There is such a wide range of Thai food that it’s hard to know what to go for and what you will like the most.. One of the most popular dishes is their curry. If you are not suited to spicy foods then it is useful to know which curry is the hottest.
In this article we will discuss the different types of Thai curries and where they sit on the mild to hot range.
Table of Contents
- What Are The Most Common Types Of Thai Curries?
- Which Is The Tastiest Thai Curry?
- What Is A Mild Thai Curry?
- Which Thai Curry Is Healthiest?
- The Colors of Thai Curry
- What’s The Difference Between Yellow And Green Curry?
- What Is The Difference Between Red And Panang Curry?
- Which Is Hotter Red Or Green Or Yellow Curry?
- Is Red Curry Or Panang Curry Hotter?
- FAQs
- Have Some Delicious Thai Curry Today!

What Are The Most Common Types Of Thai Curries?
There are three most popular types of Thai curries. They are red curries, yellow curries and green curries.
All three curries differ in how mild and how hot they are. All three curries also differ in their shade and ingredient list.
How Many Types Of Thai Curry Are There?
The answer to this is that there are 5 main types of curry in Thai cuisine.
Here are some details about the five different types of Thai curry:
- Green curry: Green curry is one of the most recognizable curries due to its distinctive color. Green curry tends to be creamy and holds a light green shade rather than a dark green shade. This curry commonly has flavors of coriander grains, cumin, lemongrass, ginger, and chili, making it a slightly spicy curry. Although green curry does have a slightly spicy flavor, it also contains coconut milk which makes the green curry sweet. The reason green curry has its distinctive green shade is due to the green peppers that are a main ingredient in its curry paste. Green curry pairs well with chicken dishes and other meat dishes. Green curry also is served well with bay leaves or kaffir leaves, which can add extra flavor to the green curry.
- Red curry: Red curry is very similar to green curry in many ways. Red curry has an overall spicier flavor when compared to green curry. This is because red curry contains more red peppers in its red curry paste. These red peppers are able to give red curry its bright color and also its spicy flavor. Red curry contains very similar ingredients to green curry. Just like green curry, red curry contains coriander seeds, cumin, lemongrass, ginger, and coconut milk. This is one of the most popular curries in Thai cuisine. It is a perfect match when paired with meat dishes such as chicken and beef.
- Yellow curry: Yellow curry is the most similar type of curry to Indian curry but is still a popular curry in Thai cuisine. Yellow curry contains a lot of coconut milk, making the overall taste milder but also makes the curry have a creamy texture. The way yellow curry gets its distinctive yellow flavor is by containing strong ingredients such as turmeric. Turmeric is able to give a sweet but slightly spicy flavor and go well with coriander grains. Just like red curry and green curry, yellow curry is able to pair nicely with meat dishes and even fish dishes as it is slightly milder.
- Massaman curry: Massaman curry is slight different to red, green and yellow curry. It is very a very fragrant curry and contains slightly more spice. Massaman curry is made up from ingredients such as coriander seeds, cumin, cloves, cinnamon, and lemongrass. The curry itself is a brown color, which could be described as being closest to the look of yellow curry. Massaman curry is great when paired with beef and other meats like lamb and chicken.
- Panang curry: Panang curry is very similar to red curry especially in its ingredients. Panang is slightly different to red curry as it includes peanuts, giving the curry a slightly nutty flavor. This curry is also made up from ingredients such as coriander grains, cumin, lemongrass, kaffir, ginger, and coconut milk. Like red curry, Panang curry is a brightly colored curry and is orange in shade. In flavor, Panang curry is mainly spicy but has flavors of sweetness.
Which Is The Tastiest Thai Curry?
Determining the tastiest Thai curry is very dependent on your personal taste and whether you prefer spicier curries or slightly sweeter curries.
We would say that based on popularity, Massaman curry is the tastiest curry of all. It is not that spicy and one of the sweeter flavored Thai curries. When a Thai curry is not overly spicy, the flavors that make up the curry can be appreciated. Massaman curry is made from a combination of ingredients including coconut milk, meat, potatoes, and a curry paste made with roasted spices.

What Is A Mild Thai Curry?
Here is a full list of the mildest types of curry that are found in Thai cuisine:
- Northern Thai Burmese Curry: The Northern Thai Burmese curry is a slightly sweet and sour stew which is made with pork belly. The Northern Thai Burmese curry is different from the green, yellow, and red Thai curries. The stew-like curry has very sweet flavors of coriander, black pepper, cumin, cardamom, and cinnamon.
- Panang Beef Curry: The Panang curry is one of most popular curry dishes in Thai Cuisine. Panang curry has distinct flavors which come from the use of spices such as cardamom, cumin, and coriander seed. It is a creamy curry with little spice.
- Massaman Curry with Beef: The Massaman curry is a very unique curry that could be compared to a beef stew. This curry is classed as a mild curry creamy coconut that makes the curry sweet. The Massaman curry is full of chunks of juicy beef and soft potatoes.
Which Thai Curry Is Healthiest?
The healthiest Thai curry is the Jungle Curry.
This curry is made with a combination of creamy coconut milk, water, and broth. This combination make the Jungle Curry lower in calories and unhealthy fat.
The Colors of Thai Curry
Which Thai Curry Is Yellow?
Kaeng lueang is one of the most popular yellow this curries. Kaeng lueang actually directly translates to means “yellow curry” in Thai. The Kaeng lueang curry is quite a sour curry that is spicy and sharp in taste.
What Is The Difference Between Thai Red And Green Curry?
Apart from the obvious difference in color, the biggest difference between a red curry and a green curry is the amount of red chilies that they both contain.
Red curry contains more red chili so therefore is a spicier curry.
What’s The Difference Between Yellow And Green Curry?
The yellow curry is the popular type of curry that is consumed within Western countries. Yellow curry contains a lot of turmeric which is very good for the body.
Green curry is a lot spicier than yellow curry, making the two curries very different in flavor.
What Is The Difference Between Red And Panang Curry?
Panang curry is a very sweet and mild curry when compared to a red curry. Red curry has a lot more spice content, therefore is hotter in heat.
Which Is Hotter Red Or Green Or Yellow Curry?
Is green or yellow curry hotter? Red curry is actually the hottest curry out of the three, due to the amount of red peppers and chilies used in its paste.
Is Red Curry Or Panang Curry Hotter?
Panang curry is actually a lot sweeter and richer in flavour when compared to a red curry. Red curry is hotter than Panang curry as Panang curry does not contain the same amount of red chilis or red peppers as red curry does. Panang curry also contains more coconut milk, which is an ingredient that is used to make a curry creamier and milder.
FAQs
What Are The Types Of Thai Curry?
There are considered to be several main types of Thai curries, These would include Green Curry, Red Curry, Yellow Curry, Massaman Curry and Panang Curry. Within these different types of Thai curry there are variations of the dishes.
Which Curry Is The Hottest
The hottest curry that you could try would be the Phaal Curry.
The Phaal curry is considered to be the hottest curry in the entire world and is labelled the hottest Indian curry. The reason the Phaal curry is considered to be the hottest in the world is because it is made with Bhut Jolokia, which is the hottest chili in the world. Phaal curry is actually a British Asian curry which was created in the city, Birmingham.
Have Some Delicious Thai Curry Today!
If you are not suited to hot and spicy curries, then we would say to avoid red Thai curries as they contain more red chili pepper. Yellow curry types tend to be milder as they contain coconut milk and may be a better choice.
Have a read of some of our other articles: