The Eastern Corridor of Fruit Paradise
 |
|
All photos © Tourism Authority of Thailand |
MAY 1-9, 2004 MAY 1-9, 2004
Throughout Thailand, a vast selection of fresh fruits are available all year round. However for a taste of the very best of Thai fruits, the height of the summer in May and June is the peak season. During this time of the year, a delightful assortment of exotic Thai fruits come into season. Crispy and crunchy raw mango or ripe mangos juicy and full of flavour; sweet and fragrant bananas and custard apples; succulent fragrant longkong and zalacca; tangy thirst-quenching langsat and mangosteens; sweet rambutans, longans and jackfruit with thick, fleshy pulp; and rich, creamy durians. Refreshing and nutritious choices abound. As succulent fruits ripen on the trees and are ready for harvest, fruit orchards in many of the eastern provinces of Thailand such as Chanthaburi, Rayong and Trat are open to visitors, presenting wonderful opportunities for private tours of the orchards and plantations, and agrotourism. Several offer fresh fruit buffets and ‘all-you can eat and pick’ at irresistible prices. ORCHARD TOURS, FRUIT BUFFETS AND AN INTRODUCTION TO THAI FRUITS
THE CHANTHABURI FRUIT FESTIVAL
The annual fruit festival is extremely popular and attracts visitors from miles around because it provides a welcome opportunity to shop for products of exceptional quality, at truly bargain prices. Colourful entertainment presents an added plus. In addition to contests such as the "Best Float", creatively decorated with fruit, "Best fruits" (durian, rambutan, mangosteen and longkong), "Best Processed Fruits", fruit-eating contests and the ever-popular beauty contest, other highlights include demonstrations of food-processing, gemstone cutting, jewellery manufacturing, the making of sedge mats and other attractions. The festival also features a vast array of quality local produce considered to be "Chantaburi's Best". The dazzling gemstones of Chanthaburi are yet another irresistible buy. The Chanthaburi Fruits Festival is organised by Chanthaburi province jointly with TAT and representatives of "Talad Thai" - the wholesale market. As the various types of fruits come into season at different intervals throughout the year, many other fruit fairs are held around the kingdom. CHANTHABURI'S BEST Contact information Chanthaburi Tourism Promotion Association Chanthaburi Tourism Promotion Office Chanthaburi Hotels and Accommodation Club MAY 1-9, 2004
According to local connoisseurs, durian, pomelo, zalacca, mangosteen and rambutan grown in the eastern provinces of Chanthaburi, Rayong and Trat, are ‘the best’ in the country. The province of Rayong has thus made a name for itself as a treasure trove of exotic tropical fruits. To promote the sales of fresh fruits from the surrounding orchards, processed food items and other local products, Rayong province hosts an annual Rayong Fruit Festival. In addition to fruit contests, displays of agricultural and horticultural produce and sales of local handicrafts and products from each of the villages promoted under the OTOP – One Tambon One Product theme, a procession of colourful floats decorated with fruit and flowers paraded through the streets, beauty pageants, cultural performances and folk entertainment add to the festive ambience of the event. Contact information Rayong Province Public Relations Department Rayong Tourism Promotion Association Rayong Hotels and Accommodation Club MAY 21 – JUNE 6, 2004 Peel back the reddish skin to reveal its sweet and juicy, white flesh with fragrant aroma. Chiang Rai’s lychee is considered to be among the best in Thailand, and the most delicious of its kind. Lychee is best eaten fresh, but it is also dried, frozen, and canned. To promote its fine crop of lychees, Chiang Rai, the northernmost province of Thailand, organises an annual Lychee Fair. The colourful fair features agricultural displays and exhibitions, contests and sales of lychee and other agricultural products such as mango and the famous Nanglae pineapple, local handicrafts, beauty contests and folk entertainment. Enjoy the local flavours of lychee as well as other delicious northern Thai food and fruits, and purchase reasonably-priced handicrafts such as hand-woven cotton materials, dresses and hill tribe silver ornaments, and woodcraft. Contact information: |
