Siamese Herbal Rice and the Negotiation of Local Food Landscape in Constructing Place and Ethnic Identity of Siamese In Kelantan, Malaysia

This article investigates the cultural significance of Siamese herbal rice (khaoyam) in Kelantan, Malaysia, with a focus on its role in shaping the relationship between people, plants, and place. Using an ethnographic approach, the research involved fieldwork in six villages across four districts and utilized focus group interviews and key informant discussions to compile a comprehensive list of fifty-nine edible plants used in herbal rice preparation and herbal rice narratives. The analysis considers both the plant knowledge embedded in plant selection and the ways herbal rice practices are performed, including khaoyam shops and temple-based festivals. The study introduces the new concept of “Eating in a shared landscape” to articulate how the preparation and sharing of herbal rice materialize deep-rooted ecological knowledge and foster adaptation, negotiation within a multicultural context. Findings demonstrate that herbal rice acts as a living foodscape that reflects Siamese identity, transmits ecological wisdom across generations, and mediates relationships with both landscape and neighboring communities.