How is it different from ordinary roti?
It is a dish where thin roti is wrapped around fine sugar threads. The way of eating and the texture differ from roti made 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 where fine threads of sugar are put on the 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. Unfold the roti one sheet at a time and share it with your companions.
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 come together. The sweetness depends on how much sugar thread you put in. Add only a little the first time, and add more to the next roti to suit your taste.
If you add the sugar threads a little at a time, you can eat it with the sweetness you like.
Dish basics
- Dish name
- Roti sai mai · Roti Sai Mai
- Thai name
- โรตีสายไหม
- Type
- Desserts
- Regional link
- Central Thailand · Signature snack of Ayutthaya
- Main ingredients
- Thin roti is wrapped around fine sugar threads. Some versions add the scent of pandan or sesame seeds 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 has a green color from pandan fragrance, and some uses sesame seeds. What sets this snack apart from the usual roti menu is that you wrap sugar threads in it.
How to order and eat it
- Get the roti and the sugar threads together. If they are packed separately, unfold one sheet of roti.
- Put on a little sugar thread, then roll or fold the roti and eat it.
- If you want more sweetness, add a little more sugar thread to the next roti. You do not need to add a lot all at once.
Frequently asked questions
Is green roti the same snack?
There is also a form where roti with pandan fragrance is used to wrap the sugar threads. The actual scent and ingredients can differ from seller to seller.
More dishes and cities to explore
Official sources
If you want to read more about the food and the regions behind it, these sources are a good next step. Ingredients and cooking methods can differ from one place to the next.
View official sources · 1
Sharing image credit: Takeaway · CC BY-SA 3.0