It is commonly known amongst Thai culture that during any special gathering or ceremony such as weddings, housewarmings, birthdays, etc… There are traditionally a variety of nine dishes that people will choose to give as a gift. These dishes are part of the nine auspicious desserts developed by Thai tradition, due to the fact their properties signifies ‘to move forward’. Most dishes include the word thong in their name which means ‘gold’ in Thai, symbolizing wealth and prosperity. These dishes are almost like a lucky charm.
Traditional Thai Desserts!
Thong Yip and Thong Yot are very similar dishes, both egg based sweets using the egg yolks, these desserts symbolizing gold. Thong Yip represents a flower and is also known as ‘pinched golden egg yolk’, yip means ‘to take’ or ‘to pick up’ in Thai tradition it is believed that it guarantees an easy ride for newlyweds. Thong Yot is also known as ‘golden egg yolk drops’ due to the fact these bright golden sweets are shaped like a drop, instead of forming it into a flower then forming it into drops of gold with this dessert.
Foi Thong This dish represents a golden strand made from egg yolks, foi means ‘thread’ and thong means ‘gold’. This is a very delicate dish to ensure long lasting strands, you just make it just right. Traditionally when drizzling the egg yolk you would use duck eggs, to ensure that the strands come out just right and the gift will last.
Med Kanoon is known as the ‘jackfruit seed dessert’, not only does med mean ‘stones’ and kanoon means ‘jackfruit’ but this dessert also has a nutty flavor similar to the jackfruit. This dessert is very sweet but also nutty and creamy. The word alone means ‘support’, therefore this dessert is believed that this dessert will help to provide a strong foundation of support needed in every marriage.
Thong Ek, this wheat flour dumpling with egg yolks that gives it the golden color, also goes so far as to add a golden leaf on top of one of the most beautifully presented desserts. This dish represents a high flying career, promotions, and successful business dealings. During a gathering for the celebration of a graduation, new job, or promotion this dish would most likely be on the tables as a gift. This dish is much more complicated to make. This dish is the most photogenic dish representing beauty, fame, and strong reputation. This is a sacred gift to make and give to someone due to the fact that this is not an easy dessert to find, and complicated.
Khanom Chan is a nine layered dessert that is fragrant, subtly sweet, slightly oily due to the coconut milk, smooth and yet slightly sticky from the tapioca powder. It is often given at auspicious ceremonies and newly weds, due to the fact the number nine is a lucky number that means ‘to step forward’ and start a new journey through life.
Saneh Jaan is inspired by the chantra tree, looking like the small yellow fruits that grow from it often gifted to newly weds. Saneh means ‘charm’ representing that the couple will be loved by family, friends, and will also love each other for eternity.
Cha Mongkut is a sticky green dessert traditionally topped with roasted watermelon or roasted peanuts and then stuffed with melon seeds. The aromatic scent it gives has to do with the banana leaf that it’s wrapped in after it’s cut into bite sized pieces, but can also be from added in ingredients such as Ylang-Ylang, rose, or keshidane. The ingredients are boiled in water and then squeezed into the coconut milk milk that goes in this dessert. This dish is often presented as a gift at wedding ceremonies or the celebration of a job promotion, due to the fact the auspicious meaning has the highest prestige and great prosperity in the work area that person wants to succeed in, as well and represents blessing of high progress and dignity in the new chapter of a couples life.
Luk Chup or Look Choop is a well loved dessert amongst Thai culture, capturing your eyes will it’s shiny outside you can’t help but have a taste for yourself. This meaning of this dessert is ‘lovable by all or adoring’, typically being given at a house warming or wedding ceremony. It it made of mung beans and filled with an almond paste then molded into a small fruit or vegetable. Once it’s been molded it’s dipped into gelatin and painted with food coloring, making this traditional Thai delicacy.
If you plan on attending a gathering in Thai culture that has great meaning, this would be your go to dish selection to bring. Each dessert is beautifully presented and delicious, prepared and delicious when cooked properly.
The colors, smell, and taste of each dessert will really catch everyone’s eye at a party. Next time you want to make a dessert you’ve never made before, try out your baking skills at home, and expand your palette. Khanom Chan is a very common dessert amongst Jaiyen spa and is delicious, and If you’re wanting to try a sweet dessert then this is the one.
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