The Ministry of Commerce, through the Department of Intellectual Property, has registered the Geographical Indication (GI) for "Mae Klong Coconut Sugar," a key distinctive product of Samut Songkhram province. It highlights its sweet, fragrant, and creamy flavor with the charm of natural sweetness produced by traditional methods. The department plans to promote this further.
They will develop quality control systems alongside efforts to create added value in various dimensions, boosting high-value agricultural products in both the food industry and by elevating production areas into sustainable community-based tourism sites. This aligns with the policy of Ms. Supachai Suthamphan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Commerce, focusing on strengthening SMEs and communities through community economic development supported by GIs.
Ms. Oramon Sapthaweetham, Director-General of the Department of Intellectual Property, revealed that Mae Klong Coconut Sugar is a product with a long-standing reputation. Evidence appears in the travel records of King Chulalongkorn (Rama V), who praised the coconut sugar from Bang Chang, Samut Songkhram.
He described it as "the finest coconut sugar in sweetness, richness, and fragrance," a distinctive taste influenced by geographical factors. Samut Songkhram is a lowland coastal area known as the “City of Three Waters,” comprising fresh, salty, and brackish waters. The soil is a mix of clay and sand rich in minerals, ideal for coconut cultivation.
This contributes to producing high-quality coconut sugar. Currently, Mae Klong produces over 107 million kilograms of coconut sugar annually, generating an economic value of up to 129 million baht per year for the province.
The GI registration for Mae Klong Coconut Sugar covers various forms, including fresh sugar from coconut flowers, block sugar, syrup, and powdered sugar. These are made from coconut flower sap processed according to long-standing local wisdom—from harvesting the sap by bending and tapping the coconut flower, using bamboo tubes or special wood to collect the sap to prevent spoilage instead of chemicals, to carefully controlled heating. This results in pure, safe coconut sugar with nutritional benefits, featuring carbohydrates and a low glycemic index that does not raise blood sugar levels. These qualities, combined with meticulous production, make Mae Klong Coconut Sugar a healthy choice for consumers and versatile for use in the food industry, including savory dishes, desserts, baked goods, and beverages like coffee and tea, enhancing flavor and aroma.
The Director-General added that Mae Klong Coconut Sugar is the sixth GI product of Samut Songkhram, following Samut Songkhram White Pomelo, Samut Songkhram Litchi, Bang Chang Chili, Mae Klong Mackerel, and Mae Klong Sea Salt. After GI registration, the department plans comprehensive promotion focusing on quality control to build consumer trust.
Efforts include adding value and modernizing packaging, enhancing marketing techniques and knowledge, expanding sales channels and export opportunities, connecting GI products to related industries such as promoting GI items as raw materials in the food industry, collaborating with renowned chefs to raise GI product awareness, and developing GI production areas into experiential tourism destinations.
The Department of Intellectual Property believes GI registration will be a key mechanism to elevate community products in various aspects, encouraging local producers to maintain production standards and continuously develop GI products, thereby driving sustainable community economic growth. Interested buyers can purchase Mae Klong GI coconut sugar from the Tha Kha Floating Market Housewives’ Agricultural Community Enterprise at cocosweet, phone 086-789-8130 or 085-124-9519; Ban Rim Khlong Homestay Community Enterprise, phone 080-516-5941; and Ta Tan Mitreecha Stove, phone 087-555-0999.
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