate notes and a medium-bitter taste – a beer as far away as you can get from the ones listed above.
co*cktails
co*cktails are popular as well, and in Bangkok it is possible to taste some unique creations inspired by Thai culture.
The Siam Mary is for those looking for strong flavors. It is made with Thai chili, wasabi, basil, coriander, lemongrass, and tomato juice−basically a Thai spicy variation of the classic Bloody Mary. It was created for the opening of the St. Regis Bangkok.
Finally, at the Sky Bar in Bangkok, you will get a co*cktail commemorating the movie "The Hangovers II", which was shot in Bangkok. The Hangovertini is made with green tea liquor, Martini Rosso, green apple juice, and rosemary-infused honey, for an incredibly rich taste you won't forget easily.
Fresh Juice
Fresh juices are an excellent choice when trying to stay hydrated under the scorching sun of Thailand. One of the most popular ones is pomegranate juice, a good source of vitamin C, antioxidants, and fiber. Orange juice combines salty and sweet flavors, and it is a common favorite.
Sugarcane juice is not something you will easily find abroad. It is incredibly sweet (with no sugar added) and it has a somewhat strong flavor that can be unpleasantfor some people. However, we sure think it is worth a try.
Coffee
Oliang is the famous Thai iced coffee. Coffee is brewed with a simple coffee filter (a metal ring with a bag attached underneath) which is also used for tea. The oilang is put inside the coffee filter and boiling water is poured slowly, so to let the coffee to dissolve properly and release all its flavor.
The coffee in the bag will have to steep for about 10 minutes until it gets strong enough. Oliang is then served in a big glass filled with ice, and sometimes condensed milk is added as well.
Drinking Etiquette in Thailand
When drinking with others, pouring a drink for someone else is considered a nice gesture. Seniority is always important;when toasting, toast the older people first, and then the rest of the group. Usually it is the host's duty to start a toast. If you are the host, remember to sit in the middle of the table, not at the head. When it comes to paying the bill, the older people should pay most of the bill;but this doesn't always happen.
Drinking is sharing −it is common to have a bottle or a beer tower to share with everyone or to invite strangers to join the table.
Thai people like to eat while they drink. While in western countries it is common to drink first and then maybe eat something late at night, Thai people will keep eating small amounts of food throughout the night to keep their stomach full and to avoid getting drunk too quickly.
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Drinking Culture in Thailand
It is common for Thai people to enjoy themselves at the local bar. However, drinking culture in Thailand is somewhat different from the drinking culture in many western countries.
When drinking with Thai people, try not to lose control or be too loud. Thai people like to enjoy themselves and keep a relaxed environment. Drunken behavior is unacceptable.Shouting, fighting, harassing other people, rolling around the floor… are all behavior that Thai people despise. For them, drinking is a moment of sharing happiness and nothing should ruin it.
Thai people usually drink in bars, nightclubs, or karaoke bars. However, they usually keep to their own group, dancing and singing around the table.
You can say 'cheers' in Thai in more than one way. When someone wants to have a toast, they will shout "chon!", which means "to touch glasses". Mote gaowis an invitation to finish your drinks ("bottoms up"); while chok dee and chai yo are two ways of saying "good luck or success".
Interesting Facts About Drinking in Thailand
Thailand is the fifth biggest consumer of alcohol per capita in the world. The most popular drink is beer, followed by local whiskey. Wine is becoming increasingly popular.The boom began when the royal doctors recommended to the king to drink a couple of glasses of red wine a day for heart problems.
If you like liquors, try the local spirit, Sangsom (40%). It is often referred to as a whiskey, even though it is brewed from sugarcane and aged in oak barrels – so it should be categorized as rum. Other popular brown spirits are Hong Thong and Mekhong.
It is also possible to find an extremely cheap, locally made whiskey made of fermented rice (it could be considered the local Moonshine). It is called lao khao.Even though it is possible to find bottled varieties, the homemade lao khao you can find pretty much in any village, is considered to be the real deal.
Many other drinks (alcoholic or not) can be made using plants and herbs. According to the book The Thai Kitchen, you can get the liquid or flavor out of plants using at least three different methods: squeezing, crushing or boiling. The book recommends to drink the juice as soon as it is made. Most popular are lemongrass, carrot, tamarind, tiger herb, black wild ginger, roselle, noni fruit, and chrysanthemum.
Explore Thai Drinks with Asia Highlights
After a day under on the beach under the hot sun of Thailand, a cold drink is what you need. Tasting different drinks will be part of the pleasure of exploring Thailand.Book with Asia Highlights and start planning your next amazing adventure in Thailand. Our knowledgeable staff will craft a hassle-free trip for you.
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