Though now surpassed by Battambang province in green orange production, Pursat province remains, historically, the birthplace of cultivation and harvesting of these renowned fruits beloved by Cambodians and travelers alike. Located 200 kilometers north and a 5-hour drive from Phnom Penh, the town of Pursat attracts local and international tourists eager to taste these citrus fruits straight from their source.

Numerous villages at the edge of the Cardamom Mountains, situated just a few kilometers west of Pursat, still boast numerous orange farms and groves today. This cultivation was first introduced to this region during Cambodia's French protectorate, which lasted 90 years between 1863 and 1953. The reputation of Pursat's green orange has endured in the collective imagination. The citrus fruit is prized for its sweet and tangy flavor. It thrives year-round despite peak production during the rainy season. Orange tree branches often bend under the considerable weight of the abundant fruit that ripens during this period.

The opportunity to pick them yourself

Pursat province's landscapes, contrasted by the country's highest mountains and, downstream, vast expanses of orange groves and verdant rice fields, lend a picturesque and pastoral quality to this experience. The new National Road 55 winds through the Cardamom forests and mountains from Pursat to the Thai border.

It is therefore easy to stroll through the orchards and stop at various farms to learn more about this cultivation. The exceptional setting further reinforces the desire to come taste these oranges at their source. While these fruits can certainly be found in markets across major Cambodian cities like Siem Reap or Phnom Penh, their flavor cannot compare to fruit freshly picked from the tree.

Orchards of these fruit trees span approximately 3,000 hectares within Pursat province alone, and farms are largely accessible to visitors. Farmers warmly welcome travelers and regularly offer to help pick ripe green oranges straight from the branches to find the most flavorful ones. These growers are also keen to sell their produce, with a basket of around forty oranges fetching approximately 6 US dollars.