Roti sai mai
In its own language: โรตีสายไหม
Thai dessert of spun sugar threads wrapped in thin roti flatbread
Roti sai mai is a sweet from Thailand made by wrapping fine spun sugar, similar to cotton candy, inside a thin, soft roti flatbread. The sugar threads come in many colors, and the roti is sometimes tinted green with pandan leaves and topped with sesame. It is often sold as a snack or dessert, especially at roadside stalls.
- Spun sugar is wrapped in a thin, soft roti flatbread
- Pandan leaf gives some rotis a green color and aroma
- Sesame seeds are often sprinkled on top
- Coin-operated sellers were once a popular way to buy it
- It must be eaten fresh due to its short shelf life
What is Roti sai mai?
Roti sai mai is a treat where fine, silky threads of spun sugar are wrapped in a very thin, pliable roti, which is a type of flatbread. The sugar floss is similar to cotton candy but formed into long, delicate strands, often in bright colors. The roti itself may be plain or colored green with pandan leaf, a fragrant tropical plant. Sometimes sesame seeds are sprinkled on top for extra flavor. The result is a sweet, chewy, and slightly crisp snack with a gentle aroma from the pandan and sesame.
Where does Roti sai mai come from?
Roti sai mai was introduced to Thailand by Indian Muslim traders during the Ayutthaya Kingdom era. These traders brought the technique and began selling the dessert in both urban and rural areas. Over time, it became a popular street food, especially in Thailand, and is now recognized as a part of local culinary culture. Its roots reflect the blending of Indian and Thai influences, particularly through the use of roti and the style of spun sugar.
How is Roti sai mai made?
To make roti sai mai, sugar is melted and spun into very thin threads, forming a floss or cotton candy. The roti is prepared from wheat flour, rolled out thin, and cooked briefly on a flat surface. Sometimes pandan leaf is added to the dough for a green color and a subtle scent. A handful of the spun sugar is placed on the roti, which is then folded or rolled up. Sesame seeds may be scattered on top before serving.
How and when is Roti sai mai eaten?
Roti sai mai is usually eaten as a snack or dessert, often bought from street vendors or roadside stalls. It is made fresh and eaten soon after, as the sugar and roti do not keep well for long. People enjoy it by unrolling the flatbread and pulling apart the sugar threads, or by eating it as a rolled parcel. It is a casual treat, sometimes shared among friends or family.
Kinds of Roti sai mai
The main variations come from the color and flavor of the roti and the sugar floss. Pandan leaf is sometimes used to give the roti a green tint and a fragrant aroma. The spun sugar itself can be found in a range of colors. In the past, there were novelty sellers who used coin-operated machines to dispense random numbers of pieces, but this is now rare.
What Roti sai mai means
Roti sai mai is a familiar sight at markets and roadside stalls in Thailand. In the 1980s and 1990s, coin-operated sellers added a playful element to buying this snack, letting customers try their luck for extra pieces. Its short shelf life has limited its spread beyond local markets, though recent efforts have aimed to extend its freshness. The dessert reflects the influence of Indian Muslim communities in Thai food culture.
Questions people ask about Roti sai mai
What is roti sai mai made of?
It is made from thin threads of spun sugar, similar to cotton candy, wrapped in a soft, thin roti flatbread. The roti may be colored with pandan leaf and topped with sesame seeds.
Where does roti sai mai come from?
Roti sai mai comes from Thailand and was introduced by Indian Muslim traders during the Ayutthaya Kingdom period.
How is roti sai mai eaten?
It is usually eaten as a snack or dessert, bought fresh from street vendors. You eat it by unrolling the roti and pulling apart the sugar threads, or by eating it rolled up.
Why does roti sai mai have to be eaten fresh?
The dessert's flavor and texture degrade quickly, and both the roti and spun sugar spoil after a few days, so it is best enjoyed soon after it is made.
What makes roti sai mai different from regular cotton candy?
Unlike regular cotton candy, the spun sugar in roti sai mai is wrapped in a thin roti flatbread, sometimes with added flavors like pandan and sesame.
Good reading and sources
The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Roti sai mai", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). Thali rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.
It may contain mistakes, and it is not dietary or allergy advice: recipes differ from cook to cook. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-03.
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