The first of the rains is a good time for Cambodia as this is when they can plant the rice. Cambodia produces around nine-million tonnes of rice at the moment but this figure is constantly rising. Of that production they export nearly four-hundred thousand tonnes, eleven thousand of which ends up in the UK. At the global rice tasting competition during the World Rice Conference held in Hong Kong last November, Cambodia’s premium fragrant rice was named: “World’s best rice” for the second year running. Next time you are in the supermarket, look out for Cambodian fragrant or jasmine rice and give it a try!
Rice is the staple diet of Cambodia along with most of the Asian continent: the production of this crop is a beautiful thing. The paddy fields transform in colour throughout the season:
to be planted. This is the time when the brown earth is flooded with water and the transplanting begins. As the rice begins to grow and becomes thick and dense, the landscape takes on the look of a fresh green patchwork quilt turning multiple intense shades of green. Once the rains begin to slow and the sunny days become more frequent the rice transforms from the lush green to golden yellows and this is when it’s time to harvest and the hard work starts. I’ve experienced three rice seasons first hand in Vietnam and you can read all about it here : 
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