What Is Uba? Types, Flowers and How to String a Thai Flower Tassel
Uba (อุบะ, pronounced u-ba) is a Thai flower tassel: flowers strung into strands, then gathered together like a tassel. It hangs from a garland, between festoons of flowers, or beside the ear as an ornament.
If you are learning to make one for class, this guide covers it all: the three parts of an uba, the six types, which uba flowers to use, and how to string one step by step.
Macrame by Nicha designs and makes its own phuang malai and uba in hand-knotted cotton, in Thailand.
What is uba?
The Royal Institute dictionary defines อุบะ (uba) as flowers strung into strands and then gathered like a tassel, to hang from a garland, to hang between เฟื่อง (festoons), or to wear beside the ear.
In Thai classrooms it is taught as one of the three parts of a พวงมาลัย (phuang malai, flower garland): the ตัวมาลัย (garland body), the โบมาลัย (ribbon bow) and the uba itself.
So when someone asks "อุบะคือ" (what is uba), the short answer is this: the hanging flower tassel that finishes a Thai garland.
The parts of an uba
One strand of uba is made of three parts, strung from the bottom up.
- ดอกตุ้ม (dok tum, the bottom flower): the weight at the end of the strand, and the first thing you string. It is usually shaped as a ดอกข่า (dok kha, "galangal flower"), a form crafted from other flowers, for example rose petals tied into that shape.
- ดอกครอบ (dok khrop, the cap): also called หมวก (muak, hat). It is a small cap of sepals, for example from crown flower or rose, that sits over the bottom flower. Some teachers use a hibiscus base, and some use a plastic cap.
- ดอกสวม (dok suam, the threaded flowers): the flowers strung above the cap, graded from large to small. They are usually ดอกรัก (dok rak, crown flower).
A simple example from a Thai teaching page: one galangal-shaped bottom flower, one cap, then five crown flowers.
How many types of uba are there?
Thai teaching material lists six types of uba. They differ in the number of strands, how they are tied, and in one case the flower used.
1. อุบะขาเดียว (uba kha diao, single-strand uba)
Also called ตุ้งติ้ง (tung ting, dangling uba). As the name says, it is one single strand.
2. อุบะแขก (uba khaek, the long-strand uba), also called พวงเต่ารั้ง (phuang tao rang)
One bottom flower, then threaded flowers strung as long as you like.
3. อุบะพู่ (uba phu, tassel uba)
Several strands joined together into a fuller bunch, like a tassel.
4. อุบะไทยธรรมดา (uba thai thammada, plain Thai uba)
Several strands, each made of one bottom flower and three, five or more threaded flowers.
5. อุบะไทยทรงเครื่อง (uba thai song khrueang, ornate Thai uba)
Built like the plain Thai uba, then tied and arranged more elaborately.
6. อุบะแตระ (uba trae), or สร้อยสน (soi son, "pine chain")
Sliced จำปา (champak) flowers threaded into a cone shape.
How many strands in one uba?
When strands are bundled together, they go in odd numbers: 3, 5, 7 or 9.
Flowers used for uba
Each part of the uba has its usual flowers.
- ดอกรัก (dok rak, crown flower): the standard threaded flower, so an อุบะ ดอกรัก (crown flower uba) is strung mainly with crown flowers. Its sepals are also used for the cap.
- กุหลาบ (kulap, rose): petals tied into the galangal-flower shape for the bottom flower, and sepals for the cap.
- ชบา (chaba, hibiscus): its base is used for the cap.
- จำปา (champak): sliced and threaded for the อุบะแตระ (uba trae).
Remember that the ดอกข่า (galangal flower) at the bottom is a shape you craft, named after the galangal flower, rather than a flower you pick.
For the garland the uba hangs from, Thai classes list กุหลาบ (rose), แก้ว (orange jessamine), กุหลาบมอญ (Damask rose), บานไม่รู้โรย (globe amaranth), มะลิ (jasmine) and กล้วยไม้ (orchid).
How to string an uba
ร้อยอุบะ (roi uba, stringing uba) takes a few simple tools and some patience.
Tools you need
- เข็มมาลัย (khem malai, garland needle)
- เข็มมือ (khem mue, hand needle)
- ด้าย (dai, thread)
- Scissors
- A small knife
- A container of water
- A spray bottle
- A thin white cloth
Steps to string an uba
- Prepare your flowers: the bottom flower, the cap and the threaded flowers.
- Thread the garland needle with doubled thread.
- Pierce through the centre of each flower as you string it.
- String the bottom flower first, then the cap, then the threaded flowers.
- Grade the threaded flowers from large to small, and leave 3 to 4 inches of thread to tie.
- Bundle the finished strands in 3, 5, 7 or 9, then tie them to the garland.
Needle and thread sizes vary between teachers, so follow the one your class uses.
Where uba is used
Uba shows up wherever Thai flower work needs a hanging finish: at the end of a garland, at the corners of a frame, and across Thai fresh-flower work.
Garland tails
A มาลัยชายเดียว (malai chai diao, single-tail garland) has one uba tail, and is held at the wrist or given as an offering.
Our Malai Chaad and Malai Glin Rak are both single-tail garlands, with one tail hanging from the ring.
A มาลัยสองชาย (malai song chai, two-tail garland) has two uba tails, and is worn round the neck at important ceremonies.
The arm garland has its own story, and we explain it in our guide to มาลัยกร (malai kon, the arm garland).
Hanging flower ornaments
เครื่องแขวน (khrueang khwaen, hanging flower ornaments) decorate buildings, places of worship and homes. Thai uba (อุบะไทย) and dangling uba (อุบะตุ้งติ้ง) are both used in them.
An uba that lasts: our hand-knotted cotton uba
A fresh uba is beautiful, and short-lived. Fresh flowers wilt within hours to a day or two without care.
So we made one in cotton. Malai Uba is a single-strand uba in hand-knotted cotton, 40 cm long, presented in a wooden box, at 3,000 THB.
We designed it as an uba that hangs on its own, at the ศาลพระภูมิ (spirit house) or at the workplace, carrying a wish of good fortune around the person who receives it. Its name on the page means ความเรียบง่ายและความสงบ (simplicity and calm).
It is sold per piece, and we make a pair on request. Each one is handmade by Akha women in Chiang Rai.
Our single-tail garlands
If you want a whole garland with its tail, two of our phuang malai are มาลัยชายเดียว (single-tail garlands):
- Malai Chaad, 2,690 THB, for ความภาคภูมิใจในความเป็นไทย (pride in being Thai). Red, white and blue for nation, religion and king, the three pillars of the Thai flag. Made for diplomatic exchanges, official celebrations and VIP gifts, 12 x 28 cm, in a wooden box, pre-order only.
- Malai Glin Rak, 499 THB, for ความอบอุ่นใกล้ชิด ไม่ว่าคุณอยู่ที่ไหน (closeness, wherever you are). A small cotton and wood malai, 3 x 6 inches, in 8 colours that each carry a meaning, to hang in the car, at the door or on the desk. It comes in a wooden gift box.
Frequently asked questions
What is uba?
Uba (อุบะ) is a Thai flower tassel: flowers strung into strands and gathered together, to hang from a garland, between festoons, or beside the ear. It is one of the three parts of a phuang malai, with the garland body and the ribbon bow.
What are the parts of an uba?
From the bottom up: the ดอกตุ้ม (bottom flower), the ดอกครอบ (cap) and the ดอกสวม (threaded flowers), which are usually crown flowers graded from large to small.
How many strands does an uba have?
A single-strand uba (อุบะขาเดียว) has one. When strands are bundled, they go in odd numbers: 3, 5, 7 or 9.
Which flowers are used for uba?
Crown flower (ดอกรัก) is the standard threaded flower, and its sepals also make the cap. Rose petals are tied into the galangal-flower shape for the bottom, hibiscus base can form the cap, and sliced champak makes the uba trae (อุบะแตระ).
How long does a fresh uba last compared with a cotton one?
Fresh flowers wilt within hours to a day or two without care. For fresh garlands, misting once or twice a day, wrapping in banana leaf or damp paper, and keeping them in the fridge (never the freezer), out of sun and wind, all help. A cotton uba like our Malai Uba is hand-knotted, so it skips the wilting altogether.