Thailand has a bit of a sweet tooth, and as such, it’s home to all kinds of wonderful desserts and snacks that you’ll see in abundance everywhere you go — from boutique bakeries to street stall holders. Below are the essential treats that have to be tried!
1. Khao Niaow Ma Muang (Mango Sticky Rice)
It’s fair to say that anyone who tries this exquisite treat instantly falls in love with it. Perhaps Thailand’s most famous dessert, it’s a perfect example of how humble ingredients can become far more than the sum of their parts. If you haven’t tried Khao Niaow Ma Muang, you’ll find that the combination of ripe mango, toasted mung beans and coconut cream-infused sticky rice is addictively good!
2. Itim Kati (Coconut Ice Cream)
If you’re swelteringly hot and in need of refreshment, a cooling scoop of coconut ice cream is simply wonderful. The silky smooth ice cream often comes with a scattering of roasted peanuts and chewy toppings, such as sticky rice, jackfruit slices and palm fruit, adding pleasing textures to every glorious mouthful.
3. Roti Gluay (Banana Roti)
This street food treat is a true classic. Roti can be eaten with a variety of sweetened accompaniments, but roti
with sliced banana is hard to beat. There’s also something hypnotic about watching a roti being expertly created before your eyes. Added to sizzling batter goes the banana and egg before the roti is crisped up, chopped into squares and served with a good drizzle of sweet condensed milk.
4. Tu Rean (Durian)
It’s fair to say that durian isn’t to everybody’s taste, but those won over by its creamy texture, rich flavour and pungent aroma seek it out at every opportunity. When it’s in season you’ll find durian everywhere — from luxury markets to roadside vendors. Be brave and go for it!
5. Khanom Pang Sangkhaya (Bread with Sweet Custard)
You’ll often find coffee/tea stalls and old-time streetside cafés serving this comfort food, which is essentially steamed or grilled bread served with sweet coconut custard called sangkhaya. Coming in either green (pandan flavour) or orange (Thai tea flavour), sangkhaya serves as a dip or it’s smeared liberally atop thick slices of bread.