Kampol Peanuts - กำพลพืชผล

It's early morning in the old trading quarters along Song Wat Road, and the first trucks have started rolling in. Mr. Tee and his sturdy crew of primarily Burmese workers are patiently waiting to carry the daily orders of 50kg bags of peanuts. He got introduced to the street by his older brother more than 40 years ago and then started carrying goods around with characteristic metal sack trolleys. Eventually, he climbed the ladder and took over the shop 10 years ago.

He previously sold a variety of nuts but has now narrowed it down to specializing in mainly imported peanuts from Burma, India, and China. These peanuts have been stable best sellers in Thailand for years, mainly because of their use in Som Tam. Specifically, peanuts from the Mae Sot border area, also known as "Mae Sot peanuts" are highly popular due to their fragrant aroma, while Chinese and Indian peanuts tend to be larger, firmer, and less sweet. The current war in Burma has unfortunately made it difficult to import the necessary quantities.

Song Wat has changed tremendously over the last couple of years, introducing new cafes and galleries following a large increase in land prices. Tee is skeptical about the new reality, but modernization has also arrived in the peanut industry. Previously, everything was done manually and orders were placed by sending letters daily by train to inform the shop of the required peanut types. Selling peanuts demands a profound understanding of both customers and peanuts—a professionalism Tee has built up over the years. He is now worried that it will be lost since the new generation might not have what it takes.