pineapple, chumpoo, jackfruit, papaya, watermelon, banana, mango and rambutans. It is a common sight to see vendors slicing and dicing bits of colorful fruit along Phnom Penh's busy streets. To some, fruit is fruit, but a closer inspection will reveal that vendors are selling both domestic and foreign goods. Few have the eyes or the nose to tell them apart, so next time you happen upon a fruit stall, take a closer look and see if you can sniff out a difference.
Fruit connoisseurs would suggest that the durian, mangosteen or mango is typically

No single Khmer fruit looks nor tastes the same. For folks visiting Cambodia, it would be absurd to choose an imported apple or orange over an exotic, locally grown fruit free of toxins.
The lemut and milk fruit have emerged from the earth for generations to feed hungry Cambodians. They also can be used to decorate plates for important events such as wedding ceremonies.
Traditionally party revelers celebrating a friend's wedding would select five kinds of fruit to be displayed. Because imported fruits have gained popularity, however, people lately have been known to use apples and grapes as a new decoration. While they may not be in vogue, Cambodian fruit still carry a great significance and value to religious wedding ceremonies. Both the lemut and milk fruit plants have thick, sticky milk-like sap associated with richness, making them an auspicious offering at special events.
Milk fruit is known to be available only in Cambodia and Vietnam. The underbelly of the leaf is a greenish purple hue, while the top is a deep green.

the fresh food, be careful not to eat the few seeds imbedded in its flesh.
Unlike the smooth milk fruit, the lemut plant is rigid and bushy, full of thick rich latex-like sap. When the fruit is nearly ripe, its small leaves emit a sweet scent. The fruits are oval in shape although slightly elongated like a duck's egg. The lemut's brownish flesh is covered by a thin skin that should remain uneaten. This soft, juicy fruit also is seeded and is quite a nuisance to handle when unripe. Be careful not to pick a green one, or you could be attacked by the lemut's sticky sap.
Lemut and milk fruit are grown in abundance during