Maria Guyomar de Pina or Thao Thong Kip Ma also known as Maria Guiomar de Pina, Dona Maria del Pifia or as Marie Guimar and Madame Constance in French, was a Siamese woman of of mixed Japanese-Portuguese-Bengali ancestry who lived in Ayutthaya in the 17th century. She became the wife of Greek adventurer Constantine Phaulkon. Maria Guyomar is known in Thailand for having introduced new dessert recipes in Siamese cuisine at the Ayutthaya court.
The course of Thai dessert-making changed irretrievably after the arrival of the Portuguese, most notably one European, Maria Guyomar de Pinha who ended up working at the royal palace for many years. She created the idea of incorporating eggs into Thai desserts was born, creating a shift in Thai cuisine roughly comparable to the idea of using coconut milk – usually reserved for desserts
Her egg-based creations – which are strikingly similar to some of the sweets in her native Portugal– include golden threads (foy tong) and golden drops (tong yod), all basically made from sugar syrup and egg yolk but shaped differently. These desserts are based on and influenced by Portuguese and European recipes. Their Thai names often connote propitious things such as status, wealth and charm. They thus become parts of ceremonial food for good fortune.
Relish in refreshing and delightful Thai desserts.