Spice news
ChilliChicago-Area Brand The Spice Drops Launches a Concentrated Chili Oil That Makes Food Spicy Without Changing the FlavorHarvestSaffron In The Cold Desert? Ladakh Is Putting 90,000 Iranian Corms To The TestMarketsUttar Pradesh Gears Up To Become Global Hub For Spice Processing & ExportsHarvestWhy 100 UP Farmers Are Growing Turmeric to Reduce Elephant Crop RaidsHarvestKashmir Squanders SaffronChilliChesapeake Chili Crisp? A DC-Area Chef Is Putting Unexpected Spins on the Condiment.HarvestRed Gold In Cold Desert: Iranian Corms Take Root As Ladakh Begins Saffron Farming Under 'Him Sarovar'TradeSpice market update: cumin continues its upward trendHarvestOyster Mushroom Cultivation Using Large Cardamom Residue: A Waste to Wealth Innovation by KVK AnjawFoodde' tandoor: Chinese ex-property agent turned hawker now serves masala rendang mutton & Indian mee siamChilliChicago-Area Brand The Spice Drops Launches a Concentrated Chili Oil That Makes Food Spicy Without Changing the FlavorHarvestSaffron In The Cold Desert? Ladakh Is Putting 90,000 Iranian Corms To The TestMarketsUttar Pradesh Gears Up To Become Global Hub For Spice Processing & ExportsHarvestWhy 100 UP Farmers Are Growing Turmeric to Reduce Elephant Crop RaidsHarvestKashmir Squanders SaffronChilliChesapeake Chili Crisp? A DC-Area Chef Is Putting Unexpected Spins on the Condiment.HarvestRed Gold In Cold Desert: Iranian Corms Take Root As Ladakh Begins Saffron Farming Under 'Him Sarovar'TradeSpice market update: cumin continues its upward trendHarvestOyster Mushroom Cultivation Using Large Cardamom Residue: A Waste to Wealth Innovation by KVK AnjawFoodde' tandoor: Chinese ex-property agent turned hawker now serves masala rendang mutton & Indian mee siam
EveryMasala

Next: about 24 Nov 2026

Loy Krathong

The November full moon, when floating baskets are set on the water and street stalls sell hot, sweet and sour snacks.

Original caption: A krathong is small container or basket made of banana leaves, adorned with flowers, incense and candles. Loy Krathong means “to float a basket” which is what many people do during the festival on one o
Photo: John Shedrick, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Spices for Loy Krathong

On Loy Krathong, small floats of banana leaf, flowers and candles are set adrift on rivers and ponds. Night markets sell grilled meats, som tam, fried bananas, ginger drinks and snacks flavoured with lemongrass and chilli. A traditional ginger and pandan drink, or a warm bael tea, fights the cool of the season. Many of the floats incorporate aromatic leaves and spices, with incense sticks, and the festival smells of both the food and the burning.

The spices

GingerWarming ginger drinks sold at night markets.PandanPandan leaf scents sweets and drinks.

Also part of it, and being written: Lemongrass (A fresh note in soups and grills.).

About this page

Written by the EveryMasala desk with AI assistance. Background: "Loi Krathong" on Wikipedia. Customs differ from place to place and family to family. If this is your tradition and we have it wrong, tell us.

Photo credits on this page

The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.

The weekly digest

Every Monday: seven spices you may not know, what is cooking this week, and one blend explained step by step.