Photo: Pinterest
After Singapore announced the theft of Thailand’s Songkran festival, the kingdom will take revenge by stealing away one of the city-state’s tastiest traditions.
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) announced it is studying how to trademark or patent the popular dessert Singaporean Lot Chong, or cendol as the organization believed people misunderstand the originality of the Thai dessert with a foreign name.
“Singaporean Lot Chong is actually a Thai dessert,” Supaporn Wongsa, the director of TAT’s cultural awareness department, reveals. “The dessert is often mistakenly thought by people to come from Singapore, but actually originated in Bangkok, at a popular Lot Chong shop located in front of a Singaporean theater.”
Although cendol is popular among many Southeast Asian countries, TAT insists Singaporean Lot Chong is slightly different and therefore can be registered as a trademark.
“We put more coconut milk in it,” Supaporn explains, “Let’s say twice more than any country’s cendol, and we are proud of it.”
She added the misunderstanding has damaged Thailand’s reputation and can confuse and discourage tourists from enjoying the dessert in its true home.
