Lucie Aurore
Although the gamut of Thailand's savory fare is well documented its delicious dessert treats are less familiar. From fruit concoctions to sweet roti here are the must-try sweets when touring Thailand.
Tipped to be one of the most vibrant sweet food items in Thailand Luk-Chup is a must-try treat when exploring the culinary delights of the country. Bright and uplifting the sweets are tiny bite-size almond treats that traces its roots back to Thailand's colonial past under the Portuguese. Introduced to the country by the colonialists as far back as the 1600's the recipe has been adapted to suit Thai pallets are remains a favorite among locals to this day. Composed of mung bean paste, coconut milk and sugar the sweets are molded in to various shapes resembling fruits such as oranges and cherries and at time other figures such as piglets. The sweets are then colored using jelly which gives the sweets their distinctively shiny exterior. Available at venue such as the Tor Kor Market the best venue to purchase Luk-Chup in Bangkok is at Baan Luk Chup Café.
Ideal for fruit lovers and fruit fanatics alike Khao Niew Bing is sticky rice sweet that is part and parcel of Thailand's traditional sweetmeats. Made by slow cooking rice, sugar and coconut milk in a conventional basket the sticky rice paste is then folded in to banana husks, taro roots and fastened in to small packages made of banana leaves. Grilled to perfection on a barbeque like apparatus the juicy and gooey sweet flavored snack is a mouthwatering treat that is both crispy and soft. Charred and smoked to exude a unique flavor the sweet is best enjoyed with a cup of tea. Street food vendors selling Khao Niew Bing are a common fixture down Prutnam's Platinum Shopping Mall area while tourists should also try variations of the dish such as Khao Lam and Khanom Jaak.
A classic Thai sweet of universal appeal Khao Niew Mamuang is a slow cooked sticky rice wonder with delicious mangoes and coconut cream thrown in for good measure. Refreshing and delectable this well regarded sweet is available in Thai eateries across the world for good reason. Sampling the authentic taste of a Khao Niew Mamuang however is a pleasure reserved for those who are vacationing in the country. The sweet and sour taste of juicy Thai mangoes is a point of difference that sets Khao Niew Mamuang in Thailand worlds apart from the rest. Head down to Khao San Road where vendors selling the popular snack are omnipresent while those who wish to sample the Durian incarnation of the snack should head down to Pak Khlong Talad market.
Although ice cream is regarded a European and stateside dessert Thailand has achieved a commendable feat in adapting the creamy, frozen dessert variety to its own taste. Frozen desserts in Thailand such as the shaved ice with sweet syrup and toppings including Tup Tim Kab and Nam Kang Sari are classic examples but the most coveted frozen dessert variety in Thailand must be coconut ice cream. Employing coconut milk as its base instead of cow's milk or other traditional dairy bases the mouthwatering ice cream usually features toppings such as boiled corn and Gingko Biloba. Visitors can also enjoy a coconut ice cream sandwich dubbed I-Dtim Mat Phrao at many eateries around the country. Visitors staying in Phuket luxury hotels such as the Anantara Phuket Layan Resort & Spa can also find beachside vendors of this popular dessert close to the resort.
Made without the use of yeast Thailand's sweet rotis are crispy bread sticks made on a piping hot skillet and consumed with fruits or condensed milk toppings. Flaky and hot on the outside and deliciously tender on the inside the rotis can also be consumed plain or with fruit filling of one's choice. Roti Mataba Restaurant in Bangkok is the best venue to dig in to these one of a kind rotis.
