Famous Thai Desserts That Will Delight Your Tastebuds
Exploring the culture of Thailand must include the country’s traditional cuisine, specifically Thai desserts or khanom. Thailand offers a wide array of sweet (and sometimes spicy or bitter) delicacies that you should not miss out on.
To help you learn more about Thailand's confections, here are a few local desserts you ought to try to satisfy your sweet tooth.
I-Tim
Without a doubt, i-tim is perfect for ice cream lovers living in a tropical country like Thailand. This traditional Thai rolled ice cream is also an all-time favorite among other Asian countries like Cambodia, Malaysia, and the Philippines.
It is generally served with mango and ground peanuts flavored with coconut milk and sugar. If you’re lactose intolerant, there is a non-dairy option available as well.
Roti Sai Mai
Inspired by India, it is a unique dessert that you must try when visiting Thailand. Roti sai mai is candy floss crepe pepped up with pandan, strawberry, or banana flavors. It includes a colorful cotton candy that easily melts in your mouth.
Most street vendors sell roti sai mai near tourist attractions like the Victory Monument in Bangkok.
Thai Crepe
Commonly found in the central part of Thailand, this traditional Thai dessert is a crispy pancake made from rice flour and mung bean flour topped with coconut cream. Also known as khanom buang, the Thai crepe has two options for toppings: sweet and salty.
The sweet topping is a yellow-colored topping called foi thong made from egg yolks and cooked in syrup. The salty topping is an orange color and consists of cream, sliced shrimps or shredded coconut, and other spices.
Thai Roti
Another sweet treat from Thailand is the Thai roti. This Thai dessert is a banana pancake with a very thin dough usually derived from wheat flour, similar to India’s flatbread.
It is eaten with fillings such as sweetened condensed milk, white sugar, and chocolate. In Thai culture, they eat Thai roti with curry every breakfast.
Thai Sticky Rice – Mango, Durian, Bamboo
If you’re looking for an authentic Thai dessert, try the famous Thai sticky (glutinous) rice that comes in different variants such as mango, durian, and bamboo. But don’t be confused because its texture and translucency are not like the typical Asian rice.
During the mango and durian seasons, sticky rice is sold along most streets and restaurants throughout the country. This heavenly dessert is made of the ripest mangoes or durian flesh mixed with coconut milk and brown sugar to add more flavor.
The bamboo sticky rice is a signature dessert in Thailand because of its fragrance and unique taste. It originated in Cambodia and is currently very popular in Southeast Asia along with its roasted bamboo sticks.
Thong Yip
Thong yip is also referred to as sweet egg yolk cup. The term “thong” means gold and signifies prosperity, wealth, and success. It is characterized by a golden color and shaped like a flower or star made from chicken egg yolks, jasmine-flavored water, and sugar. It is usually served chilled to ensure its firmness.
Thong yip is mostly seen during a wedding and other festivities to celebrate good luck and abundance. Nevertheless, you can also buy it from supermarkets and street food stalls.
Green Mango With Sweet Chili Spices
Thailand is home to various tropical fruits including mangoes. Whether the mango is ripe or not, locals enjoy the bittersweet combination of this dessert. It has become a crowd favorite because of the savory sauce resulting from the combination of chili and powdered sugar.
It is called mamuang nam pla wan in the region and has gained popularity among other Southeast Asian countries.
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