Visiting a traditional Cambodian market is a must-do experience and a journey into the wonderful world of fresh produce. The range and diversity are immense and many of Cambodia’s leafy vegetables could perhaps make the grade for superfoods with one example being the Moringa plant.
Here is a picture guide to common vegetables, with Khmer/English, that you’ll find at Cambodian markets including native produce, introduced species, and imports, along with a few herbs and spice.
1. Moringa ម្រុម
M. oleifera is a fast-growing, drought-resistant tree, native to tropical and subtropical regions of South Asia. It is widely cultivated for its young seed pods and leaves used as vegetables and for traditional herbal medicine. It is also used for water purification. The leaves are the most nutritious part of the plant, being a significant source of B vitamins, vitamin C, provitamin A as beta-carotene, vitamin K, manganese, and protein, among other essential nutrients.