Thailand's Famous 'Shaved Ice' Dessert Fails to Fascinate Indians: 'Isn't This Gola?'

Ever heard of Thailand’s famed ‘shaved ice’, or as they affectionately call it, ‘Namkhaeng sai’? Also dubbed as ‘Wan yen’ or ‘Chamba’, ‘Namkhaeng sai’ is a dessert featuring finely shaved ice in a bowl, drizzled generously with sweet syrup and condensed milk. But wait, isn’t that what we in India know as ‘Ice Gola’? Well, yes, they share quite a resemblance, but it’s the serving style that sets them apart.

However, when travel blogger @travelmatcha shared a video savouring ‘Namkhaeng sai’ from a roadside stall in Thailand with the tagline, “Thailand is living in 2050,” Indians weren’t exactly cheering. The process showcased in the video bore a striking resemblance to what we Indians refer to as ‘Ice Gola’, albeit with a few intriguing twists. In the footage, the Thai vendor added chewy jelly beans and petite bread morsels into a spacious cup before generously layering it with shaved ice, flavoured syrup, and condensed milk.

Take a Look:

A post shared by Zeeshan | Travel (@travelmatcha)

Back in India, the variation lies in having all toppings exclusively above the shaved ice – whether it’s dried fruits, jellies, or anything else, but definitely not bread.

However, Desis weren’t fully sold on the innovation, with one quipping, “I think India is living in 4050,” and another eagerly awaiting a futuristic twist, “Looks nice but I was waiting for the 2050 twist.” A third pointed out the contrast, “The Difference of India and this one I think is the hygiene,” drawing attention to the prevalent concerns about hygiene associated with Indian street foods.

Meanwhile, this incident isn’t the first instance where Indians have stood their ground against perceived culinary alterations. Remember when Africans took to TikTok to joke about Indian street food? Oh, the uproar it caused! Desis swiftly fired back, highlighting the irony of those facing food shortages poking fun at a country they couldn’t outmatch.

Read More: Africans Make TikToks to Mock ‘Unhygienic’ Indian Food Only to Be ‘Served’ With Spicy Comebacks

Indeed, for Indians, food is more than just sustenance—it’s an emotion!