What Makes It Truly Authentic to Nakhon Pathom?

Sometimes, great flavour doesn’t come from a complicated recipe.

It comes from knowing what to choose, how to use it, and how to preserve the original taste.

For PAK PRIK, the story of our red curry paste didn’t begin with the creation of a new product. It began with Grandma Pranom’s recipe, a recipe that has been part of our family for more than 50 years.

A recipe that once lived in a small family kitchen in Nakhon Pathom is now making its way into kitchens far beyond our home.

So, what is the secret behind the red curry paste that has kept its familiar taste for generations?

1. It Starts with the Ingredients, Not Just the Heat

A good Thai red curry paste is about more than just chilli.

Traditional Thai red curry paste typically combines dried chillies with herbs and spices such as lemongrass, galangal, garlic, shallots, and shrimp paste. Each ingredient contributes its own aroma, flavour, and depth.

Chillies bring colour and heat.
Lemongrass adds a fresh, aromatic note.
Galangal brings its distinctive fragrance.
Shallots and garlic create balance and richness.
Shrimp paste adds depth and savouriness.

That’s why a good red curry paste shouldn’t simply be spicy. It should have aroma, depth, and balance in every spoonful.

2. The Aroma Comes from How the Ingredients Come Together

One of the foundations of traditional Thai curry paste is bringing the herbs and spices together into a smooth, cohesive paste.

Traditionally, curry paste ingredients are pounded using a mortar and pestle, helping release the aromas from the herbs and spices.

This is why curry paste is more than simply combining a list of ingredients.

It is about proportion, texture, and the aromas released throughout the process.

And, of course, every family has its own way of preserving the taste they know and love.

3. The Secret May Not Be the Recipe, But How You Preserve It

Grandma Pranom’s red curry paste has been made and sold for more than 50 years.

What has kept the recipe familiar over all these years isn’t an attempt to make the flavour different.

It is the commitment to preserving what makes that flavour memorable.

Our family continues to follow the same approach to ingredients and flavour standards that has been passed down from Grandma.

Because sometimes, developing a recipe doesn’t mean changing everything.

It means finding a way to let the original taste continue its journey.

PAK PRIK

From our family kitchen, to yours.