Top Thai Curry Paste Brands for Authentic Flavors

Thai cuisine is renowned for its vibrant flavors, with Thai curry paste being a staple ingredient that brings depth and intensity to dishes. The market offers a diverse array of brands that have perfected the art of crafting authentic Thai curry paste, each with its unique blend of herbs and spices. Some brands focus on traditional recipes with a rich cultural heritage, while others introduce innovative variations that cater to different palates. To explore the finest Thai curry paste brands available and discover which one suits your taste, see the comprehensive list below.

Illustration of thai curry paste

Best brands of thai curry paste in 2025

Mae Ploy

Mae Ploy is highly regarded as one of the best producers of Thai curry paste, known for its strong flavor, good level of spice, and high umami content due to the use of shrimp paste. It has been a top choice for many years, even outperforming other brands in blind taste tests. The brand is part of TCC, which exports to 36 countries and has a significant market share, with Mae Ploy being particularly well-received in foreign markets, although the company is now refocusing on the domestic market. Mae Ploy's products, such as sweet chili sauce, curry pastes, and chili pastes, are favored for their rich and creamy flavors. The brand's production capacity is set to increase with investments in new machinery and facilities. To learn more about their top-performing Thai curry pastes, you can check out this comprehensive review.

Thai Kitchen

Thai Kitchen is a well-known brand for Thai curry paste, although it may not be the top choice among Thai cooking enthusiasts. In a comparison of six popular brands, Thai Kitchen ranked lower due to its weaker flavor profile and higher salt content compared to brands like Mae Ploy and Mae Anong. Despite this, it remains a widely available option, particularly in non-Asian markets, and is often recommended for those who prefer milder flavors. However, for those seeking more authentic and robust flavors, other brands are generally preferred. Thai Kitchen's products are carefully blended with ingredients like red chili pepper, garlic, lemongrass, and galangal. For more details, you can explore the Thai Kitchen Red Curry Paste.

Maesri

Maesri is highly regarded as one of the best producers of Thai curry paste, known for its rich and authentic flavor. This brand, recognized in Thailand as a high-quality export product, is widely used by restaurants due to its convenient and inexpensive packaging, with a 4 oz can sufficient for 6 large servings. Maesri curry pastes, such as their green and red curry varieties, contain ingredients like dried red chilies, garlic, shallots, lemongrass, and kaffir lime, ensuring a harmonious blend of hot aromatic spices. In taste tests, Maesri green curry paste has performed well, especially noted for its prominent flavor of *grachai* or Chinese ginger. The brand's products are available in various forms, including cans, and are recommended for those seeking a reliable and flavorful Thai curry paste.

Aroy-D

Aroy-D is highly regarded as one of the best producers of Thai curry paste, known for its gourmet quality and rich, fresh flavor. This brand stands out for using the finest all-natural ingredients, such as dried red chiles, garlic, lemongrass, and galangal, which contribute to its complex and authentic taste. Aroy-D curry paste is preferred by many for its mild yet adjustable heat level, allowing users to customize the spice to their liking. Recommended by Mark Bittman of the New York Times, Aroy-D curry paste is a top choice among culinary enthusiasts. It is manufactured in small batches to ensure high quality and consistency. For more information, visit the Aroy-D Thai Curry Paste page.

Chef's Choice

Chef's Choice is not highlighted as one of the top brands in the reviews provided, but for Thai curry paste, brands like Mae Ploy and Aroy-D are highly recommended for their strong flavors and lack of chemical additives. Mae Ploy is often preferred for its robust flavor and good level of spiciness, while Aroy-D is a close runner-up and a good vegan option. These brands have been around for a long time and are widely available outside of Thailand. They contain all the expected ingredients such as chiles, garlic, lemongrass, and galangal, without any chemical additives. For those seeking a reliable and flavorful curry paste, Mae Ploy and Aroy-D are top choices.

Cock Brand

Cock Brand is highly regarded as one of the best producers of Thai curry paste, particularly popular in Europe. Known for its vibrant color and flavorful profile, Cock Brand offers a variety of curry pastes, including red, yellow, and green curry options. Their products are available in convenient packaging, such as 50g and 400g sizes, making them accessible for both home cooks and professional chefs. The brand's curry pastes are often praised for their authenticity and rich aromatic qualities. For those seeking a reliable and tasty curry paste, Cock Brand is a top choice.

Namjai

Namjai Brand is renowned as one of the top producers of Thai curry paste, particularly noted for its high-quality Red Curry Paste. This paste contains key ingredients such as dried red chilli (36%), garlic (15%), lemongrass (14%), and shrimp paste (1.5%), ensuring an authentic Thai flavor. In export data, Namjai Brand is highlighted among the prominent exporters of curry paste from Thailand, with significant shipments contributing to the country's export growth. The brand's products are widely used and appreciated for their rich flavor profiles and ease of use in cooking traditional Thai dishes. Namjai Brand's curry pastes are part of the extensive export market, with Thailand exporting over 7,000 shipments of curry paste globally as of June 2024.

Lobo

Lobo is a notable brand in the production of Thai curry paste, renowned for its global reach despite varied opinions on its flavor profile. In a taste test by Thai Test Kitchen, Lobo's green curry paste was highlighted for its distinctive lime flavor, though it was ranked among the less flavorful options. Nonetheless, Lobo remains a widely exported brand, contributing to Thailand's robust export market, marked by 7,087 shipments from March 2023 to February 2024. Lobo's offerings, such as their Red Curry Paste, are crafted with authentic ingredients like shrimp paste, lemongrass, galangal, and chili peppers, ensuring a true Thai curry experience.

Nittaya

Nittaya is a renowned brand for authentic and premium Thai curry paste, established in 1964 by Madam Nittaya and her family. Known for its highly concentrated curry pastes, Nittaya requires only small amounts to achieve the perfect flavor, making it a favorite among Thai chefs and restaurants worldwide. The brand is particularly famous for its red and green curry pastes, which are crafted with a meticulous blend of herbs and spices. Nittaya's products are exported globally, contributing to Thailand's significant market share in curry paste exports, with Thailand leading the world in green curry paste exports. Nittaya's reputation is built on word of mouth, with many Thai households praising its quality as being "as good as making it at home." For more information, visit their website.

Por Kwan

Por Kwan is a highly regarded brand for Thai curry paste, known for its authentic and flavorful products. Their Tom Kha paste, for instance, contains coconut milk, galangal, and other essential Thai ingredients, making it easy to prepare a delicious Tom Kha soup. The brand's Thai Ground Chili with Fried Garlic is also popular, adding a true Thai kick to various dishes with its mix of fragrant garlic, chili, and spices. Por Kwan products are made in Thailand and are widely available, ensuring a consistent and high-quality taste experience. With a long history of customer satisfaction, Por Kwan remains a trusted choice for those seeking authentic Thai flavors.