Thai mango sticky rice has "suddenly" been nominated to become a UNESCO cultural heritage.

Mango sticky rice, one of Thailand's signature dishes, has suddenly become a best-seller in Bangkok and many other cities across Thailand. The reason for this craze is attributed to Thai rapper Danupha Kanateerakul, known by his stage name "Milli," enjoying the traditional Thai dessert on stage during his performance at the Coachella music festival last weekend.

A mango sticky rice vendor at Simum Muang Market (Bangkok) shared that normally she sells one 20kg box of mangoes and about 10 bags of cooked sticky rice every day. But after Milli's performance, the number of orders skyrocketed, forcing her to peel an additional four boxes of mangoes to meet the daily demand.

Shortly afterward, the Thai Department of Cultural Promotion announced that it had prepared a nomination dossier for this dish to be included in UNESCO's list of Intangible Cultural Heritage. Mr. Chai Nakornchai, head of the Thai Department of Cultural Promotion, stated that a similar phenomenon had occurred with skewered meatballs sold at a shop in Buriram province in northeastern Thailand. The dish also sold out quickly after Thai singer Lisa, a member of the South Korean girl group BLACKPINK and a native of Buriram, said she enjoyed the meatballs at that shop.

Earlier, on April 18, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha instructed relevant ministries to actively promote the country's "soft power" through Thai cuisine, natural landscapes, or cultural attractions.

The irresistible appeal of sticky rice with mango.

As a country famous for exporting rice, rice-based dishes like sticky rice have become a familiar part of Thai cuisine. Unlike sticky rice served as a main course, mango sticky rice is a sweet version, also known as mango sticky rice.Khao Niaow Ma Muang.Sticky rice with mango is usually eaten during the peak mango season, typically summer, April and May in Thailand.

Made from the renowned fragrant Thai rice, the sticky rice is soft, chewy, and subtly sweet, not overly so, combined with ripe, juicy, and intensely sweet Thai mangoes. All blended together with a touch of rich, fragrant coconut milk, this dessert easily wins over any diner.

Mango sticky rice is so famous that you can find this dessert sold on almost every street corner in Bangkok. Some notable shops include Kor Panich, Yod Thong, Boonsap Thai Desserts, Muhammad Roddee, and Mae Varee.

Phuong Thao is an editor at Travellive magazine. She is passionate about traveling and enjoys capturing moments with her camera in every place she visits. Travel, art, and lifestyle are Phuong Thao's favorite writing topics.

Phuong Thao