Phuket flavors
O-Aew (Shaved Ice Jelly)
Phuket's iconic cooling treat — a soft, faintly fruity jelly set from the seeds of the o-aew plant (with a little banana), topped with shaved ice, red beans, and red syrup. Found almost nowhere else in Thailand. The Old Town's antidote to the heat.
About this dish
O-aew is Phuket's beloved Hokkien-born dessert, so specific to the island that it is hard to find anywhere else in Thailand. Its base is a soft, translucent, very faintly fruity jelly made by washing the gel from the seeds of the o-aew plant (a relative of the fig) and setting it, traditionally with the help of mashed banana that helps it gel. Scooped into a bowl or glass, the jelly is topped with a mound of finely shaved ice, sweet red kidney beans, sometimes a little grass jelly or water chestnut, and a generous pour of bright-red sugar syrup. The result is light, cold, lightly sweet, and wobbling — the perfect, refreshing antidote to Phuket's tropical heat. The most atmospheric place to eat it is from the long-running o-aew stalls in the heart of the Old Town, along photogenic Soi Rommanee and Thalang Road, where the recipe has changed little in generations.
Allergen information
Preparation methods may vary by restaurant. Always confirm with staff if you have severe allergies.
Where to try
O-aew stalls on Soi Rommanee and Thalang Road; Lock Tien (Phuket Old Town)