How is it different from ordinary roti?
It is thin roti wrapped around fine sugar threads. The way of eating and the texture differ from roti with banana or other toppings.
Roti Sai Mai
Roti Sai Mai · โรตีสายไหม
In Ayutthaya, try roti sai mai, thin roti wrapped around spun sugar. It is a snack where fine threads of sugar are laid on roti and rolled up. When you wrap it yourself, you can add the sugar a little at a time and enjoy the sweetness you like. Open the roti one sheet at a time and share them with your companion.
Roti sai mai 2 · Takeaway · CC BY-SA 3.0
Resized for display · Photo used under CC BY-SA 3.0
What does it taste like?
The texture of thin, soft roti and fine sugar threads come together. The sweetness depends on how much sugar you put in. Add only a little at first, then more to your taste on the next roti.
Add the sugar a little at a time and you can eat it at the sweetness you want.
The basics
- Dish
- Roti Sai Mai · Roti Sai Mai
- Thai name
- โรตีสายไหม
- Type
- Desserts
- Region
- Central · A signature snack of Ayutthaya
- Main ingredients
- Thin roti with fine sugar threads wrapped inside. There are also versions where pandan scent or sesame seeds are added to the roti.
The dish and where it comes from
Roti sai mai is linked with the snack culture kept up by Ayutthaya’s Muslim community. Some roti are given a green colour with a pandan scent, and sesame is sometimes used. Unlike an ordinary roti menu, wrapping spun sugar is what marks this snack.
How to order and eat it
- Get the roti and the sugar threads together. If they come on separate dishes, open out a sheet of roti.
- Lay a little sugar on it, then roll or fold the roti and eat.
- If you want more sweetness, add a little more sugar to the next roti. You do not need to put a lot in at once.
Frequently asked questions
Is green roti the same snack?
There is also a form where pandan-scented roti is wrapped around spun sugar. The actual scent and ingredients may differ from place to place.
More dishes and cities to explore
Official sources and references
If you would like to read more about the food and the regions behind it, these sources are worth a look. Ingredients and cooking methods can vary from one cook to the next.
View official sources · 1
Sharing image credit: Takeaway · CC BY-SA 3.0