พิมพ์น้ำตาล (phim namtan) — Two Carved Wooden Halves, Closed and Tied with Cord, Filled with Boiled Sugar

"Put the mould, or the two wooden boards, together and tie them with rubber or jute cord so they hold together; then boil sugar or cane juice until it is sticky enough, and pour it into the mould. Then wait until it is dry and open both sides of the mould, and you have sugar in the shape of the mould." (Sirindhorn Anthropology Centre, author พิชชา ทองขลิบ (Phitcha Thongkhlip), CC BY 4.0)

Split a piece of hardwood into two halves and plane the faces that meet, so the two halves close together exactly.

Carve both halves into the shape wanted, such as the elephant in the real photos, so the two sides join into one. Cut a pouring channel from the top edge down to the shape.

Close the two halves and tie them tight with rubber or jute cord.

Real photos of a พิมพ์น้ำตาล (phim namtan) from พิพิธภัณฑ์พื้นบ้านจ่าทวี (Ja Thawee Folk Museum) (Sirindhorn Anthropology Centre, author พิชชา ทองขลิบ (Phitcha Thongkhlip), CC BY 4.0)

Boil sugar or cane juice until it is sticky enough, pour it into the mould, wait until it is dry, then open both sides of the mould: the sugar takes the shape of the mould. Mind the hot boiled sugar, which burns.

The cane juice used for making sugar comes from sugarcane, a native plant found in every region of Thailand, especially oi hok, a local variety with a yellowish-green stalk; today improved varieties, which are sweeter, are used. Source: Sirindhorn Anthropology Centre, Traditional Objects of Everyday Use database, "พิมพ์น้ำตาล" (CC BY 4.0 licence). **Limits** The source gives no size or shape.