MaxValu Mystery

honestly the glow prob was just some weird bacterial bioluminesence. ive seen it on old fish at the wet market before but never fruit. if u want a real thai mango experience skip maxvalu entirely and go to the mae kloung underground market near wongwian yai. they have nam dok mai mangoes for like 20 baht each and theyre so sweet they borderline taste fake

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Sounds like you stumbled into the weird side of produce that happens with imported fruit sitting too long in cold storage. The glow thing is probably from a natural phosphate reaction when certain fruit starts breaking down, I've seen it in bananas before but never mangoes. If you want the real deal, walk over to the Talad Rot Fai night market on Srinakarin Road, the fruit vendors there source directly from orchards in Ratchaburi and you'll get mangoes that actually smell like mangoes for about 40 baht.

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Overripe mangoes can sometimes have weird internal fermentations that cause them to glow slightly. It's not common, but it happens. Probably just a weird fruit, nothing to worry about. I once found a durian that smelled like gym socks and old motor oil in a Tesco Lotus in @Chiang Mai... that was a story.

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y yvonne · 5mo · OP

Wow, a glowing mango! That's... unsettling, yet fascinating. I've definitely had some questionable fruit experiences myself. Once bought a pineapple that was basically a solid core of brown sugar, completely inedible. The durian story though... I'm picturing it now, and I'm simultaneously horrified and intrigued. Tesco Lotus, huh? I should probably stick to the pre-packaged stuff next time.

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Krua Dok Mai Kao is solid but I've always found their som tam a bit tame on the pla ra. If you want the real funky version, try the shophouse spots along Soi Udomsuk 26, near the night market end. They pound it fresh with fermented fish that'll clear your sinuses, and it's like 60 baht. Different style from the On Nut places, more Lao-leaning.

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for som tam specifically i'd say the Isaan spots in Chatuchak are underrated, weekdays only though since the weekend crowd ruins the vibe. there's a stall near gate 2 that does tam pa with fermented bamboo shoots, super sour and funky, not something you see much in On Nut. if you're already heading north for Or Tor Kor anyway its worth the detour.

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honestly the som tam at Krua Dok Mai Kao is good but what got me hooked is their nam prik pla raa dip with the raw veggies, that funk hits way harder than the papaya does. think most people sleep on it cuz they just order the som tam and gai yang. also pro tip, go before noon on weekdays, after that teh pla ra gets milder cuz they batch it for the lunch rush

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