Rosxalynd LiuYou’ve eaten and shopped your way through Bangkok, and you’re ready to go home and hit the hectic life again. But wait! Head down to the supermarket nearest to your accommodation in Bangkok today to get these delicious souvenirs for your loved ones, whether they are for the ones who love to snack/are too lazy to cook.
1. Suthera’s Thai Coconut Rolls
From savoury to sweet delights, coconuts are some of the most versatile ingredients. So if you’re a coconut lover or not, this delicious Thai dessert is sure to get your taste buds tingling! Made from real coconut milk, Suthera’s Thai Coconut Rolls are a must-buy souvenir when in Thailand. A dessert that truly reflects authentic Thai flavours, the coconut rolls guarantee the finest ingredients and satisfaction.
These Thai coconut rolls come in a range of flavours and also have several health benefits. Who said an indulgent dessert can’t be packed with nutrition? Enjoy rich benefits of local spices from the natural garlic and pepper flavour or enjoy the unique flavours of natural pandanus. Indulge in creamy delicious banana flavoured coconut rolls or enjoy an extravagant bite of the purple potato coconut roll. There’s so many for you to choose from! Wouldn’t these delicious treats make for a delectable souvenir?
2. Bento Squid
Image credit: Amazon
Its name is seemingly harmless, but do not—I repeat, DO NOT—be fooled. The spice in this dried squid snack will have you gulping copious amounts of water and sniffing continuously as you chew on it. It’s more than likely to make you bloated as well—from all the water you drink to douse the fire in your mouth. It sure made me bloated!
3. Tao Kae Noi Seaweed
Image credit: TradeKey
One of Thailand’s most famous exports is this Tao Kae Noi Snack. Meaning “Little Boss”, the snack itself first started out as a humble and simple fried seaweed. As it gained popularity, however, the company has branched out into roasting and grilling them as well, on top of flavouring them. While Singapore does sell this snack, there is a much larger range one can find in Bangkok, that is sure to make for a delicious souvenir at a lower price!
4. Chicken/Pork Floss Rice Crackers
Image credit: The Food Chapter
Pork floss sticks, while still popular, are slowly being overshadowed by this innocuous snack. Imagine biting into a keropok (deep fried rice cracker) that’s been sprinkled liberally with chicken or pork floss. Dry, subtly sweet and satisfyingly crunchy, it’s easier to digest than the hard as bone pork floss sticks, yet not too soggy as to be unable to deliver that crispy oomph!
5. Bangkok Mini Cookies
Image credit: Taobao, Lifull Produk
I have a feeling this is something created just for tourists since I’ve yet to see them anywhere but the airport. Oh, but who cares, as long they taste good. And mouth-watering they are! Not your usual run-of-the-mill butter cookies, these cookies seem to be more of a rice cookie. And flavoured with delicious spices meant to recreate famous dishes of Thailand, the rice cookies are a great souvenir to give away to loved ones… or maybe to keep them for one’s own consumption. Try the Tom Yum, Crab Curry and Green Curry flavoured ones—you won’t regret it!
6. Durian Chips
Image credit: Alibaba
This makes a great gift for durian novices—that is, people who have yet to try the actual fruit. Both the taste and smell of the durian chips are not too overpowering, yet still, retain a subtle fragrance. I’ve been told by durian aficionados, however, that the durian chips can taste bland at times, so I guess this is one snack that you’d really have to give to the right people.
7. Lays Chips
Image credit: Thai Town Mall, eBay
The reason for its presence on this list is much like that of the Tao Kae Noi seaweed. They’re available in Singapore, but Thailand boasts a much larger variety, and at lower prices too. I’m pretty sure you’d never find flavours such as sweet basil or chilli squid back here. Time to expand your horizons in the world of chips!
8. Crispy Pork Stick
Image credit: Purrchase
This was a hidden gem I found in the Tao Kae Noi Land branch at Platinum Mall in Bangkok, lying inconspicuously amongst all the attention-grabbing seaweed packets. I bought three small packets on a whim and had to go back for a large packet after making quick work of them in 10 minutes. The taste of the sweetened pork flavour, coupled with the crispiness—all condensed in a 15 cm stick of addictive goodness. They make an awesome pairing with beer, and a delicious souvenir to take back and enjoy whilst chilling with your friends!
Or for the ones who love to cook:
9. Phad Thai Sauce
Image credit:Tradewinds Oriental Shop
Ever tried and failed to recreate the taste of your favourite Phad Thai? Well, now you can try again, this time armed with the saucy goodness in a packet. Found in most supermarkets, the Phad Thai sauce packets would be a perfect gift (and a great hint) to your mother or wife! Oh okay, also for that friend who loves to cook.
10. Green Curry Sauce
Image credit: Thai Food and Goods
Move over, Thai Express! Be the next Thai Masterchef with your arsenal of pre-mixes and premade sauces! Of course, you should also have a packet of the green curry sauce, because why not? Where else are you going to get that goodness in Singapore?
P.S. By the way, if you do know where to get some of these authentic sauces in Singapore, please tell me, I’ve been itching to get a green curry home fix.
11. Sea Salt
Image credit: La Baleine
My mother is a huge fan of this and with good reason. Sea salt is essentially what you get after all the seawater has evaporated. Although the difference in health benefits of sea salt and table salt are minimal, the way it is produced makes it such that its texture is coarser and grainier than white table salt. A sprinkle of sea salt can thus often do the job as well as a teaspoon of table salt, mainly due to its ability to sit well in food, and this translates to less sodium intake (read: healthier lifestyle!). And yes, you can get them in Singapore, but they’re pretty expensive when compared to the gourmet supermarkets in Bangkok. So long story short: get the sea salt, it’ll be useful for cooking and flavouring!
A word of caution though: Pack the sea salt in your check-in baggage; you might get stopped at customs otherwise. That’s what happened to me. Thankfully, I was able to show that it wasn’t drugs. Phew!
12. MAMA Instant Noodles
Image credit: CMelendez
Missing Thailand and need a quick fix to ease those cravings for legit Thai food? Look no further, MAMA instant noodles are sure to do the job. Popular with both tourists and locals alike, MAMA instant noodles is among the best-rated instant noodles. The most well-liked flavour is Tom Yum, and often draws rave reviews from those who have tried it. Plus, they come in plastic packets with different serving sizes, so it’s really up to you whether you’d like a bigger packet or smaller packet! Thoughtful of them, right?
13. (Bonus) Instant Thai Milk Tea
Image credit: Must Thai
After so much food and snacks, one is going to need to wash them down, and what better drink to round off the major pig-out session than with a glass of Thai Iced Milk Tea? Some ice in a glass, one of these sachets, hot water, and you’re all set to enjoy a little bit of Thailand in the air-conditioned comfort of your home!
Also read: 18 Must-Buy Things in Bangkok You Won’t Regret Hunting Down(Opens in a new browser tab)
And there you have them–some of the edible souvenirs I buy back for my friends and relatives. What about you? Recommend me some so I can grab them on my next trip! And if you’re already hankering after some of the items, I think it’s high time we hop over to book your next trip to the Land of Elephants and Smiles!
Sawaddeekha!
