''Cha mongkut'' ( th, จ่ามงกุฎ, ) is a name of one of the traditional Thai desserts. It is similar to '' kalamae'' and is made of rice flour and glutinous flour mixed with green bean flour, and is stirred with coconut milk and sugar until it becomes sticky; it is typically sprinkled with chopped roasted peanuts on top or stuffed with melon seeds (The old traditional recipe uses pieces of fried flour that are as small as rice grains, which take a longer time to prepare.). Traditionally, they are cut into bite-size pieces and wrapped with banana leaf. Moreover, the aromatic scents of the dessert are given by fresh flowers such as Kesidang, Ylang-Ylang, Damask rose, and

Jasmine Jasmine ( taxonomic name: ''Jasminum''; , ) is a genus of shrubs and vines in the olive family (Oleaceae). It contains around 200 species native to tropical and warm temperate regions of Eurasia, Africa, and Oceania. Jasmines are widely cultiva ...

with boiled water, which is used to squeeze coconut milk. ''Cha mongkut'' is easy to keep and does not need to be stored in a refrigerator.

Cultural significance

''Cha mongkut'' has been mentioned in The Verse of Foods and Desserts by the King

Rama II of Siam Phra Phutthaloetla Naphalai ( th, พระพุทธเลิศหล้านภาลัย, 24 February 1767 – 21 July 1824), personal name Chim ( th, ฉิม), also styled as Rama II, was the second monarch of Siam under the Chakri ...

, and the original recipe of ''cha mongkut'' belongs to

Sri Suriyendra Sri Suriyendra ( th, ศรีสุริเยนทร, , ; 1767–1836) was the queen of Siam, wife of Phutthaloetla Naphalai, who was her cousin, and mother of Mongkut and Pinklao. She was later named, upon the coronation of her son Mongkut, ...

, the Queen Consort of the King. ''Cha mongkut'' is known to be used in the celebration of a job promotion because its auspicious meaning has the highest prestige and a great prosperity in the work. In wedding ceremonies, it represents blessings of high progress and dignity.

History

The name of ''cha mongkut'' is sometimes confused with another kind of dessert called ''dara thong'' or '' thong ek krachang'', which is a round shaped ''

thong ek ''Thong ek'' ( th, ทองเอก, ), also known as "Wheat Flour Dumplings with Egg Yolks", is one of the nine auspicious traditional Thai desserts. It is a golden sweet carved as various types of flowers decorated with a piece of gold leaf ...

'' dabbed with a gold leaf on its tip and arranged on a small powder plate decorated with sweetened melon seeds. ''Dara thong'' or ''thong ek krachang'', which some people call ''cha mongkut'', actually originated from its winning in the Thai Dessert competition in the new year event when

Plaek Phibunsongkhram Field Marshal Plaek Phibunsongkhram ( th, แปลก พิบูลสงคราม ; alternatively transcribed as ''Pibulsongkram'' or ''Pibulsonggram''; 14 July 1897 – 11 June 1964), locally known as Marshal P. ( th, จอมพล � ...

was the prime minister of Thailand. Thus, it has existed for less than a hundred years, whereas ''cha mongkut'' has maintained its presence since Rama II's reign which was over 200 years ago. It possibly existed before that, but no valid evidence has been found.

References

{{Thai cuisine Thai desserts and snacks Stuffed desserts