As the world’s largest and most populous continent, Asia is home to many different cultures with their own culinary customs and practices. However, popular Southeast and East Asian cuisines like Thai, Vietnamese, Chinese, Japanese, and Korean share a couple of distinct characteristics. One of these is the use of strong aromatic ingredients like ginger, lemon grass, curry, garlic, chili peppers, and coriander to create distinct Asian spices. You’ll also find an emphasis on colorful and fresh produce that adds crisp textures to a meal even after it’s cooked. Staples like rice, noodles, tofu, fish, meats, and stir-fries are often enhanced by soy or fish sauce, tangy lime juice, and sometimes coconut. Many Asian dishes offer a broad array of notes like hot, sweet, sour, and salty that create a balanced sensory experience once combined on your plate. With that in mind, it’s not a surprise that Asian food has amassed such a big global fan base.