Thai green is one of Australia's most-loved curries, and most of us reach for a paste rather than grinding spices from scratch. Which one ends up in your trolley usually comes down to flavour, habit and what's on the shelf.
Ayam has been a pantry staple for generations, and its Thai green Paste is one of the best-known in Australian supermarkets. So when people ask how our Thai Green Curry Sachet compares, it's the natural paste to put beside it.
We've laid the two nutrition panels and ingredient lists side by side so you can choose the one that suits how you like to cook and eat. The two pastes take different approaches. Patak's carries its spices in oil for a rich, concentrated paste, while ours is built on aromatics, onions and a little extra virgin olive oil for a lighter base. Per 100g, Turban Chopsticks is:
- 28% lower in kilojoules (calories)
- 15.4% lower in saturated fat
- 91% lower in sugars
- 61% lower in sodium
-
47% higher in protein
Thai Green paste nutrition compared (per 100g)
The biggest differences are in energy, fat, sugars and sodium. Saturated fat is close to level.
|
Per 100g |
Turban Chopsticks Thai Green |
Ayam Thai Green |
Difference |
|
Energy |
575kj (137.4 Cal) |
804kj (192 Cal) |
28.5% less |
|
Protein |
3.1g |
2.1g |
47.6% more |
|
Fat, total |
8.4g |
8.3g |
1.2% more |
|
Saturated fat |
1.1g |
1.3g |
15.4% less |
|
Carbohydrate |
10.7g |
25.3g |
57.7% less |
|
Sugars |
2g |
22.5g |
91.1% less |
|
Sodium |
842mg |
2209mg |
61.9% less |
Calories converted from kilojoules (1 Cal = 4.184kJ). Percentages are calculated as (Ayam − Turban Chopsticks) ÷ Ayam.
What it means per serve
Per serve, the difference works out to about 9 calories, 3g of sugar and 218mg of sodium, before the coconut cream or rice go in.
Ayam lists a 16g serve of paste on its label, so we've compared the same 16g of each:
|
Per 39g serve of paste |
Turban Chopsticks |
Ayam |
Difference |
|
Energy |
92kJ (22 Kcal) |
129kJ (31 Kcal) |
37kJ (9 Kcal) |
|
Fat, total |
1.34g |
1.33g |
0.02g |
|
Sugars |
0.32g |
3.6g |
3.28g |
|
Sodium |
135mg |
353mg |
218mg |
|
Protein |
0.5g |
0.34g |
0.16g |
Sodium is worth a closer look. Australia's suggested dietary target for adults is 2000mg of sodium a day (about 5g of salt), so a 218mg difference is roughly 10% of that target in a single serve of paste.
For a family of four cooking Thai Green once a week, that adds up to around 1872 fewer calories, 682g less sugar and 45g less sodium over a year, from the paste alone.
What's in each paste
The nutrition differences come down to the recipes. Ayam builds its paste on soybean oil with a little sugar and fish sauce, a classic approach that gives a rich, Thai paste. Ours uses extra virgin olive oil and no added sugar, with tomatoes and onions doing more of the work.
|
|
Turban Chopsticks Thai Green |
Ayam Thai Green |
|
Oil |
Extra virgin olive oil |
Soybean oil |
|
Added sugar |
None |
Yes |
|
Made in |
Australia |
Thailand |
|
Gluten free and plant based |
Yes |
No |
Full Turban Chopsticks ingredient list: Water, Australian White Vinegar, Fresh Roasted Spices, Lemongrass, Onions, Extra Virgin Olive oil, Coriander, Basil, Kaffir Lime, Garlic, Australian Lake Salt, Spinach, Galangal and Chilli.
Ten ingredients you would recognise from your own pantry, with no seed oils, no fillers and no added sugar. The 2g of sugars per 100g comes naturally from the aromatics and onions.
Why we use extra virgin olive oil
Extra virgin olive oil is the cornerstone of the Mediterranean diet and is rich in monounsaturated fats. It also carries flavour beautifully, so the roasted spices bloom when the paste hits the pan. We use it because it tastes better and it's the oil we cook with at home.
Why lower sodium matters
Most Australians eat more salt than recommended, and much of it comes from packaged foods rather than the salt shaker. Choosing a lower-sodium paste is an easy swap that doesn't change the dish you love.
Recipe: Thai Green Curry Smashed Pea Toast
Upgrade standard avocado toast with this Thai Green Curry Smashed Pea Toast! Creamy, sweet peas smashed with coconut milk and authentic Thai spices for a quick, high-fiber, plant-based breakfast. One sachet serves 3 to 4.
Tip: Drizzle with chilli oil and lime juice for an extra kick.
See the full recipe: Thai Green Curry Smashed Pea Toast – Turban Chopsticks Global.
Which Thai green paste is right for you?
Both pastes make a delicious Thai green curry. If you love a rich, traditional paste and a familiar flavour, Ayam is a reliable classic. If you're watching kilojoules, sugar or sodium, or prefer a short, clean ingredient list made in Australia, Turban Chopsticks gives you a lighter starting point with the same creamy, comforting result.
Shop the Thai Green Curry Sachet 2 Pack, $10 or try every flavour with the Curry Paste Sachet Collection 8 Pack.
Thai Green paste FAQs
Is Thai Green healthy?
It can be. Much of the kilojoule and sodium content in Thai green curry comes from the curry paste and coconut cream. Starting with a lower-calorie, lower-sodium paste like Turban Chopsticks Thai Green Curry Paste can reduce calories by 28.5%, carbohydrates by 57.7%, sugar by 91.1%, and sodium by 61.9% compared with Ayam Thai Green Curry Paste, before any coconut cream, protein or rice is added.
How Many Calories Are in Ayam Thai Green Curry Paste?
Ayam Thai Green Curry Paste contains 804kJ (192 Cal) per 100g. In comparison, Turban Chopsticks Thai Green Curry Paste contains 575kJ (137 Cal) per 100g, which is approximately 28.5% fewer calories.
Which Thai Green Curry Paste Has the Least Sodium?
Of the two compared here, Turban Chopsticks Thai Green Curry Paste has 842mg sodium per 100g, compared with 2209mg per 100g in Ayam Thai Green Curry Paste. That's approximately 61.9% less sodium.
Does Turban Chopsticks Thai Green Curry Paste Contain Added Sugar?
No. Turban Chopsticks Thai Green Curry Paste contains 2g sugars per 100g, which come naturally from ingredients such as green chillies, garlic, shallots and other vegetables used in the recipe. It contains approximately 91.1% less sugar than Ayam Thai Green Curry Paste, which contains 22.5g sugars per 100g.
What Difference Does the Choice of Curry Paste Make?
Based on a 16g serving size, Turban Chopsticks Thai Green Curry Paste contains approximately 9 fewer calories, 3.3g less sugar and 218mg less sodium per serve than Ayam Thai Green Curry Paste, before coconut cream, protein or rice are added. For a family of four enjoying Thai green curry once a week, that equates to roughly 1,872 fewer calories, 682g less sugar and 45g less sodium per year.
Is Turban Chopsticks Thai Green Curry gluten free and vegan?
Yes. The paste is plant based and gluten free, so you can make it with chicken or keep it vegan with chickpeas, tofu or vegetables.