.jpg) | |
| Alternative names | Wan yen, chamba |
|---|---|
| Type | Shaved ice or snow cone |
| Course | Dessert |
| Place of origin | Thailand |
| Serving temperature | Cold |
| Main ingredients | Ice, toppings |
| Variations | Pang yen (namkhaeng sai with bread), ice-cream namkhaeng sai, etc. |
Namkhaeng sai (Thai: น้ำแข็งไส, pronounced [nám.kʰɛ̌ŋ sǎj]) is a Thai version of shaved ice or snow cone. It is also known as wan yen (Thai: หวานเย็น) or chamba (Thai: จ้ำบ๊ะ). Namkhaeng sai is simply shaved ice in a bowl, poured on top with sweet syrup and condensed milk
Namkhaeng sai wasn’t recorded but is believed to be created in 1947 when the red sweet syrup was popular. There are several ingredients for namkhaeng sai. The main ingredients are shaved ice, sauces, and toppings.
Other desserts such as sarim, thapthim krop, and lot chong are partially similar to namkhaeng sai with different ingredients. Many desserts from other countries like bingsu and kakikori share characteristics with namkhaeng sai but the style of shaved ice (fine, rough, and strip length, etc.) and how toppings are decorated differs for each country of origin.
Nam Khaeng has been in Thailand for a very long time and thus it shares many histories with us. It is influenced by Thai culture in its taste, eating occasions, and naturally prominent hot weather. The same applies to Thai people too, some behaviors are induced by having namkhaeng sai in their daily lives.