Battambang: UNESCO's Newest City of Gastronomy

Producer: Mehak Pal Editor: Nisha Dubey

Battambang became the first-ever Cambodian city to join the UNESCO Creative Cities Network.

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The provincial capital in northwest Cambodia has been honoured by UNESCO as a gastronomical destination.

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The honour recognizes Battambang's distinctive local cuisines, encompassing delicacies like nem (soft fish), prahok (fish paste), amok, kralan (sticky rice in bamboo tubes), papaya salad, kantuy hes (spicy mixed prahok), and teuk kroeung (vegetable dipping sauce).

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Why Is Battambang Famous? Battambang's cuisine is deeply rooted in the use of fresh, locally sourced ingredients.

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The city's farmers cultivate the renowned Phka Rumdoul variety of fragrant jasmine rice.

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It’s also quite famous for producing rice noodles, a staple ingredient in Cambodian cuisine.

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Battambang is popular for its local bakeries offering a variety of French-inspired pastries, from croissants to éclairs and French-style coffee.

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Battambang showcases some of the best aspects of Khmer cuisine, which is deeply rooted in tradition and reflects the country's cultural heritage.

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It is known for its unique flavours, aromatic herbs, and the use of fresh, locally sourced ingredients and also bears major influences from Cambodian royal cuisine.

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