Chanthaburi, an enchanting city in the East, is rich in resources, with beautiful beaches, waterfalls, mountains, delectable seafood, and delicious fruits. It is also known for its abundant local herbal ingredients, which have charmed many with their unique flavors. As such, efforts have been made to promote Chanthaburi as a city of herbs and a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy, encouraging farmers to adopt organic farming practices, and pairing up businesses to increase market opportunities and the value of herbs and fruits.
The Herbal City project is a means of promoting the development of Thai herbs to stimulate the economy. Chanthaburi is one of 14 herbal cities in the country and leads the "Food as Medicine" project, "Chanthaburi Life Style." Local herbs are incorporated into food to promote health, generate income, and enhance the reputation of Thai food worldwide. The focus is on "Kra-wan" (Clerodendrum petasites), a plant known for its immune-boosting properties and its ability to relieve bloating and flatulence.
Recently, 26 establishments in Chanthaburi received the Food as Medicine certification, meeting the Clean Food Good Taste and Food for Health standards.
Chanthaburi promotes the comprehensive use of herbs, with over 4,600 acres dedicated to herb cultivation. The three main herbs are pepper, Kra-wan, and turmeric. The Khao Khitchakut Hospital is a major producer of standard GMP herbal medicines, supplying up to 26 types to health service facilities in the area. With a production capacity of 4 million capsules per year, the province has 232 herbal product manufacturing establishments.
In addition, Chanthaburi is home to leading economic crops like durian, mangosteen, and longan, and is primed for developing health and spa tourism. Plans are in place to encourage farmers to grow herbs for processing under organic farming standards, providing business matching opportunities to see the potential and value in the market to motivate balanced farming.
Moreover, restaurants and processing businesses are encouraged to use herbs and fruits to increase their value, emphasizing superfoods and super fruits. Studies on antioxidant content in 11 types of leading herbs and fruits in Chanthaburi, such as Kra-wan, Cha-muang, pepper, durian, Mapid, Ruea Hom, Samrong, Rakam, mangosteen, longan, and cannabis, conducted by Rajabhat Ramapibarn University, found that Cha-muang has the highest antioxidant content. Initiatives like roadshows and the development of a herb processing center are underway to propel Chanthaburi towards becoming a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy.
Data updated on February 17, 2023
Source: The Public Relations Division of the Ministry of Public Health, 88/20 Moo 4, Talat Khwan, Mueang, Nonthaburi 11000
Tel. +66 2590 1000
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