Desserts have always been served after Thai main course dish since ancient times. In Buddhist rituals and auspicious ceremonies, Thai dessert set is composed of 5 types whose flavors, color and style match. Thong Yod is a local Thai dessert which has been used in religious and propitious occasions. Also, it is very popular gifts for New Year due to its positive meanings.
Thong Yod was born in Aveiro, coastal town in the north west of Portugal. It is made of rice flour, egg yolk and water. It requires elaborate skills and care in cooking, preparation, taste, color, beautiful shape and flour with smoked candle aroma.
The main ingredients for Thong Yod are duck eggs (only egg yolks), sugar and water. Thong Yod mixture is dropped by banana leaf cone or brass cone in teardrop shape into boiling thick syrup. When it’s cooked, the color will be golden yellow.
Thong Yod was introduced in the reign of King Narai the Great (Ayutthaya era) by Thao Thong Kip Ma or Dona Marie Guimar Del Pifia, the wife of Chao Phraya Wichayen who was first counselor to King Narai. Marie was put to be in charge of the royal household. Her duties were to take care of silverware and gold ornaments, the King’s cloths and fruits. Moreover, she was very good at cooking especially desserts therefore she was nicknamed as “Queen of Thai Desserts”. Working in the palace provided an opportunity to her to teach Thai women to make several desserts such as Thong Yod, Thong Yip, Thong Pu, Thong Pong, Kanom Ping. All of desserts have remained Thai sweet up to present. This cultural heritage is the remembrance between Thailand and Portugal that will be 500 years anniversary in the year 2011.