What is the difference between Mae Anong and Mae Ploy curry paste?

Mae Ploy is bold and rich with good heat and lots of umami, and tends a bit sweeter and saltier. Mae Anong is smoother, rounder, and less sweet, with a more authentic profile, and comes in foodservice tub sizes.

Which curry paste brand do Thai chefs prefer?

Many Thai chefs reach for Mae Anong for its less-sweet, restaurant-authentic profile. Mae Ploy is the widely available, dependable all-rounder. In expert taste tests the top three pastes are consistently Mae Anong, Mae Ploy, and Maesri.

Does Dao carry both Mae Anong and Mae Ploy?

Yes. Dao carries Mae Anong, Mae Ploy, and Maesri across red, green, panang, massaman, yellow, and karee, delivered daily across the Bay Area.

May 29, 20262 min readingredients · curry-paste · comparison

Mae Anong vs Mae Ploy: which curry paste for your restaurant?

Mae Anong vs Mae Ploy curry paste for Thai foodservice: sweetness, authenticity, and which brand chefs reach for. Both stocked by Dao in foodservice packs.

By Dao Distribution

Curry paste is where a Thai kitchen's identity lives. Two brands anchor most decisions, and the choice comes down to sweetness and how authentic you want the result.

Mae Ploy: bold and dependable

Mae Ploy is bold and rich, with good heat and lots of umami, and it tends a bit sweeter and saltier. It is the widely available go-to and a dependable all-rounder across green, red, panang, and massaman. If you want a strong, balanced, easy-to-love paste, this is it.

Mae Anong: smoother and more authentic

Mae Anong is smoother, rounder, and less sweet, with a more authentic profile, and it comes in foodservice tub sizes built for the high-volume line. It is the brand a lot of Thai chefs prefer when they want a more restaurant-authentic result. In expert taste tests, the top three pastes are consistently Mae Anong, Mae Ploy, and Maesri.

Bottom line

Choose Mae Ploy if you want a strong, balanced, easy-to-love paste. Choose Mae Anong if you want a more restaurant-authentic, less-sweet result. Dao carries both, plus Maesri, and will help you match the paste to your dishes.

See the wholesale curry paste page, or call (415) 999-4863 to set up an account.

Questions we hear

What is the difference between Mae Anong and Mae Ploy curry paste?: Mae Ploy is bold and rich with good heat and lots of umami, and tends a bit sweeter and saltier. Mae Anong is smoother, rounder, and less sweet, with a more authentic profile, and comes in foodservice tub sizes.
Which curry paste brand do Thai chefs prefer?: Many Thai chefs reach for Mae Anong for its less-sweet, restaurant-authentic profile. Mae Ploy is the widely available, dependable all-rounder. In expert taste tests the top three pastes are consistently Mae Anong, Mae Ploy, and Maesri.
Does Dao carry both Mae Anong and Mae Ploy?: Yes. Dao carries Mae Anong, Mae Ploy, and Maesri across red, green, panang, massaman, yellow, and karee, delivered daily across the Bay Area.