# What is worth buying at a Thai supermarket or wet market, and what do the fish sauces and curry pastes actually do?

> Thai supermarkets and wet markets sell different things. Which fish sauce, which curry paste, what is in season, and why 7-Eleven is part of the routine.

- Source: https://clevertourists.com/resources/what-to-buy-at-a-grocery-store-in-thailand
- Authors: Evan & Clara, Clever Tourists (first-hand, from years of travel across 20 countries)
- Published: 2025-11-26

Thailand runs two grocery systems in parallel, and the choice between them is not about price. The **supermarket** (Big C, Lotus’s, Tops, Makro) is air-conditioned, labelled in English and stocks the branded pantry items you can carry home. The **wet market** (*talat*) is where the cooking actually happens: herbs by the bunch, curry paste ground to order, fish still on ice. Most Thai households use both, and so should you.

## Fish sauce is the whole cuisine in one bottle

**Nam pla** is fermented fish sauce and it is not interchangeable with soy. It is salt, savoury depth and aroma at once, and it goes into almost everything that is not sweet.

Look for **first-press** or premium grades, which are clearer and smell cleaner than the cheapest bottles. The label usually states the fish used and the province; Phu Quoc-style and Rayong products are common.

**Prik nam pla** is the table condiment made from fish sauce, lime and chopped chilli. You can buy it ready-made, but it is four ingredients and better fresh.

## Curry pastes, and the difference between them

**Red** and **green** pastes are the two you will use most. Green is hotter and fresher-tasting, red is rounder and works with beef and duck as well as chicken.

**Massaman** is the mild, warm-spiced one with cinnamon and cardamom; **panang** is thicker and sweeter and is used more like a sauce than a soup.

Supermarket pastes in small tins are perfectly decent and travel well. Wet-market paste, ground in front of you, is better but has a short life and should not go in a suitcase.

Supporting cast: **coconut milk** (buy the thicker first-press tins), **palm sugar** in dark blocks, and **tamarind** as a concentrate or a wet block.

## What 7-Eleven is actually for

Thailand has one of the densest convenience-store networks anywhere, and the branches are not just for snacks. They are where you buy water in bulk, hot toasties, microwaved rice dishes, and iced drinks served in a plastic bag with a straw.

They are also the reliable place to top up a phone, pay a bill or buy a SIM. For a traveller, that makes them infrastructure rather than a shop.

## Seasonal: fruit is the reason to time a trip

**Durian** runs roughly from spring into summer, with the peak varying by region and cultivar. It is sold whole, opened at the stall, and eaten on the spot — most hotels forbid it indoors.

**Mango** peaks in the first half of the year, which is when *khao niao mamuang* (sticky rice and mango) is at its best.

**Mangosteen, rambutan, longan and lychee** overlap in the hot season. Buying them from a market stall costs a fraction of the supermarket price.

**Rose apples, pomelo and banana** are available year-round, which is why they show up on every breakfast plate.

## Practical notes

**Cash is normal at markets**, cards are normal in supermarkets and convenience stores.

**Produce is usually pre-portioned** rather than weighed by the customer; at a wet market you say how much you want and the vendor weighs it.

**Plastic bags are used generously** and freely, including for a single drink. If that bothers you, carry a cloth bag and say no early.

**No tipping** at shops, though rounding up is common in restaurants.

## Frequently asked questions

### What is the Thai equivalent of soy sauce?

Fish sauce (nam pla) fills that role for salt and savoury depth, alongside sweet dark soy and oyster sauce in specific dishes. It is not a direct substitute for soy sauce in every recipe.

### Can you bring Thai curry paste home?

Yes. Sealed tins and jars from a supermarket travel well and are the practical choice. Fresh wet-market paste is better but spoils quickly.

### When is durian season in Thailand?

Roughly spring into summer, with the peak depending on region and cultivar. It is sold whole and opened at the stall.

### Are Thai wet markets cheaper than supermarkets?

For produce, herbs and fruit, usually yes, and the quality is often better because it moved less. Supermarkets win on air conditioning, labelling and packaged goods.