KHON KAEN, Thailand – In the northern province of Khon Kaen, a traditional rice cracker known as “Khao Pong” is keeping ancient culinary traditions alive while adapting to modern markets.
The craft of making these distinctive crackers has been practiced in Thailand’s northeastern region since the early Rattanakosin period. Today, 40 households across two villages in Sichomphu district maintain this traditional occupation, with some artisans, like one local woman, having preserved the craft for over three decades.
“I’ve been making Khao Pong for more than 30 years,” says Somphan Bupphi the veteran craftswoman, who previously sold her products in Bangkok. “Now we’ve formed a community enterprise and sell from home, with online channels helping boost our sales.”
The crackers play a significant cultural role in important religious ceremonies, particularly during the Bun Khao Jee and Bun Phawet festivals, when demand often exceeds production capacity.
The production process begins before dawn, with villagers grinding sticky rice into fine flour using electric pestles. The flour is then mixed with palm sugar and sesame seeds, with variations including pumpkin, pandan leaves, and purple yam for different flavors. The mixture is shaped into thin circles and sun-dried, requiring only one day to complete the process. The finished crackers can be grilled immediately or stored in plastic bags for up to a year.
The Nong Daeng Subdistrict Administrative Organization is working to preserve this cultural heritage through vocational training programs. What began as local wisdom in food preservation has evolved into a promising export product, with markets extending to neighboring countries including Laos, Vietnam, and Hong Kong. (TNA)
