Head Up to the Flavorful North of Chiang Mai at Mango Tree

The vibrant flavors of Chiang Mai are celebrated with exciting new menu additions as Mango Tree showcases the distinct cuisine of the north starting October 15. The new dishes were inspired by a recent trip by the chefs of Mango Tree Global and Mango Tree Philippines to Northern Thailand to learn about the culture and cuisine of Chiang Mai. They returned with a collection of new recipes and flavorful experiences to supplement the existing menu. And for fans of Mango Tree, it's yet another insightful peek and taste of Thailand's culinary heritage. The path to flavors points north and it all begins right here at Mango Tree. 

Recognized with the prestigious #ThaiSelect seal of authenticity by the Royal Thai Government, Mango Tree remains one of the few and enduring institutions for real Thai flavors in the metro. Starting October 15 onward, Mango Tree showcases the flavors of Chiang Mai in all its restaurants including Mango Tree Cafe (for more on Mango Tree, see my posts Brand Refresh: Global Thai Restaurant Mango Tree Re-Opens with a Brand New Look and New Dishes from 2019 and Thai Cuisine At Its Best: A Tasty Preview of Mango Tree's New Dishes from 2018). 

One of Thailand's four major regions, Chiang Mai from the north offers its own colorful palette of distinct flavors with its delicately balanced notes of sweet, sour, spicy and salty hints with each dish. The unique culinary style of the north features the use of aromatic and fermented ingredients with dry heat cooking methods for its bold flavors. The recent trip by chefs from both Mango Tree Global and Mango Tree Philippines last July yielded a rich resource of valuable experiences and key learnings while immersed deep into the northern countryside with the hill tribes of Akha, Lanna, Tai Yai and Lisu communities. The result is an extensive new repertoire of flavorful additions to the current menu. 

Your experience of authentic Northern Thai flavors at Mango Tree begin with an audible crunch with the Nam Prik Noom, a mildly spicy and nutty dip made with roasted green chilies pounded with fresh and flavorful herbs served with pork cracklings. That light crunch and savory notes from the cracklings are perfectly complemented by the deep herbal finish with just a whisper of soothing heat from the dip to complete flavors. 

Wash it all down with a soothing Thai-inspired alcoholic libation named the Thai Blast Sparkle and you're ready for the next round of tasty bites at Mango Tree. 

Then, the chefs at Mango Tree served an unusual and surprising dish they learned from the hill tribes of Chiang Mai. The Malang Thod, a beetle larvae or grub isn't what you'd normally order but it's an experience in itself to complete your culinary journey to Thailand's culinary north. Soft and mildly chewy, each bite releases mildly sweet and nutty notes complemented by local spices that's so unexpectedly different from what you'd expect it to be. And soon, you find yourself reaching for another tasty bite. 

Crickets? Why not. The seasoned crickets deliver a delicately crisp texture with flavors almost like shrimps with a distinctly briny finish. These exotic delicacies add a unique layer to your dining experience deep into Northern Thai flavors. Like the Malang Thod, the flavors are not at all too exotic nor unpleasant. Instead, the refreshingly different flavor experience adds to your culinary journey of Chiang Mai. And a good excuse for another round of the Thai Blast Sparkle. 

As you continue your journey to Thailand's north, Mango Tree served another tasty starter with the new Miang Kham. The traditional bite-sized treat brings another delectable play on textural contrasts and flavors from the coconut flakes, peanuts, dried shrimps, galangal, onion, lemon and chili with a generous dab of sweet and savory miang kham sauce wrapped in minty and aromatic sesame leaf. The mix of flavors is complex yet balanced, nuanced yet bold, unrestrained and upfront in the characteristic style of Thai cuisine. And just like most Thai dishes, the seemingly contrasting notes work seamlessly together for flavorful bites. 

From their traditional crispy rice crackers...

...to the fermented shrimp paste dip served with fresh vegetables in their current menu, Mango Tree serves a colorful weave of rich, authentic and diverse flavors to tease the palate.  

The hearty Khao Soi takes you back to the north of Thailand with its thick curry broth loaded with tender and juicy chicken, crispy egg noodles, lime wedges and pickled vegetables for flavorful notes. The silky smooth curry broth drapes the palate with a lavish richness along with the chicken as the lime and pickled vegetables temper the savory notes. Each sip becomes a comforting hug to the palate with its lingering creamy finish. 

Change up your Thai noodle game with the Pad Thai Squid Ink, another new and inventive addition to the menu with its distinctive yet familiar flavors. The nutty sweetness of the squid ink totally changes the profile of the usual pad thai in yet another surprisingly tasty option at Mango Tree. 

The variety of sticky rice offered by Mango Tree calls for even more savory dishes...

...like the Kaeng Hang Le, a rich and mildly sweet curry with tender pork belly, fermented bamboo shoots and a medley of herbs and spices. The richness of the curry is smoothened by a subtle layer of heat from the fresh chilies that just makes you want more, while the pork belly packs that solid and flavorful punch that pairs well with a heaping spoonful of steamed sticky rice. This one's high on my list of personal picks from the new menu at Mango Tree.

And you'll want more rice with the next dish, the Chiang Mai Laarb Khua or Northern Minced Pork Salad with Makwan Pepper. Flown in directly from Chiang Mai, the rare Makwan Pepper adds a gentle and mild heat to the dish with a subtle sweetness and fragrance. Along with the other ingredients of the of the dish like lime juice, fish sauce and herbs, the pork salad also pairs well with rice with its bright and palate-pleasing sharpness. 

The variety of curry dishes at Mango Tree offers a glimpse of the diverse culinary heritage of Thailand, with so many more to explore and discover...

...like the Hill Tribe Aeb Pla or spicy fish in banana leaf. A dish with delicate flavors, the fillet of fish marinated in a unique mixture of herbs delivers a gentle and fragrant sweetness with just a hint of spice made even more pronounced by the banana leaf. In contrast with the previous dishes, the Hill Tribe Aeb Pla offers a refined and nuanced finish. 

The Sai Oua or Chiang Mai Sausage is a traditional Northern Thai sausage made with minced pork, herbs and spices served with turmeric-infused rice. The subtle sweet and herbal hints of the Thai sausage brings light yet flavor-forward notes with the rice completing the dish. 

The addition of Northern Thai dishes to the menu at Mango Tree completes your culinary journey to one of the world's unique and popular cuisines. In a continuing tradition, Mango Tree sets the pace as one of the leading Thai restaurants in the country since it opened in 2010 with its menu innovations. Northern Thai cuisine offers local lovers of Thai food another tasty option, and you'll find it at Mango Tree. How to end a sumptuous Thai feast? A good Thai dessert...

The Khao Niew Ma-muang or Mango Sticky Rice is the classic all-time Thai dessert fave with sweet, fresh and ripe slices of mangoes with sweetened sticky rice. Comfortingly familiar, the sweet and creamy dessert never fails to satisfy. 

The new Banana Fritters with Pandan Sauce presents an interesting combo for a familiar snack or dessert. The pandan sauce just transforms the usual banana fritters with its unique sweetness for a refreshingly new dessert option at Mango Tree. 

The Khanom Tom or Thai Style Mochi, glutinous rice balls topped with grated coconut sugar and coconut palm sugar from their current menu is also a sure bet.

In a creative collaboration with True Chocolate, another new dessert option on the menu catches your eye...

The Thai-Inspired Bonbons in Coconut Pandan, Thai Milk Tea, and Passion Fruit Mango are creative and novel spins to perfectly cap your authentic Thai feast at Mango Tree.

Exclusive to Mango Tree and Mango Tree Cafe, diners can now enjoy the new Northern Thai dishes starting October 15. Ready to embark on a journey to the north of Thailand?