Cho muang

Cho muang or Chor muang (Thai: ช่อม่วง), sometimes translated as Thai flower dumpling, is a traditional Thai savoury snack. Its existence has been documented since the reign of King Rama II, in the Kap He Chom Khrueang Khao Wan poem. It is regarded as an ancient royal dish, and is marked by its carved flower-shaped appearance and indigo colouring from the Anchan (Butterfly Pea) flower. It is steamed dumpling which is made into flower-shaped forms that contain salty or sweet fillings, served with lettuce, coriander, and chili. Chor Muang is a graceful dish full of neatness and gentleness of Thai royal craftsmanship.^[1] The original recipe of Chor Muang contained with a sweet filling and later was developed with the savory filling.^[2] The name ‘Chor Muang’ means violet bouquet, it came from the appearance of a number of flowers in a plate arrangement.^[3] The exterior batter is made from rice flour, arrowroot flour, and tapioca flour stirred together in a brass pan. The violet color of the exterior batter comes from butterfly pea color mixed with a few drops of lime juice. Combined with seasoned meat filling, such as shrimp, fish, pork, or chicken fried with coriander root, garlic, and pepper until dry, and then molded into the shape of a flower with the batter by using a tweezer to create the petal shapes of a flower before steaming. After the steaming process, it needs to spray with fresh coconut milk because of its original recipe was the sweet snack. Because the molding process into the flower shape requires delicate royal craftsmanship and takes much time to finish, also its moistness caused easily expiration. Chor Muang is become rare to find in typical Thailand’s market. Only in a special desert house is it on the shelf.^[4]

Background

The history of Cho Muang has since ancient term. Which this snack was recorded during the King Rama II period. He was King in Thailand (King's Phutthaloetla Naphalai). Then, it has a unique appearance representing a rose, which it has method that was identity of Cho Muang. Also, people who try to making Cho Muang that be shape of a flower by pleat a dough. In the middle of this snack has seasoning such as garlic, pepper, coriander roots. Which these mixture are main seasoning of Thai food and Thai snack.^[5]

“ Cho Muang has a good scent like a flower, and this snack is purple like Poudean flower(Hibiscus mutabilis). So, it’s like a woman that wear a purple shawl. ”

The poetry of King Rama II (King's Phutthaloetla Naphalai ) has content from Thai poem, which this poem is called "Kap He Chom Khrueang Kho Wan". Also, this snack create by the Thai royal kitchen then is called Chaowang’s kitchen. Which, this is explained about information both of Thai dessert and Thai food. The meaning of this verse is the Cho Muang has good taste and good smell as like flower. The color of Cho Maung is purple like colors of Poudean flower. Then, the Cho Muang be like a gorgeous woman that her put no with a purple shawl.^[6][7]

Characteristic

In present time, Cho Muang is rarely found Thai snack. If Cho Muang sold, it is expensive. Because this snack is a craft that has many skills to doing. Cho muang or Chor maung, this snack has a shape as like rose. Also, this Thai snack has purple color which it be similar purple rose. Then, the purple color come from the mixture between Blue pea and some lemon juice that is nature color.^{[8] [9]} So, this knowledge was wisdom of Thai people in the past time. These people have creative to making this Thai snack. Then, the people are applied some method to changing color of Cho Muang. Which it is made beautiful and attractiveness whiles eating.

References