Thai desserts (khanom) are well known for their taste sensations which are as impressive as their appearance. Their appealing looks reflect the nature of the Thais who are neat and meticulous. And desserts have been popular here for hundreds of years, with many of them being mentioned in classic works of Thai literature.
Many Thai desserts are made from coconut flesh, coconut cream and rice flour. Since most areas of the country have been used for farming purposes, natural ingredients for producing the desserts are plentiful and easily obtainable. That’s the reason why a wide variety of sweets has been created.
Some types of Thai desserts were mentioned in Traiphum Phraruang, a literary work of the Sukhothai period (1238-1350). And historical records referred to talat khanom (dessert markets) whilst some mentioned ban mo (pottery villages) where earthen pots, pans, stoves and other equipment for making khanom were made. Arguably though, the most important person in the history of Thai desserts was Marie Guimar, a foreign lady who introduced several exotic desserts to Siam.