Thai Dessert Experience: A Sweet Journey Through Thailand
Thailand is a paradise for dessert lovers, offering an impressive array of sweet treats that reflect the country’s rich culinary heritage and cultural influences.
From traditional sweets made with coconut and rice to contemporary creations infused with global flavors, the Thai dessert experience is as diverse as it is delicious.
This essay explores the fascinating world of Thai desserts, delving into their history, popular varieties, regional specialties, and the cultural significance behind these delightful confections.
Where to Find Regular Thai Dessert when Tourists Visit Thailand?
When traveling to Thailand, you can find delicious Thai desserts in various locations throughout the country. Here are some of the best places to look for Thai desserts:
1. Street Markets
Local Markets: Explore street markets in cities like Bangkok, Chiang Mai, and Phuket. Popular markets such as Chatuchak Weekend Market, Warorot Market in Chiang Mai, and Bangkok’s Floating Markets offer a wide range of traditional Thai desserts.
Night Markets: Night markets like Ratchada Train Night Market and Chiang Mai Night Bazaar are great spots for sampling desserts like khanom krok (coconut pudding) and mango sticky rice.
2. Cafés and Dessert Shops
Local Cafés: Many local cafés serve traditional Thai desserts alongside coffee and tea. Look for places specializing in khanom buang (Thai crispy pancakes) or khanom tuay (steamed coconut pudding).
Dessert Shops: Shops like Mango Tango in Bangkok focus on mango-based desserts and are must-visit spots for dessert lovers.
3. Restaurants
- Thai Restaurants: Many Thai restaurants offer traditional desserts on their menus. Popular choices include tub tim krob (water chestnuts in coconut milk) and khanom chan (layered coconut dessert).
- Fine Dining: Upscale restaurants often have unique takes on traditional desserts. Look for tasting menus that include Thai desserts for a more refined experience.
4. Food Tours
- Culinary Tours: Joining a food tour in cities like Bangkok or Chiang Mai can give you a taste of various Thai desserts. Guides often take you to local spots where you can try authentic treats.
- Dessert-Specific Tours: Some tours specifically focus on desserts, allowing you to sample different sweets in one outing.
5. Festivals and Events
- Food Festivals: Look for food festivals, especially those celebrating Thai culture, where you can find a variety of traditional desserts.
- Cultural Events: Festivals like Songkran (Thai New Year) and Loy Krathong often feature special desserts, so visiting during these times can enhance your experience.
6. Supermarkets and Convenience Stores
Local Supermarkets: Chains like Big C, Tesco Lotus, and 7-Eleven often carry packaged traditional Thai desserts, making it easy to grab something sweet on the go.
7. Hotels and Resorts
- Buffet Breakfasts: Many hotels offer a variety of Thai desserts in their breakfast buffets. This can be a great way to try different sweets in one meal.
- Specialty Dessert Menus: Some high-end hotels have restaurants that serve gourmet versions of traditional Thai desserts.
Thai desserts can be found in numerous places throughout Thailand, from bustling street markets to elegant restaurants. Be sure to explore local spots and try a variety of desserts to experience the rich and diverse flavors of Thai sweets!
Famous Thai dessert
Thai people are not only good for cooking Thai dishes but Thai dessert is also delicious and famous. Many of Thai dessert cooking have coconut milk as the main ingredient since coconut is easily to find. Let’s get to know the Thai dessert that Thai people eat in daily life.
Sticky rice and Mango (Khao Niew Ma Mung)
Mango and sticky rice dish is the top famous Thai dessert. It is a combination of light sweet, slightly salty and creamy(oily). To eat sticky rice with ripe mongo is perfection dessert. The best type of mango is namdokmai. It is soft and sweet. The mango season is during Summer in Thailand, March – June.
You can easily find mango in any market in Bangkok and Thailand. However, if you get the good sticky rice , you will really fall in love with this menu. Personally, this is the best dish of my mom cooking. However, Kor Panich at old city is the best that I also like it. This shop is not far from Buddha market or giant swing. Address 431-433 Tanow road : 02-221-3554
By the way, many restaurants in hotel serve this dish. It is not easy to find when you come to Bangkok at the right season
Bananas in coconut cream (Kluay Bouch chee)
This is a Thai dessert may look like coconut soup in Bananas. It is also light sweet, slightly salty and creamy from coconut milk. The ingredient is consists of sugar, coconut milk, lime water (for soaking in banana) , and unripe banana . The cooking is very easy just boil coconut milk and add all ingredients. But the hard thing is to add all ingredients in the right proportion to make it good taste. Thai cooking do not has exact measure which is hard to tell.
Recommend shop : I do not have a specific shop since my mom cook this dish as always. But I do my homework and check at Jea Kanom wan , a street vendor in Chinatown .
Coconut milk pudding (Khanom Thuay)
It is a Thai dessert in small cup. It is rice flour and Toayaimom flour, coconut milk and sugar. This dessert has two layers which use different proportion. Mixed all ingredients and stream each layer one at the time.
In young age when I was in the village, the street vendor will carry this for sale direct to my house and my neighbor. This sales channel is not valid anymore. One place that I would like to recommend is Ko Te Koaw Man Kai. This is a chain shop sales chicken and steam rice[
Thai Style Roti
Roti is from India and eat with main food. But in Thailand we eat it as dessert. The street vendor has special cart and walk around small streets of Thailand. The cook roti can be add eggs, chocolate, yams , sugar and condensed milk as you prefer.
Most Roti street vendor run by south Asian man, from Bangladesh or India. I was wonder that do they serve this kind of dessert at their home or not.
This is the roti shop when we saw and taste it during food tour.
Bua Loy
Bua Loy is another dish cook in coconut milk. This dessert use flour ball made off taro instead of banana. It is similar taste to Kluay Bouch Chee but more complicate when making a ball.
Some shop they add eggs inside. We found one shop in dindeang market which is open for 2-3 hours a day. We were at the shop one hour after it was open, we notice that it was sold out.
Taptim Krob (water chestnut in ice coconut milk)
It is very similar to Bua loy which as coconut milk as the main ingredient. It looks like a soup but we eat it with ice. This is a cold dessert instead of warm cooked as other dessert. The pink color inside the dessert is cooked water chestnut. Cut the water chestnut into a square shape and cover with flour with red color. Then put it on boiled water.
One of the most famous place is in Wong Wian Yai. Open daily 09.00-12.00 (except 4th Wednesday of each months) . It is opposite to Robison department store. Tel 02-438-2118 and 02-437-8077
Sweet Coconut Jelly (Wun Gati)
Sweet Coconut Jelly (Wun Gati) is a beloved Thai dessert known for its light texture and refreshing flavor. Wun Gati is primarily made from coconut milk, agar-agar (a gelatinous substance derived from seaweed), sugar, and sometimes flavored with pandan leaves for an aromatic touch. It’s often presented in beautiful, vibrant colors, enhancing its visual appeal. You can find Sweet Coconut Jelly at Thai restaurants, street food
stalls, and dessert shops throughout Thailand. It’s also commonly featured in traditional Thai dessert buffets.
Elegant Royal Thai Dessert
Thai Royal desserts are characterized by meticulous decoration. Chefs often use vibrant colors derived from natural sources, such as flowers, fruits, and vegetables. Techniques like molding and layering are employed to create visually stunning presentations.
Kanom Thong Ek (ขนมทองเอก)
Kanom Thong Ek, known as the “golden dessert,” is a sweet treat made from mung bean flour and sugar. It has a rich, smooth texture and is often shaped into small, decorative molds. Kanom Thong Ek symbolizes wealth and good fortune, as the word “Thong” means “gold” in Thai. It is often served during auspicious occasions and royal celebrations.
Kanom Jamongkut (ขนมจ่ามงกุฎ)
Kanom Jamongkut, often referred to as “crown cake,” is a beautiful dessert characterized by its distinctive shape resembling a crown. It features a soft, chewy base made from rice flour and is typically topped with a sweet coconut filling. Kanom Jamongkut represents prosperity and auspiciousness, making it a popular choice during celebrations and ceremonies.
Khanom Foi Thong (ฝอยทอง)
Khanom Foi Thong is one of Thailand’s most iconic and elegant traditional desserts, often seen in auspicious ceremonies and celebratory events due to its symbolic meaning of wealth, longevity, and prosperity. The name “Foi Thong” literally translates to “golden threads.” Foi Thong is made from egg yolks that are meticulously drizzled into boiling sugar syrup, forming long, delicate golden threads.
Khanom Thong Yip (ขนมทองหยิบ)
Khanom Thong Yip (ขนมทองหยิบ), often referred to as “Pinched Gold” or “Golden Flower,” is a delicate and beautiful Thai dessert with a rich cultural heritage. It’s made from egg yolks, sugar ,water and jasmine scented-water. It’s one of the most popular Thai royal desserts, especially served during important ceremonies like weddings, religious festivals, and other auspicious occasions due to its symbolic meaning of prosperity and wealth.
Khanom Thong Yod (ขนมทองหยอด)
Khanom Thong Yod is one of Thailand’s traditional royal desserts, known for its delicate appearance and rich golden color. The name “Thong Yod” translates to “Golden Drops,” a reflection of both the dessert’s shape and its association with prosperity and wealth. Like other Thai desserts featuring the word “Thong” (ทอง), which means “gold,” Thong Yod is often served during auspicious events to symbolize good fortune and success.
Khanom Chan (Layered Coconut Dessert)
This dessert features layers made from rice flour, coconut milk, and sugar, creating a soft, chewy texture. The vibrant colors of the layers make it visually appealing. Khanom Chan symbolizes prosperity and is often served during auspicious occasions, reflecting good fortune and harmony.
Khanom Mo Kaeng (Coconut Custard Cake)
A soft, baked dessert made from coconut milk, sugar, and rice flour, which may also be flavored with pandan. The texture is moist and fluffy. Traditionally enjoyed at royal events, this dessert exemplifies the luxurious nature of royal Thai cuisine.
Experiencing royal Thai desserts is not just about tasting sweets; it’s about connecting with Thailand’s rich history, culture, and traditions. Many of these desserts are steeped in symbolism, elegance, and intricate preparation, offering a glimpse into the culinary world of Thai royalty. Whether you visit upscale restaurants, historic tea rooms, or royal palace cafés, these locations provide a chance to enjoy the beauty and sweetness of royal Thai desserts.
Michelin Guide For Thai Dessert in Bangkok
The Michelin Guide recognizes several places in Bangkok that serve exquisite Thai desserts, blending traditional flavors with modern presentations. Here are some recommended Michelin guide for Thai Dessert, you can go for a visit and try ;
Saneh Jaan ร้านเสน่ห์จันทร์
Saneh Jaan is an authentic Thai restaurant with authentic traditional Thai dishes like the royal family. Featuring the taste of the chef’s skill. In addition to the delicious taste that will please Thai food lovers, the appearance of each menu is very beautiful because the restaurant is quite exquisite to serve each menu.
There dessert menu is very elegant such as Saneh Jaan (the restaurant name) , traditional thai desserts and coconut ice cream. Don’t for get to check it out when you come to Bangkok. The restaurant is located at Wireless Road , Bangkok.
Bokkia Din Daeng Pier ( โบ๊กเกี้ย ท่าดินแดง)
The legendary cold dessert shop of the Tha Din Daeng, people will be none other than Bok Kia Tha Din Daeng restaurant, an old, sweet, cold ice shop. This shop has become a go-to spot for those seeking a sweet and cooling treat, especially in Thailand’s hot climate.
Khnom Tuay Tan Thong (ขนมถ้วยทานทอง)
A famous cup snacks shop from Charoen Krung-Bang Rak area, which is currently updated that there is no storefront, but will soon open for storefront sales in the Huai Khwang area, focusing on pre-order or delivery only.
Khnom Tuay is a beloved traditional Thai dessert, renowned for its smooth, creamy layers and balanced flavor profile. This dessert, like many classic Thai sweets, offers a beautiful harmony of sweet and salty, with a coconut-rich flavor.
Gluay Kaek or Fried Banana Rama 5(กล้วยแขก พระราม 5)
Gluay Kaek (กล้วยแขก), also known as Fried Banana, is a popular Thai snack made by deep-frying ripe bananas coated in a light batter. One of the well-known places to enjoy this delightful treat is Fried Banana Rama 5 (พระราม 5), located in the Rama 5 area of Bangkok.
Khnom Buang Peung Noi Chok Chai 4(ขนมเบื้องหวานผึ้งน้อย โชคชัย 4)
Khanom Buang Peung Noi Chok Chai is a popular dessert shop known for its delicious Thai crispy pancakes, or khanom buang. This shop is especially famous in the Chok Chai 4 area of Bangkok, attracting both locals and visitors looking to indulge in this traditional treat.
Gor Panich (ก. พานิช)
Kor Panich, an old mango sticky rice shop in the Bangkok area that has been in business for more than 80 years!! This shop is classified as a shop where real mango sticky rice lovers say in one voice that it is one of the real worlds.
Boon Sap Thai Dessert (ร้านบุญทรัพย์ –คุณหลวง )
Boon Sap Thai Dessert (บุญทรัพย์), also known as Khun Luang, is a well-known dessert shop in Thailand, particularly celebrated for its high-quality traditional Thai sweets. Located in old town , Bang Rak area . The famous sweet is Thai Custard (สังขยา) and Sticky rice with Thai custard (ข้าวเหนียวสังขยา)
These sample of dessert shops showcase the diversity and richness of Thai desserts, offering both traditional and innovative options that reflect the culinary heritage of Thailand. Whether you are looking for something classic or a modern twist, these Michelin-recommended spots in Bangkok are sure to satisfy your sweet tooth!
Gluten-Free Thai Dessert
Many Thai desserts are naturally gluten-free, but it’s always a good idea to check with the vendor or restaurant to confirm the ingredients, especially if you have dietary restrictions. Asking about gluten-free options can help you enjoy the delicious variety of Thai sweets without worry. Enjoy your dessert adventures in Thailand!
Here are some desserts we are aware of that are gluten-free:
- Mango Sticky Rice (Khao Nieow Ma Muang)
- Layered Coconut Dessert (Khanom Chan)
- Thai Sweet Rice Cake (Khanom Krok)
- Custard Cake (Khanom Moa Gang)
- Coconut Balls (Khanom Tom)
- Bananas in Coconut Milk (Gluay Buad Chee)
- Mung Bean Candy (Look Choop)
- Rice Dumplings in Sweet Ginger Soup (Yang Yuan)
- Coconut Ice Cream: Technically gluten-free, but be aware that some vendors add bread to their ice cream.
Tips for Enjoying Gluten-Free Thai Desserts
- Check Ingredients: When ordering desserts at restaurants or markets, always ask if they contain any wheat flour or gluten-based ingredients.
- Look for Traditional Options: Many traditional Thai desserts are naturally gluten-free due to their use of rice flour and coconut milk, making them safe choices for those avoiding gluten.
- Explore Local Markets: Street vendors and local markets often have a variety of gluten-free desserts, so don’t hesitate to ask about gluten-free options.
Thai cuisine offers a wealth of delicious gluten-free dessert options. Whether you’re indulging in classic sweets or exploring new flavors, you can enjoy the delightful tastes of Thai desserts without worrying about gluten!
Thai Dessert for Souvenir
If you’re looking for Thai dessert shops that offer beautifully packaged souvenirs, here are some well-known places in Bangkok where you can find delicious sweets with attractive packaging:
Baanwoonhorm by Khunyui
https://www.facebook.com/baanwoonhormbykhunyui/
The shop focuses on traditional Thai desserts, offering a range of options such as coconut-based sweets, sticky rice desserts, and various kanom (Thai snacks). They are known for their high-quality ingredients and attention to detail in presentation.
The shop offers desserts in attractive packaging, making them ideal for souvenirs. Their gift boxes are designed to showcase the beauty of Thai sweets and are often available for special orders.
Kam Waan Thai Dessert Shop (ร้าน ขนมไทยคำหวาน)
www.facebook.com/KhamwaanThaidessert/
Kam Waan emphasizes traditional Thai Dessert cooking methods and recipes, ensuring an authentic taste of Thai culture. The variety of desserts means there’s something for everyone, from sweet tooth enthusiasts to those looking for something more savory. Many of their sweets come in convenient packaging for easy takeaway, ideal for souvenirs.
Baan Dok Pud (บ้านดอกพุด)
Baan Dok Pud (บ้านดอกพุด) is a charming dessert shop located in the Lad Prao area of Bangkok. Known for its delightful selection of traditional Thai sweets, Baan Dok Pud is a popular spot for both locals and visitors looking to indulge in authentic Thai desserts. Many of their desserts are presented elegantly, making them visually appealing and perfect for sharing or gifting.
Saneh (ร้านเสน่ห์)
www.facebook.com/sane.workshop
Saneh is charm of Thai dessert in Bang Lam Phu area, Bangkok. There are many sweet selections for you to try at the place or take a way as souvenirs for yourself and family. This place has a workshop for cook Thai dessert too. You can team up your group and go for the thai dessert class, you can cook anytime you want after learning the recipes.
Tips for Souvenir Shopping
- Check for Local Specialty Items: Look for unique regional sweets when visiting different parts of Thailand.
- Ask About Gift Sets: Many shops offer gift sets or boxes that are designed for tourists and come ready for gifting.
- Look for Sustainable Packaging: Some shops focus on environmentally friendly packaging options, which can be a great addition to your souvenirs.
Exploring these shops will not only give you a taste of Thai desserts but also provide you with beautifully packaged souvenirs to share or enjoy yourself!
How you like Thai desserts so far! I love eating Thai sweet because they have something more that sweet taste, they have arts behind their recipe. If you want to do food and sweet tour with us, let us know right away. We will take you to try the best food and sweet for an unforgettable trip ever.
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