Mae Jum Kua Kling Paste makes one of the fiercest dishes in southern Thai food: a dry curry that's intensely concentrated and unapologetically hot. Kua kling (also spelled khua kling) uses no coconut milk or broth. Instead, the paste cooks directly into the meat, the moisture burning off until the herbs roast and cling to every piece.
The chili heat is immediate and unrelenting. Lemongrass cuts through with a sharp, citrusy brightness, and turmeric brings a bitter, slightly smoky undertone that builds as you eat. Makrut lime threads through everything with a floral sharpness that lifts each mouthful just enough. The result is dense, aromatic and unlike anything else, a dish where every ingredient makes itself known.
Traditionally, it's made with minced pork, but ground chicken or beef work just as well, and crumbled tofu or mushrooms make a vegan version. Serve it with steamed jasmine rice and fresh cucumber to cool the heat.
Jum's recipe comes from her family in Trang province, southern Thailand. The herbs are freshly harvested and stone-ground the traditional way, the same method Jum learned from a young age. Nothing added, no shortcuts. Because there's no fish sauce in the paste, you season it your way, with fish sauce, soy sauce or a pinch of salt.
71g | Very Spicy Heat (5/5) | Vegan | Gluten Free | No Added Sugar | Stone Ground | 100% Natural
Satisfaction Guarantee
We want you to love every Mae Jum product. If something’s not quite right, we offer an easy, no-questions-asked refund policy.
Authenticity in Every Pack
At Mae Jum, we believe in bringing the true flavors of Thailand to your kitchen. Each pack is crafted with carefully selected, authentic Thai ingredients, ensuring every meal you prepare captures the vibrant, aromatic, and complex flavours of traditional Thai cuisine.
Convenience Without Compromise
Our pastes are here to simplify the cooking process, without sacrificing the rich, authentic taste. With Mae Jum, convenience meets quality, giving you the freedom to create delicious meals quickly and effortlessly.
Prompt and Reliable Delivery
We know how important timing is in the kitchen. That’s why we prioritize fast and reliable delivery, ensuring your Mae Jum products arrive at your door when you need them. With clear communication and dependable service, you can plan your meals with confidence.
Engaged Customer Support
We care about more than just food, we care about your experience. Our friendly and responsive customer support team is always here to answer your questions, address any concerns, or offer cooking tips. We’re here to ensure your full Mae Jum experience is as enjoyable as the meals you create.
FEATURED IN THE DAILY MAIL
“The Thai curry pastes from Mae Jum are some of the best I’ve tasted, full of spice, heat and Siamese succour.”
— Tom Parker Bowles, Food Critic
I was born and raised in Thailand, where there was an abundance of herbs, spices, fruits and vegetables growing around my family home. It wasn't in a garden or vegetable plot, it was just here, there and everywhere! From a young age, I was often the one asked to blend the herbs and spices in a stone pestle and mortar, until my arm was about to fall off. I didn't enjoy it, but in hindsight, it taught me all I know..
Today, my family's traditional blend of newly harvested herbs are stone ground to make a fresh paste, which is combined with a mix of whole spices that have been pan roasted to extract the natural oils before being finely ground.
We do not add any sugar, oil, shrimp paste or any artificial preservatives, additives or coloring to our fresh blend which is then mildly pasteurized to retain the natural qualities and goodness so you can enjoy that distinctive aroma of fresh herbs and spices when you open the packet.
Each 2.5 oz pack of Mae Jum curry paste makes about 8 servings — plenty for a family meal or a couple of nights of leftovers (if it lasts that long!). Just add coconut milk, protein, and vegetables of your choice.
Every curry has its own personality! Our spice levels range from 1 to 5, so there's something for everyone — from the gentle warmth of Massaman (1/5), a fiery kick of Red Curry (3/5) or intense heat of a Jungle Curry (5/5).
Check the spice rating on each pack to find your perfect match, and remember: you can always adjust the heat by adding more or less paste to your dish!
To cook the ultimate traditional Thai dish, you may want to add the following ingredients: Fish sauce, palm sugar or shrimp paste.
Although you can still produce a beautiful Thai meal without these extra ingredients from using Mae Jum Thai pastes.
Keep opened packs of paste in fridge, where it'll stay fresh for up to 3-4 weeks.
For longer storage, portion it into an ice cube tray and freeze — that way you'll always have curry paste ready whenever the craving strikes.
So much more than curry! Beyond the classic coconut milk curry, our pastes are wonderful stirred into soups, marinades, stir-fries, fried rice, or even mixed into dips and dressings. A little goes a long way in bringing bold Thai flavor to almost anything.
Check out our recipe page for inspiration!
Fantastic dish just as I get in Thai itself. A great dish from South Thailand.
Spicy if you’ve never tried it, quite a dry dish, but superb if you love genuine Thai.
Perfect
Hi Graeme, Thank you so much! 😊 The Kua Kling is a bold choice and we love it! Happy cooking!
Lovely but very very hot 🥵 wouldn’t use all the paste next time but love the spices.
Hi Christin, thank you for the feedback. 😊 The Kua Kling is notorious for its heat, ️ just use a little less next time to dial it back while keeping all those gorgeous spices. Happy (and slightly cooler!) cooking!
Really tasty, and easy to use!
Hi Malcolm, Thank you so much! 😊 So glad the Kua Kling is delivering on flavour and making it all so simple in the kitchen. That means everything to us. Happy cooking!
great taste but way too spicey !
Hi Samantha, Thank you so much! 😊 The Kua Kling is one of Thailand's hottest dishes so we completely understand, try using a little less paste next time to dial back the heat while keeping all that gorgeous flavour. That means everything to us. Happy cooking!
First time I’ve tried this. Just wonderful.
Thank you so much for your kind words, Renee — we are delighted to hear you enjoyed our Thai Kua Kling Paste.
It is always a pleasure to introduce our customers to new flavours from the range, and we are so pleased the Kua Kling made such a wonderful first impression. We hope it becomes a firm favourite!
Very good product, good delivery times. Very happy thank you
Delicious as ever. The Kua Kling is gorgeous
Hot hot hot 🔥 🔥🔥 !!!!!!!!
Love it nice and spicy, healthy meal with lettuce leafs and yoghurt
Fabulous products, make delicious curry’s
Excellent paste, and first time eating Spicy food in lettuce leaves, I highly recommend...
Cooked up well. It is pretty warm though, so be careful!
I've enjoyed the paste.
This is amazing! Super spicy though, I managed to get three separate servings from the single pouch. Will definitely buy again.
Fantastic flavours, very spicy, very hot.
Quick and easy to make.
I love the Kua Kling paste. It's absolutely fantastic with tofu or vegan mince, along with green beans. It's a lot spicier than the jungle curry from the same brand, and I'm incredibly glad Mae Jum makes it.
