Nam wan is a Lao coconut dessert typically made with sweetened coconut milk, coconut juice, and fresh fruits. Bua loi is a type of nam wan featuring chewy balls of sticky rice floating in the coconut milk, making it a refreshing summer treat.

Nam wan is a classic Lao dessert and it translates to sweetened water. You can think of the word “nam wan” as an umbrella word for many other types of sweetened coconut milk drink desserts. It is typically made with sweetened coconut milk with various toppings. I made this one with dyed mini tapioca pearls, coconut jelly, and jackfruit in syrup, but you can put your other favorite Southeast Asian fruits in there too. The coconut milk is cooked on low with a pandan leaves to give it that very slight herbal scent and flavor.