Know Your Mango and Sticky Rice…and the fuss about it

 

A Thai delicacy that crosses everyone’s mind as a national dessert, mango and sticky rice makes an addict out of you. It is bites of sweet, slightly salty glutenous sticky rice drenched in slurry coconut cream sauce and fragrant slices of tender yellow-ripe mango that bring you to heaven. Its burst of refreshing taste is a Thai heat remedy. Common in March and April thanks to the fruit’s season, the dessert can be found pretty much all year round in Thailand’s tourist districts now because of its popularity.

 

The Magic of Mango and Sticky Rice

It’s pretty obvious what mango and sticky rice offers…well, mango and sticky rice, duh! Still, what appears easy peasy takes a lot more to prepare and to care for. Here are its secret and not-so secret ingredients:

Sticky rice: The first step to the divine bites is to make the stick rice. The white glutenous rice, usually a particular kind – full and long grains, is steamed with pandanus leaves to cook. When done, it’s dumped into undiluted coconut milk with lots of sugar added (of course). The mixture is stirred until the liquid dries out and the result is the sweet creamy and yummy sticky rice!

Mango: If you think mangoes are just mangoes, you’re wrong. There are various kinds of mangoes in Thailand, two of which are favorite matches with the rice. ‘Nam Dok Mai’ are more common and now becoming more popular thanks to its big round appeal. The fruit gives more volume and boldly sweet. Old schoolers would prefer ‘Aok Rong.’ Smaller and fatter, the later are a bit sour when ripe and people think they match well with the sticky rice which is already super sweet.

Coconut milk sauce: As sweet as the sticky rice and the mango already are, the dish is not ready to be served until more coconut milk sauce, rich and creamy, is poured over. The sauce can be the same coconut milk mixture used to prepare the sticky rice, but any chef who care know to prepare it separately with slightly diferent ingredients and ratos. Usually, the sauce tastes a bit salty and less sweet since that matches better with the other really sweet elements.

Golden Beans: The delicious garnish to sprinkle over the dish is mung beans, stir-fried until they turn golden brown and crispy.

 

Should You Worry about Eating Too Much Mango and Sticky Rice?

Are you watching that mango and sticky rice, drooling but trying to calculate the calories you’ll have to burn afterwards in the same time? Seriously, drop it! You shouldn’t care. You’re in Thailand and honestly, eating the city’s best mango and sticky rice should be your important mission. But if you really need to know, it’s 300 minimum. The only concern you should have, which applies to any sweets, is avoid it if you have a cholesterol problem and diabetes. Otherwise, be blessed by this invention and enjoy life.

 

Where can you find the best Mango and Sticky Rice in Bangkok?

Walking into any wet markets, you’re like to find at least one stall that sells mango and sticky rice. But what if we want the best? Here are our top pick 5 places to grab the favorite Thai treat.

1. Mae Varee: Conveniently located in Thonglor, Bangkok’s downtown, Mae Varee has been here and done it for 20 years.
   Price starts from 130 THB
   Opening hours: 6AM – 11PM
   Getting there: a few doors down the corner of Thonglor Rd. (Sukhumvit 55), Thonglor BTS Station, Exit 3
2. Auntie Lek – Aunte Yai: Opens only from February to June, the shop serves the best selected fruits of the year.
   Price is less than 100 THB
   Opening hours: 9AM- 6PM
   Getting there: Wongwian (Roundabout) 22 Karakadakom , 650 meters north of Hua Lamphong MRT Station
3. K. Panich: Located in bustling Bangkok’s Old Town, the shop is a bit challenging to find but its 80-year establishment guarantees it’s worth a venture!
   Price starts from 140 THB
   Opening hours: 7AM – 7PM
   Getting there: Hua Lamphong MRT Station then take a taxi
4. Mango Tango: A branched modern and hip restaurant serving any desserts made of mangoes, conveniently located in Siam
   Price: 120 – 145 THB
   Opening hours: 11.30AM – 10PM
   Getting there: Hua Lamphong MRT Staton then take a taxi
5. Auntie Juabjit: A modest stall in the busy district of Pratunam only opens at night
   Price: 120 THB
   Opening hours: 5PM until late night
   Getting there: Pratunam Junction, an easy walk from Central World Shopping Mall accessed Siam and Chidlom BTS stations

Anyway, Thailand is not all all mango and sticky rice. Several exotic tropical fruits await you on streets of Bangkok. Need more food ideas and fun and meaningful activities to do in Bangkok? See our available tours or simply drop us a message at info@bangkokfoodtours.com.