The famous grapefruits of Koh Trong island

The Southeast Asian grapefruit, or pomelo, stands out with its green color, crisp texture, and particularly sweet taste. Koh Trong Island, located on the Mekong River near Kratié, is full of these citrus fruits, which even received a Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) in June 2018. This has further boosted the island’s appeal, tempting travelers eager to taste this local delicacy. 

To reach the charming island of Koh Trong, simply take a boat from Kratié. Once you arrive, you will discover a countryside brimming with charm. The island is home to 330 families across two villages. The main 9 km road takes you past neat houses, most of which feature lovely gardens. You will constantly see beautiful pomelo trees, which bear the famous Koh Trong pomelos, internationally recognized with the PGI. This citrus is the third Cambodian product to receive this distinction, following Kampot pepper and Kampong Speu palm sugar.

A controversial price

The island and the surrounding areas of Koh Trong are home to more than 13,000 pomelo trees, spread across 35 hectares. You will have no trouble sampling the pomelos directly from the trees. The welcoming locals are happy to open their doors to travelers. These citrus fruits became famous in the 1960s and are harvested twice a year, in October-November and March-April.

The PGI has encouraged producers to expand their production of this fruit, which is not endemic to the region, as it is also cultivated in Kampong Cham and even further in Battambang. After maximizing sales, particularly with tourists, the fruit is now struggling to maintain the momentum generated by its media attention. In Phnom Penh, for instance, market stalls prefer selling non-certified pomelos from Battambang, priced at $2.5 per fruit, a dollar less than those from Koh Trong.

The Koh Trong pomelo producers' association has not given up, however. They believe that the reason sales have not exploded across Cambodia is due to the lack of awareness about the quality and history of this fruit. They now plan to work on marketing and communication to encourage the Cambodian people to embrace these internationally recognized citrus fruits.