Thai produce can be found throughout the prestigious store's food halls

Thai ambassador Kitti Wasinondh with former Harrods boss Mohammed Al Fayed

Thai ambassador Kitti Wasinondh with former Harrods boss Mohammed Al Fayed

The Thai ambassador to the UK toured the food halls of Harrods in a celebration of the country last week, ahead of a summer of promotions for Thai produce including work with Tesco.

Thai ambassador Kitti Wasinondh visited the upmarket south London store to tour various Thai promotions and examine the fresh produce offer, in an event organised by the department of export promotion in the Thai ministry of commerce.

Wasinondh lunched with UK businessmen and the media before meeting Mohammed Al Fayed, days before he sold the Kensington outlet to Qatar Holding.

Promotions co-ordinated by the Thai embassy will culminate in a free public festival in Trafalgar Square on Saturday 5 June.

Tesco confirmed it is to conduct a number of in-store promotions in a similar vein to those on show in 2009.

Last June, the UK’s largest supermarket held promotions across 70 stores to push a new range of Thai exotics under the banner Healthy & Tasty from Thailand.

Tasting events were held at Tesco for Thai fruits such as mangoes, rambutans, lychees and dragonfruit.

The Harrods food halls showcase all the Thai essentials needed to create key dishes and provide sought-after fresh ingredients such as Holy basil, Koi Choi flowers, banana leaves and Thai mango, along with special products such as an exclusive Blue Elephant Thai Noodle Cooking Set, crystallised Thai ginger and lemongrass dressing.

Throughout the month, Thai culture will be brought to life throughout the store, with special demonstrations and activities such as fruit carving, Thai dancing and a sugar work creation on display in the Thailand Exhibition windows.