Namkhaeng sai is simply shaved ice in a bowl, poured on top with sweet syrup and condensed milk.
Other desserts such as sarim, thapthim krop, and lot chong are partially similar to namkhaeng sai with different ingredients.
Many desserts from other countries like bingsu and kakikori share characteristics with namkhaeng sai but the style of shaved ice (fine, rough, and strip length, etc.)
Ice was sent from Singapore, packaged inside a wooden crate, and transported by water on the steamboat named Chao Phrayam.
Chao Phraya Phisonsombatboribun (Yim Bisalayaputra), titled Phra Phasisombatboribun, issued the ice order which was considered astonishing at that time.
In 1905, the first ice factory in Thailand was established by Phraya Bhakdi Noraset (Lert Sreshthaputra) at Saphan Lek, Charoen Krung Road.
Ice was then adapted for use in desserts such as lot chong, Thai cantaloupe cake, sarim, thapthim krop, taro, and namkhaeng sai.
[2][3]First namkhaeng sai originated from the Chinese in Phetchaburi province, combining shaved ice with pathongko and red syrup.
There are two reasons for its name, first is that namkhaeng sai's shape is similar to women's bosom and apparel color of chamba erotic dancer.
Namkhaeng sai aside from signature menus in restaurants don't have a specific set of ingredients and is usually selectable from the things available at the time of ordering.
Customers can choose several ingredients, excluding syrups and condensed milk, up to 4-5 to put in their namkhaeng sai bowl.
There is a classic one, xuehua bing, where the shaved ice is based from frozen milk, mung beans and grass jelly.
Halo-halo, or mix-mix translated to English, is a Filipino shaved ice that is iconically served in clear tall glass which shows every layer and texture .
In Thailand, namkhaeng sai perfectly correlates to how people perceive the weather, eating behavior, street food culture, childhood beliefs and lifestyle, or different opinions on the topic between generations.
Red-colored syrup poured on top adds to the imagination as it resembles a flashy dress color worn by dancers.
Furthermore, the action of “sprinkling” milk sounds and looks close to “shaking”, adding yet another naughty thought to relate namkhaeng sai with the chamba dance.
These stores would serve namkhaeng sai in multiple variants aside from its original form, notably Bingsu, providing customers with choices they preferred.
namkhaeng sai, shaved ice, was chosen to be that dessert due to their personal experience of enjoying it as a child to beat the heat, and easiness to eat and share with other people.
So they combined Thai tea and namkhaeng sai, then through trial and error they arrived at the present menu's pang cha.