As some couples prepare to tie the knot in this month of love, a question will arise in the minds of many – what do you give two people who, essentially, already have everything they need... Money? Alcohol? Gift vouchers? Sure, who’d say “no” to luxury holidays, but why not offer something more meaningful?
Before humanity became victims of commercialism, thoughts, prayers and words of wisdom were all we had to offer as congratulatory gifts. In the era of Siam (Thailand’s former name), a happy marriage wasn’t all about happily married couples passing on words of wisdom onto newlyweds on their wedding day, but also a lot to do with luck. With these nine auspicious Thai desserts (the word “gao” which means “nine” in Thai and also signifies prosperity), loved-up couples now have all they need for the journey of a lifetime.
Tong Yip
“Yip” means “to pick up” or “to take” in Thai, and to guarantee an easy ride, there’s nothing more newlyweds would want to “pick up” more than wealth, which is exactly what this dessert represents.
Tong Yod
Also made from egg yolks, these sweet, golden drops of delight represent drops of gold. It’s believed the recipient will always have enough gold and money to live on throughout their journey together.
Foy Tong
These golden strands of egg yolk are usually passed through a special sieve into a large bowl of boiling syrup before they are folded and boxed for the shops. When being gifted as presents for newlyweds, however, special care is given to these delicate threads to ensure that each strand is as long as possible to signify longevity and a long-lasting marriage.
Med Kanoon
“Med” means “stones” and “kanoon” means “jackfruit” in Thai, so together this dessert means the stones of a jackfruit. But funnily enough not a single element of the jackfruit is involved in the making of this auspicious dessert. Instead, the insides of these ovular sweets are made from finely-ground mung beans which are later covered with egg yolk. What’s special about them? The word “noon” means “support” in Thai, so “kanoon” which means jackfruit, symbolises support or a strong foundation needed in every marriage.
Tong Ek
The Beyoncé of Thai auspicious desserts, the Tong Eks come adorned with gold leaf that make them stand out from their golden counterparts. The leaves represent a high-flying career, promotions and successful business dealings.
Dara Tong or Tong Ek Krajang
Much more complicated to make compared to the rest of the desserts in this set, it’s no wonder why the Dara Tong (also known as Tong Ek Krajang) is so hard to find. This very photogenic dessert represents beauty, fame and a strong reputation.
Tuay Fu
Catch a waft of these pastel-coloured Thai muffins and you’ll forget to watch your waistline. “Fu” means “fluffy” which in this case, represents growth, development, or flourish – everything you’ll need to embark on your special journey together.
Kanom Chun
The number nine “gao” is considered a lucky number since “gao” also means to step forward. This is why the kanom chun (“chun” means “layers”) comes with nine layers when gifted to newlyweds.
Saneh Jan
Inspired by the Chantr tree which bears small yellow fruits, this dessert is made from egg yolk and flour with ground chantr fruit added to the mix. The first word of the dessert’s name, “saneh” means “charm” and represents the idea that the couple will be loved by family and friends and will love each other for all of eternity.
WHERE TO GO
Saneh Jaan (1 MICHELIN Star, MICHELIN Guide Thailand 2023)Named after one of the auspicious Thai desserts, this restaurant will not disappoint the self-confessed sweet-toothed diners. All nine auspicious desserts are available from the à la carte menu.
R-Haan (2 MICHELIN Star, MICHELIN Guide Thailand 2023)
The menu here changes seasonally but the med kanoon Thai dessert can be enjoyed here, along with other “lucky” sweets such as the, dara tong nua gao, kanom ping and look choop mongkol.
Chim by Siam Wisdom (1 MICHELIN Star, MICHELIN Guide Thailand 2023)
Auspicious Thai desserts aren’t usually on the menu but customers wishing to try them out can place an order with the restaurant two days in advance and their wish will be granted.
Hero image: Shutterstock
