The Secret to Thai Boat Noodle Soup

Could you enjoy a delicious soup if you knew its secret ingredient was blood

If you answered yes, then you have to try this traditional dish

It's one of the most widely loved Thai soups, and its secret ingredient is none other than fresh cow's blood

Excellent. So what exactly is Thai boat noodle soup? Why is it served in those tiny bowls

And is it even safe to eat? Stay with us as we take a deep dive into one of the most popular soups in Thailand

Blood isn't the only ingredient in this popular soup. Called Goitia Ruha in Thai, it contains thick noodles simmered in pork or beef broth

and served in these famous tiny bowls. But why is that? Well it all started with Thailand famous cs or clung During the 18th and 19th centuries Thai rulers ordered thousands of cs to be dug in the developing country

for irrigation, transportation, and protection from invaders. As the cs expanded, citizens relied on small boats to travel from place to place

Many Chinese workers came to Thailand to build the famous Renzi Pre-In-Sat C

and they brought their traditional noodle recipes with them. Vendors discovered that they could serve the hungry workers

and make a living by floating down the c and selling noodle soup to the hungry men and women

And the tiny bowls were the only way they could fit all the necessary cooking supplies and equipment into their small boats

The bowls also eliminate the need for spoons. Clever. But where does the blood come in

Well, along with the noodles and broth, soup vendors add a few tablespoons of fresh

salted cow blood for flavor and texture You see how red that is The salt stops the blood from clotting when it hits the hot broth Yum Thailand isn alone in this practice

Cultures across the world have used blood in their cooking forever. And although it's less common today, they still do

There's blood pudding in the United Kingdom. It's spicy. It's asy. Blood pancakes in Spain and Scandinavia

They're not bad. And blood tofu in China. You might wonder, isn't eating blood seriously unhealthy

We get why you think that. But when it's cooked properly, it is safe

When vendors add fresh, raw blood to the hot broth of boat noodle soup

the boiling liquid cooks it and kills any harmful bacteria. We don't recommend consuming any blood that was prepared below 24 degrees Celsius

the minimum temperature required to cook it fully. Western employees, has dramatically changed Thailand landscape Some cs were drained and paved to make room for cars Others became polluted and unsafe which drove most soup vendors away Fortunately you can still find delicious and traditional boat noodle soup in restaurants all over Thailand

This street food should only cost about 50 cents a serving, and you can still slurp it out of the original tiny bowls

And if you're still not sold on consuming blood, it's easy for restaurants to leave it out

Adding blood went out of style with younger generations and modern health codes

So most versions you find today won't contain any blood But some vendors will still add it if you ask

The soup is hot, rich, and has just enough tang to drive you back for more

So now that you know the secret ingredient Would you try Thai Boat Noodle soup

If you're curious about other funky foods Check out our Rocky Mountain Oysters video on Origins of Food

You'll have to see it to believe it