Khao tom

Khao tom(Lao:ເຂົ້າຕົ້ມ,pronounced[kʰȁ(ː)w.tôm]) andkhao tom mat(Thai:ข้าวต้มมัด,pronounced[kʰâ(ː)w.tômmát]) are a popularLaotianandThaidessert made ofsticky rice, ripebanana,coconut milk, all wrapped and steamed-cooked in banana leaves.A similar dessert is enjoyed throughoutSoutheast Asiancountries where it is known asnum ansominKhmer,lepetinIndonesian,sumaninFilipino, andbánh tétandbánh chưnginVietnamese.
This dessert can be either savoury (filled with pork fat andmung bean) or sweet (filled withcoconut milkandbanana). In Thailand,Khao tom matis sometimes colored blue withClitoria ternateaflowers.
TypicallyKhao tom mathaveblack beansandThai bananaas the main ingredients.
TheKhao tomandKhao tom matvarious flavors by the ingredients used inside i.e.taro,banana,pork, etc., brought each name to Khao tom mat; Khao tom mat sai pheuak (taro), Khao tom mat sai kluai (banana), Khao tom mat sai mu (pork).
InLaos, sticky rice is a national staple food and steeped in the Lao culture and religious traditions. Lao people use sticky rice to preparekhao tomfor ceremonies connected with the plantings, rainfall, harvest and death.Khao tomis offered during the Laobaciceremony held to commemorate special occasions, such as starting a new job, marriage, housewarming, birth of a new baby, and celebration ofLao New Year.Khao tomis prepared for alms giving to monks during the annual religious events in buddhist temples. Furthermore,khao tomis a popular snack sold during festivals, in markets and food stalls around the country. It was listed in a collection of recipes for favorite dishes of the former Lao royal family written byPhia Sing(1898-1967), the king's personal chef and master of ceremonies.
InThailand, theSai Krachattradition (ประเพณีใส่กระจาด), also known asSuea KrachatorSoe KrachatinPhuan languageis a merit-making Buddhist tradition of the ThaiPhuan peopleofBan Mi District,Lopburi Province. It takes place on the eve of theGreat Birth Sermoncelebration. One day prior to the Sai Krachat Day, people wrapkhao tomand grind rice forkhao punrice noodles. The next day is the Sai Krachat Day when people bring things such as bananas, sugar cane, oranges, candles, andjoss sticksor other items to put into bamboo baskets at the houses of the people they know, while the hosts bring prepared food to welcome their guests. When the visitors wish to go home, the hosts givekhao tom matas a souvenir, calledKhuen Krachat.
InThailand,khao tom matis the symbol of couples because for boiling usually the leaf wraps are bundled to sets of two. Thai people believe that if a pair of people offerkhao tom matto monks on Khao Phansa Day, which is at the beginning of the 3 months ofBuddhist lentduring the rainy season and the time when monks retreat to amonasteryand concentrate onBuddhistteachings,married life will be smooth and love will be stable.
Khao tom matis also a traditional Thai dessert forOk Phansa Day(the end of Buddhist lent in late October.), but it is then calledkhao tom luk yon(Thai:ข้าวต้มลูกโยน). This variant is wrapped up in a youngmangrove fan palmleaf (Thai:ใบกะพ้อ) with long-tails to hold before tossing them to aBuddha image, after whichmonkscan carry them away.
In 2014, the Department of Cultural Promotion under the Ministry of Culture registeredkhao tom matas an intangible cultural heritage, in theKnowledge and Practices Concerning Nature and the Universecategory, to prevent them from being lost along with other cultural heritage.