Pad Thai is often viewed as an ancient dish, but it was actually popularized in the late 1930s by Prime Minister Plaek Phibunsongkhram as part of a campaign to promote Thai nationalism. At the time, Thailand was facing a rice shortage, but rice noodle production was efficient and used broken rice. By encouraging the nation to eat noodles instead of rice grains, the government reduced domestic rice consumption, allowing more for export. Phibunsongkhram also wanted to unify the country through a shared culinary identity. The dish is a perfect balance of the five basic tastes: salty (fish sauce), sour (tamarind), sweet (palm sugar), spicy (chili), and bitter (fresh sprouts/lime). Today, it is recognized globally as the quintessential Thai street food, despite its relatively modern and political origins.