Mid-Autumn Festival, Zhongqiu Jie (中秋节) in Chinese, is also called the Mooncake Festival or the Moon Festival, is a harvest festival celebrated in Chinese culture. It is held on the 15th day of the 8th month of the Chinese lunisolar calendar with a full moon at night which this year falls on Tuesday, September 17, 2024.
For the residents of Phuket, who mostly trace their ancestry to the Hokkien Chinese, this day holds great significance as it marks the birthday (Sayid) of the god Pun Tao Kong, also referred to as Hok Tek Ceng Sin, a deity highly regarded by the Hokkien Chinese community.
Typically, we see Cantonese (or Macao) type mooncakes, however Phuket has a distinct style known as Tong Chew Pia or Hokkien style mooncakes. It contains a fragrant and crispy filling. It consists of candied pumpkin, peanuts, white sesame, and lard. The outside appearance is round, the size of a palm and stamped with various auspicious words on one side and white sesame seeds on the other.
In addition to being a once-a-year snack, it is a Phuket-specific dessert.
Phatthalung's sangyod rice has come a long way. This "Sang Yod and sea bream fish chip" (fish meat mixed with Sangyod rice flour) will make local knowledge more valuable. Making health-conscious people happy is the main ingredient used in this product. The high nutritional value comes from Sangyod's mix of 80% sea fish and rice flour. It is rich in fiber, aiding the body in eliminating waste. It is full of vitamins. Stay away from cancer, Alzheimer's, and heart disease. Pepper is another important raw material that comes from the community. This leads to the spread of income and jobs in the area.
The horbill Batik cloth pattern best expresses Koh Yao Noi's unique identity. Not only does Koh Yao Noi boast stunning marine scenery, but it also offers the opportunity to engage in batik, a handcrafted craft utilizing natural fibers like muslin, linen, and cotton. The villagers of "Ban Tha Khao" demonstrate their expertise by skillfully drawing patterns by hand and carefully applying paint to the fabric. The culture is truly remarkable. The local wisdom of Thailand is highly valued by tourists like us. It is highly recommended that you make it a priority during your visit.
Here are Hed Med Mushrooms, a unique and tasty mushroom that can only be found in the south during the rainy season.
Mushrooms have a solid, chewy, or soft texture with a slightly bitter flavour. To minimize the bitterness, boil it first. The locals enjoy preparing a wide range of delectable meal selections. These include coconut curry with pineapple, clear soup with shrimp-paste and salt (Kaeng Liang with kluea), mushroom dip, tom yum, salad, and stir-fry. Has anybody ever tried it? Feel free to leave a comment and share your thoughts.
Another GI-registered product in Phuket is "Phuket Buffalo Orange," sometimes known as "Garcinia," a sour-tasting fruit that is well-liked here. It is usable fresh, processed, and dried.
Dried buffalo oranges have a sour flavour and can be used to cook a variety of foods. As an alternative, dried buffalo orange powder can be used as medication. Mix it with hot water and soak your feet to relieve aches, pains, and swelling. It's also a laxative. Furthermore, buffalo oranges include fruit acids (AHA) that nourish and brighten the skin.
Buffalo oranges are in high demand in the market due to their numerous benefits. The income generated for Phuket Province is more than 3.6 million baht.
During this time, the Andaman Sea is stunning. And if you have the opportunity to visit Koh Yao, Phang Nga Province, don't miss out on their famous souvenirs. That is the salty dried fish known as "Ta Lung fish" from Koh Yao. The salty fish has less salt. But it's incredibly delicious.
Ja-Eed, a villager on Koh Yao, stated that they use no chemicals when making their fish. They ferment the fish with only salt and then dry it in the sun under a mosquito net. It's guaranteed to be clean and safe. If anyone is interested in buying it, please contact Ja-Eed. Koh Yao can be reached at 062-6379814. There is a package delivery service available throughout Thailand.
Get up early and get to Nai Yang Beach's "Lard Ching Pla" to compete for the day's fresh fish.
Another attraction in the area is the Ching Pla Market, also known as Grab Fish Market, near Nai Yang Beach. Here, the locals must get up early in order to wait for the fishing boats to arrive one by one, at which point they pour their catch upon the panels. In a matter of just eyeblinks, every fish gone.
Visit Phuket for the New Year. Is there anything you must purchase as a souvenir? Come, let's have a look.
1. Shrimp paste, local food of Phuket province, spicy, good fragrant from crispy shrimp.
2. Khanom Tao So, similar to Khanom Pia But the dough is softer.
3. Khanom Bee Phang, crispy fried puffed rice snack topped with simmered sugar, the sweet and salty taste is mellowed with fried onions.
4. Khanom Na Taek, a traditional dessert similar to cookies, with a sweet and salty taste.
5. Pepper snacks or pepper cookies, it has a slightly spicy, peppery taste.
6. Khanom Pang Pia or Phang Pia, local desserts of Phuket of the Hokkien Chinese people. The word "pang" actually means "round" according to the shape of the dessert.
7. Crispy Ching Chang fish, whether fried, make as spicy salad or as an appetizer. it is delicious and useful.
8. Dried fish kidneys mixed with hot steamed rice, fragrant and delicious, with a hot and spicy taste. Suitable for eating with fresh vegetables.
9. Cashew nuts, fragrant, crisp, and delicious. There are many flavors to choose from.
10. Khanom Kong Thung, crushed peanuts and sugar. It has a sweet flavour and is crispy.
Every souvenir is a famous item from Phuket Province! You're definitely going to like the recipient, no doubt about it!
