How is it different from regular roti?
It is a thin roti wrapped around fine strands of spun sugar. The way you eat it and the texture are different from roti made with banana or other toppings.
Roti Sai Mai
Roti Sai Mai · โรตีสายไหม
In Ayutthaya, try roti sai mai, a thin roti wrapped around spun sugar. You lay fine strands of sugar on the roti and roll it up to eat. When you wrap it yourself, add the spun sugar a little at a time and you can set the sweetness you want. With your companions, unfold the roti one sheet at a time and share.
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 thin, soft roti and the fine strands of spun sugar work together in texture. The sweetness depends on how much spun sugar you add. Put in only a little at first, and add more to suit your taste on the next roti.
Add the spun sugar a little at a time and you can eat it as sweet as you like.
Dish basics
- Dish name
- Roti Sai Mai · Roti Sai Mai
- Thai name
- โรตีสายไหม
- Type
- Desserts
- Region
- Central Thailand · A signature snack of Ayutthaya
- Key ingredients
- Thin roti wrapped around fine strands of spun sugar. There are forms where the roti is scented with pandan or has sesame added.
The dish and where it comes from
Roti sai mai is linked to the snack culture that the Muslim community of Ayutthaya has kept going. Some roti is green from pandan scent, and some uses sesame. What sets this snack apart from a regular roti menu is that you wrap spun sugar in it.
How to order and eat it
- Get the roti and the spun sugar together. If they come separately, open out one sheet of roti.
- Lay a little spun sugar on it, then roll or fold the roti and eat it.
- If you want more sweetness, add a little more spun sugar to the next roti. You do not have to add a lot at once.
Frequently asked questions
Is green roti the same snack?
There is a form in which pandan-scented roti is wrapped around spun sugar. The actual scent 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 the food and the regions behind it, these sources are a good place to start. Ingredients and recipes can vary from one restaurant to the next.
View official sources · 1
Sharing image credit: Takeaway · CC BY-SA 3.0