Spicy and iconic Tom Yum Kung earns spot on UNESCO heritage list

UNESCO has agreed to list Thailand’s ‘Tom Yum Kung’ (prawn soup) as an intangible cultural heritage.


The organisation’s Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage agreed to include the soup on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.


The decision was made during the 19th session of UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Committee, taking place this week in Asunción, Paraguay.


Four of Thailand’s cultural heritages have already been listed, namely the Songkran festival, Nora dance, Khon mask dance and Thai massage.


On UNESCO’s website, ‘tom yum kung’ is described as a simple and popular soup.


Its main ingredients are river prawns, fresh herbs and hot chili, which make this aromatic and spicy dish a healthy food, especially during the rainy and cool months in the country’s tropical climate.


As a favourite dish among Thais, ‘tom yum kung’ has evolved into a wide range of food products, including snacks, instant noodles, instant ‘tom yum’ paste, and seasoning powder, to make home-cooking more convenient.

Spicy and iconic Tom Yum Kung earns spot on UNESCO heritage