Less than two hours’ drive from Bangkok, on the southeast coast of Thailand, there is a sleepy seaside town called Sri Racha. It’s not too touristy, it’s relaxed, and, from the ocean to the jungle, it’s brimming with wildlife. But for most, this isn’t why Sri Racha is particularly significant. As you may have already guessed, the town is the birthplace of the now much-loved, world-renowned condiment, sriracha.
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In the late 1940s, Thanom Chakkapak of Sri Racha would regularly serve her family and friends her own signature sauce recipe. It was a little spicy, it was tangy, it was garlicky, and they loved it so much, they urged Chakkapak to bottle it and sell it so that everyone across the country could enjoy it. And so she created Sriraja Panich, a brand that remains popular across Thailand today.
In the US, most will have tried a different version of…