How is it different from ordinary roti?
It is a dish in which thin roti is 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 sugar threads. It is a snack in which fine sugar threads are put on roti and rolled up to eat. When you wrap it yourself, you can add the sugar threads a little at a time and enjoy the sweetness you like. You could also open the roti one sheet at a time and share with your companion.
Roti sai mai 2 · Takeaway · CC BY-SA 3.0
Resized for display · Photo provided under CC BY-SA 3.0
What does it taste like?
The texture of thin, soft roti and fine sugar threads blend. The sweetness depends on how many sugar threads you add. Add only a little at first, and on the next roti add more to your taste.
Add the sugar threads a little at a time and you can eat it at the sweetness you like.
Dish basics
- Dish name
- Roti Sai Mai · Roti Sai Mai
- Thai name
- โรตีสายไหม
- Type
- Desserts
- Region
- Central · A signature snack of Ayutthaya
- Main ingredients
- Thin roti wrapped around fine sugar threads. There are also versions in which pandan aroma or sesame seeds are added to the roti.
The dish and its region
Roti sai mai is linked to the snack culture that Ayutthaya's Muslim community has kept alive. Some roti gets a green colour from pandan aroma, and some uses sesame seeds. Unlike an ordinary roti menu, wrapping the sugar threads is the character of this snack.
How to order and eat it
- Get the roti and sugar threads together. If they are served separately, open out one sheet of roti.
- Put on a little sugar thread, then roll or fold the roti and try it.
- If you need more sweetness, add a little more sugar threads to the next roti. You do not need to add a lot at once.
Frequently asked questions
Is green roti the same snack?
There is also a form in which roti with pandan aroma is wrapped around sugar threads. The actual aroma and ingredients can differ from seller to seller.
More dishes and cities to explore
Official sources and references
If you want to read more about these dishes and regions, these sources are a good place to start. Ingredients and cooking methods can differ from one eatery to another.
View official sources · 1
Sharing image credit: Takeaway · CC BY-SA 3.0