04 Dec. 2019 — Though now overshadowed by the province of Battambang in terms of green orange production, Pursat Province remains, historically, the cradle of cultivation and harvesting of these celebrated fruits beloved by Cambodians and travelers alike. Located 200 kilometers north and a five-hour drive from Phnom Penh, the town of Pursat draws both local and international visitors eager to taste these citrus fruits directly where they're harvested.

Numerous villages at the edge of the Cardamom Mountains, just a few kilometers west of Pursat, still maintain extensive orange groves and orchard fields today. This cultivation was first introduced to the 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 is prized for its sweet and tangy flavor. It thrives year-round, with a peak during the rainy season, when the branches of the orange trees often buckle under the weight of an abundant harvest. The branches of these orange trees often struggle to support the sheer volume of fruit that ripens during this time of year.

The Chance to Pick Them Yourself

The landscapes of Pursat Province, contrasted by the country's highest mountains and, downstream, vast stretches of orange groves and lush rice paddies, bring a picturesque, bucolic quality to this experience. The new National Road 55 winds through the forests and mountains of the Cardamom range from Pursat toward the Thai border.

It's easy to wander through the orchards and stop at various farms to learn more about this cultivation. The exceptional setting further enhances the desire to 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 simply cannot compare to that of fruit harvested straight from the tree.

The orange groves in Pursat Province span roughly 3,000 hectares, and farms are widely accessible. Farmers welcome travelers warmly and regularly offer to let you pick ripe green oranges directly from the branches so you can select the finest fruit by taste. These agriculturalists are also happy to sell their harvest—a basket of around forty oranges costs approximately six US dollars.

Thibault BourruA passionate devotee of literature and Asia, Thibault shares his experiences through his writing.