Generally most Asian meals do not end with desserts. Sweet things tend to be eaten as snacks during the day and desserts, if served, are reserved for special occasions. Thai desserts are usually based on grains such as rice, sago and sweetcorn, as well as coconut milk and tropical fruits such as bananas, jackfruit and oranges.

Many Thai desserts are sweetened with palm sugar, also known as jaggery, or coconut sugar. This comes in hard cylinders that have to be grated, cakes that can be broken up, or as a thick treacle in tubs. If palm sugar is unavailable, use some demerara or dark brown sugar melted with a little water for this popular Thai dessert instead.

** Asian Desserts **