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Thailand's Tasteful Thailand Series Wins Gold at the Telly Awards
Thailand's Tourism Authority (TAT) picked up a Gold Award in the General-Documentary category at the 47th Annual Telly Awards, announced on 26 May 2026. The winning production is Tasteful Thailand, a 10-episode food documentary series that aired from December 2025, targeting Chinese travellers through streaming platforms Tencent Video and WeTV. The series takes viewers on a region-by-region journey through Thai ingredients and culinary traditions, connecting food directly to specific destinations across the country.
About the Telly Awards
The Telly Awards have been running since 1979 and receive more than 13,000 entries each year from productions across six continents, making the Gold win a notable recognition on an international stage.
What the Series Covers
Tasteful Thailand runs to 10 episodes, each 10 to 15 minutes long. Every episode focuses on a single ingredient and the destination associated with it:
- Sticky rice - Chiang Mai
- Lemongrass - Khon Kaen
- Mackerel - Samut Songkhram
- Palm sugar - Phetchaburi
- Chilli - Phuket
- Pla ra (fermented fish) - Khon Kaen and Udon Thani
- Coconut milk - Ko Samui, Surat Thani
- Basil - Kanchanaburi
- Yen Ta Fo (pink noodle soup) - Bangkok
- Scented sweets - Bangkok
The format is designed to show food as a window into local culture and community rather than just a dining experience.
TAT's Thinking Behind the Project
TAT Governor Ms. Thapanee Kiatphaibool described Tasteful Thailand as reflecting Thai gastronomy as an expression of culture, community, and destination identity. She said the award confirms TAT's approach to presenting Thai food as both a globally recognised cuisine and a meaningful travel experience rooted in local ingredients, heritage, and people. The project fits TAT's wider strategy to position Thailand as a leading gastronomy tourism destination for quality travellers.
How It Was Promoted
The series was distributed across several Chinese social media and streaming platforms, including WeChat, Douyin, Weibo, and Xiaohongshu. Additional content included behind-the-scenes footage produced by the Sanook Social Team, along with teaser content and director interviews.
What This Means for Visitors
For anyone planning a trip to Thailand, the series works as a practical source of destination inspiration. It puts a spotlight on food tourism beyond Bangkok, drawing attention to provinces like Phetchaburi, Samut Songkhram, Udon Thani, and Kanchanaburi that are often overlooked on standard itineraries. The series has been available on Tencent Video and WeTV since 20 December 2025, so you can watch it before you travel to get a feel for the regional food culture.
Information sourced from TAT News.