How did plain old ‘Aunty Heng’ become ‘Aunty Ice Cream?’

Aunty Heng’s ice cream story started many moons ago when she tried to make an ‘easier living’ by selling a Thai brand of ice cream from a cart to the local community in Bueng Kan, Isan. To her horror, it didn’t sell. The villagers weren’t having any of it! Feeling a bit deflated, she wondered why her ice cream wasn’t selling but an old yai (grandmother) who was selling her homemade version from a clapped out old cart with no branding, had queues every day.

One day, after she’d gotten over the embarrassment, she approached the old lady and asked if she could teach her how to make it. She agreed, but not for free kha! Aunty paid about 10,000THB, which back then was a lot of money and even now that’s about a typical monthly salary for a farmer in Isan! She paid a small fortune and quite rightly so as knowledge is king, right? After teaching Aunty Heng the basics, the two ladies went their separate ways, agreeing to sell their ice creams in different areas. A classic example of respect and trust between one another in rural communities. How lovely!

Over the years aunty became a local legend and ice cream expert herself, creating unique recipes that became so widely loved they’ve been selling out for decades and it’s this reputation that’s earned her the moniker “Aunty Ice Cream.”

Some of the stories about ice cream - the do’s and dont’s, for example are hilarious and sometimes the topic of fierce debate; white sugar, palm or cane sugar? What brand of coconut milk? Coconut powder? Fresh coconut? Desiccated coconut? What salt to use? Size of the ice cubes? Churning time? Flavours? The thickness and texture of the finished ice cream are all topics up for debate to a degree, besides, however Americanized soft serve - which is a big no-no in the villages of Isan. Traditional Thai Ice cream is quite firm and that’s how it should be according to local legend (ie, the village elders).

As some of you now know, Chef New was in Bueng Kan, Isan recently learning some of aunty’s secrets, and right now she’s back in Dubai creating Cafe Isan’s traditional Thai ice cream range. Whoop whoop!

Can you guess what flavours?

Thank you kha, Aunty.

#thaiicecream #icecream #buengkan #isan #isaan #aunty #traditionalthai #coconuticecream #cafeisan #homemade #madewithlove #dubaifood #summercoolers #cafeisan #chefnew #sundaystories #foodstories #thaistreetfood #storytelling