Htanthi mont facts for kids

Htanthi mont is a yummy traditional snack from Myanmar, also known as Burma. It's a type of mont, which is a general word for snacks or desserts in Myanmar. You can think of it as a special kind of steamed cake.

This snack is sometimes called "toddy palm cake" because one of its main ingredients comes from the toddy palm tree. It looks a bit like a Chinese cake called fa gao.

What is Htanthi Mont?

Htanthi mont is a soft and fluffy rice cake. It's a popular treat in Myanmar, often enjoyed as a snack or a light dessert. People love its unique taste, which comes from the special fruits used to make it.

Key Ingredients

Htanthi mont gets its special flavor from a mix of ingredients. The main ones are:

• Rice: This forms the base of the cake. It can be cooked rice that's ground into a powder or rice flour.
• Coconut milk: This makes the cake creamy and adds a rich flavor.
• Sugar: For sweetness, of course!
• Baking soda: This helps the cake become light and fluffy when steamed.
• Toddy palm pulp: This is the most unique ingredient. It comes from the fruit of the toddy palm tree. The pulp is slightly fermented, which means it's left to sit for a short time. This process gives the cake its special smell and taste.
• Coconut pulp: This comes from the coconut fruit and adds more tropical flavor.
• Coconut shavings: These are sprinkled on top as a garnish, making the cake look and taste even better.

How is it Made?

Making Htanthi mont involves a few simple steps:

• First, the rice (either ground cooked rice or rice flour) is mixed with coconut milk, sugar, baking soda, and the special fruit pulps.
• The mixture is stirred well to create a smooth batter.
• Then, this batter is poured into small molds.
• Finally, the cakes are cooked by steaming. Steaming uses hot vapor to cook the food gently, making the cakes soft and moist.
• Once cooked, they are often topped with fresh coconut shavings.