Bringing a taste of Thailand to Whanganui

Owner of SP Herb May Poka with her imported Thai food. Photo/ Stuart Munro

May Poka is bringing a taste of her home land to Whanganui through her food importing business SP Herb.

Her business started eight years ago in the "heart of Thailand" where she was exporting 10,000 kilograms a time of black cargo rice to Auckland.

Two years ago she moved to Whanganui, where her husband was born, and switched her operation from exporting to importing.

In Whanganui SP Herb's produce is sold at the Castlecliff Four Square, the St Johns Four Square, The Burrow, the Wanganui Produce Centre, Wild Oats and Geetas. Products are also sold to 16 supermarkets between New Plymouth and Wellington.

"Black rice is totally different to any rice sold in New Zealand, we are serious about the product. Every year I go back to Thailand to source the new crop planted in Phitsanulok and Sukhothai province," she said.

Ms Poka also imports curry paste, rice crisps and flavoured vermicelli noodles.

"Every product has nutritional benefits and that is an important part of my business. In Thailand, the black rice especially, is all very popular because people know how good for you it is."

The new Whanganui resident promotes her products in store, cooking "real Thai style".

"When I cook a curry for customers this is my culture and it is how Thai food is meant to taste," she said.

Ms Poka will be attending the Hamilton food show on May 13-14 and later in the month the Wellington food show on May 26-28.