Thais are particularly fond of Desserts. In Thailand, Desserts can be classified into 2 categories namely liquid and solid. Solid referring to jelly-like sweetmeats while liquid refers to all types of fruits and vegetables, in coconut milk sweetened with palm or white sugar. Examples of solid desserts include cakes and sweetmeats made from rice, tapioca flour, roasted mung bean flour, glutinous rice and agar agar. Examples of fruits and vegetables in include banana, jackfruit and young coconut combined with diced water chestnuts, taro yam, pumpkin, tapioca root (also known as cassava), sweet potato and a great favorite sweet corn. Although fresh fruits may be a perfect conclusion to a Thai meal however, do try several of these desserts, none of which are complex or particularly time consuming. (You can refer to the video on the preparation of red rubies and mango sticky rice below). (Hutton, 1991, p83)
What is so unique about desserts in Thailand?
Thai desserts can be considered uniquely South East Asia (SEA) because most of its desserts have meanings behind them. For example the 9 different desserts each signifies different meanings upon consumption as shown below . This illustrates the superstitious side of SEA and this is not only evident in the Thai society. For example, people eat glutinous rice dumplings (tang yuan) in Singapore because the Chinese word tang (meaning 'soup') sounds like tuan which means reunion, while yuan means round, signifying "yuan man" (complete / 圆满 ). The entire phrase tang yuan therefore symbolises "tuan yuan" (family reunion / 团圆 ), and eating tang yuan on Dong Zhi represents family reunion and harmony, and also signifies family unity and family prosperity.
For good luck, some families prefer to have some pink tang yuan to mix with the white ones. (http://www.huayinet.org/culture/culture_festivals_dongzhi.htm)
What about other cultures?
In comparison to the western culture, they do not really attach meanings behind their desserts. For example, an ice-cream name is derieved mainly from its ingredients, namely ice and cream. Therefore, there is really not much history to and significance to the western dessert ice cream.
Let me convince you with my Superb 9 layers Thai Dessert!
To further reinforce my argument, the Superb 9 layers Thai Dessert (Shown below)is an example of different desserts each having a specific meaning behind them.This shows the rich cultural background of SEA being very superstitious even in the type of food they eat.
Superb 9 layers Thai Dessert
Besides being artistic, Thai Desserts still have meanings and it is valuable that's why many auspicious ceremony still use Thai dessert as a need menu. In the above example, the Thai people celebrated for the Queen's 74 years of age with this superb 9 layers of Thai desserts. I will explain the dessert in each layers.
First layer
From the bottom, this is called Kha Nom Chan which has the meaning of promotion of your job.
Second layer
This is called Khanom Tuay Fu which has the meaning of progress of work and life.
Third layer
This is called Phoy Thong which has meaning of longevity.
Fourth layer
This is called Thong Yib which has the meaning of being rich and wealthy.
Fifth layer
This is called Thong Yod which has the meaning of mantaining wealth in the long run.
Sixth layer
This is called Med Kha Noon which has the meaning of support in your life and work.
Seventh layer
This is called Thong Eak which has the meaning of the one.
Eighth layer
This is called Sa Neh Chan which has the meaning of love and beautiful.
Ninth layer
This is called Ja Mong Kut which has the meaning of the top, you will be on top.
PrEsEnTiNg...the making of mango sticky rice and red ruby. YUMMY!
Sweet sticky rice with mango.
Red Ruby
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