About Sai Oua (The Sausage)
If you have ever been to Chiang Mai, you may have seen Sai Oua on the grill at a local night market, with their distinct yellow-green colour, thin and coiled in a hypnotizing spiral shape– and if you didn’t see them, the smell from the sizzling sausage would be enough to make your mouth water!
Sai Oua is a traditional Thai sausage originating from northern Thai cuisine. Loaded full of fresh herbs found locally in Thailand, these sausages pack a flavourful punch. Lemongrass, galangal, turmeric and red chiles are a few of the diverse and aromatic ingredients– who says sausage can’t be delicious and full of nutrients?
Our recipe has been in our family for four generations; originally from our great grandmother, down to our mother, and hopefully now into your belly. We aim to keep our recipe authentic while allowing a wider audience to experience a unique and exotic treat. We have taken the Sai Oua that our ancestors made, tweaking, polishing, and perfecting it for the tastes of the modern palette– all while maintaining the integrity and tradition of our Thai-Canadian heritage.
The Story
“Sabai Dee” means “feeling good” or “relaxed” in the Thai language. People will often use it as a greeting– “Sabai Mai?” can equate to, “How are you?”, and a typical response is “Sabai Dee”, I’m feeling good! To us, this motto represents our brand ethos; the importance of feeling good about your life, passions, decisions and wellbeing.
What makes us feel good is honouring Thai tradition, family ties, and delicious food– which is why our flagship offering is a family recipe handed down through four generations of home chefs. Thai herb sausage, known as Sai Oua, is a staple food in our great grandmother’s birthplace of Chiang Mai, Northern Thailand. This sausage– known for its delectably herbal, spicy and savoury flavor– is undeniably unique in both taste and appearance.
Over 50 years ago, she began selling Sai Oua sausages using her own original recipe at the local markets in the village in order to make extra money to support her growing family. 30 years after that, our mother took her same recipe, tweaked it to her modern taste, and sold them at local markets in Calgary, Alberta. Today, we have taken up the mantle of our mother, and her ancestors before her. Our goal is to share Thai culture and food with the world, making it accessible to a greater audience while celebrating authenticity and adventurous cuisine. Follow along on our journey as we venture to bring more delicious meals your way; we are happy to welcome you into the Sabai-D family.