22 of the native tropical fruits you must try in Cambodia
Cambodia offers an incredible variety of tropical fruits, thanks to its prime geographical location. Sitting in the heart of Southeast of Asia, with tropical climate, warm temperature and constant sunlight and ideal conditions for growing diverse fruits and vegetables. Each region boasts its own unique selection of native Cambodian fruits from the sweet richness of mangosteens to the refreshing orange jackfruit and mango varieties.
Similar to Thailand, Laos and or Vietnam, the diverse climates and elevations create an abundance of fruits and vegetables. Passion fruit, dragon fruit, native Cambodian bananas, and many more thrive across the country, making fruit exploration an exotic adventure.
Kicking off this fruity adventure, I can’t overlook the vibrant fruit stands found throughout the streets of Siem Reap and Phnom Penh. These lively juice bars are more than just quick stops—they’re buzzing social spots where fresh local fruits blend with the warmth of Khmet smile.
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1. Mangosteen (មង្ឃុត)
Price: 10.000 Riel per kilo (USD 2.49)
Mangosteen is a popular fruit in Cambodia and is known as “Meangkhout” in Khmer. It’s a purple fruit with a thick rind and juicy, sweet-tart segments inside.
This super popular tropical fruits, the Mangosteens are said to grow well in Koh Kong and Kampong Cham provinces. Some say mangosteens sold in Cambodia are cheap and very fresh.
This amazing fruits stands out for its powerful antioxidants, particularly xanthones, which offer impressive health benefits. Research highlights the positive impact of incorporating mangosteen into a daily diet.
2. Star Fruit (ស្ពឺ)
Price: 8.000 Riel per kilo (USD 1.90)
Carambola, or starfruit is a star shape when sliced. Its waxy, golden-yellow skin encases a juicy, crisp texture with a flavor that balances sweetness and tartness. In Cambodia, locals often enjoy it fresh to savor its refreshing taste, though its eye-catching shape also makes it a favorite garnish for salads.
Season: While available year-round, carambola peaks during the rainy season in September and October.
Beyond aesthetics, starfruit delivers health benefits, packed with vitamin C, antioxidants, and fiber. Its light, summery essence enhances tropical fruit salads, beverages, and a variety of dishes.
Check our list of Vietnamese fruits with photos
3. Longan (មៀន)
Price: 4.000 Riel per kilo (USD 0.90)
Longan is mainly used as a popular grab and eat fruit between locals in Cambodia, longan appears in large bushels at street markets. This juicy fruit resembles lychee but offers a sweeter taste and more flesh. Longan in addition is a tropical fruit high in vitamin C and potassium.
4. Rambutan (សាវម៉ាវ)
Price: 5.000 Riel per kilo (USD 1.25)
Native to Southeast Asia, this tropical fruit is a favorite anywhere in the region, specially in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia. The season kicks off during the rainy months of June and July, reaching its peak in September and October. With its sweet flavor, rambutan ranks among the best local fruits you have to try.
Peel away the spiky red shell to uncover the juicy, translucent flesh inside. As the season begins, rambutan pop up everywhere, offering the fruit at incredibly low prices. Local vendors typically sell a kilo for around USD1.5 per kilo.
5. Pomelo (ក្រូចថ្លុង)
Price: 6.000 Riel per kilo (USD 1.50)
Pomelo is a sweet-sour kind of Vietnamese fruits that is slightly oversized grapefruit but with a gentler flavor, pomelo is a large, slightly oblong shape and greenish-yellow hue when ripe. Available almost year-round in Cambodia.
To eat it, peel the very thick rind to reveal the juicy pale yellow or pink flesh inside. Peel away the bitter white pith to uncover the delicate juice-filled sacs.
6. Mango (ស្វាយ)
Price: 8.000 Riel per kilo (USD 1.90)
Local Cambodian mango shape slightly different and smaller in size, a yum bite that is rich supply of vitamins and minerals that benefit overall health. Anyone visiting Cambodia should make sure to try this delicious fruit.
Mangoes in Cambodia grow abundantly in provinces like Kampong Speu, Battambang, and Kampot, where the warm climate and fertile soil provide ideal conditions for cultivation.
7. Dragon fruit (ស្រការនាគ)
Price: 8.000 Riel per kilo (USD 1.90)
Pitaya, or dragon fruit, grows well in Cambodia’s tropical climate. Known for its striking pink peel and deep magenta or white flesh, stands out among several types of dragon fruit. Tiny black seeds dot the juicy interior, adding a pleasant crunch.
Many travelers miss the Cambodian Pitaya simply because they’re unfamiliar with it, but it’s a must-try in Southeast Asia, specially if you’re in Battambang. Cutting it open and scooping out the flesh with a spoon makes for an easy, refreshing snack. Dragon fruit is a source of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that support heart health, immunity, and digestion.
8. Guava (ត្របែក)
Price: 5500 Riel per kilo (USD 1.1)
Guava is a popular year round fruit available anywhere in Cambodia and other tropical countries, this round or oval fruits with thin, light-green skin that feels smooth or slightly grainy. Resembling a pear in texture, its inner flesh varies in color—white, pink, or yellow—depending on the variety. Tiny seeds fill the soft, juicy interior, complementing its signature sweet-tart taste.
Guava in Cambodia grows and cultivates in provinces like Kandal, Kampong Cham, and Battambang, where the tropical climate and well-drained soil support its cultivation.
9. Rose Apple (Chompu)
Price: 8.000 Riel per kilo (USD 1.90)
Bell-shaped rose apples offer a crisp, juicy bite with a watery texture slightly similar to melon. Though their name suggests otherwise, people eat them just like regular apples. Bite around the core, steering clear of the base, or cut them into quarters for an easy snack.
10. Gooseberry (កន្ទួត)
Price: 14.000 Riel per kilo (USD 3.50)
Gooseberry, known as Kantuet in Khmer, grows in various regions across Cambodia, particularly in home gardens and rural areas where the small, tart fruit thrives in warm, tropical conditions. Rich in vitamin C, antioxidants, and essential nutrients, gooseberries support immune function, improve digestion, and promote healthy skin, making them a valuable addition to a balanced diet.
11. Passion Fruit
Price: 6.000 Riel per kilo (USD 1.50)
Passion fruit grows well in Cambodia’s warm, tropical climate, mainly growing in provinces like Mondulkiri and Ratanakiri, where the cooler highland conditions support its cultivation. Packed with vitamin C, fiber, and antioxidants, this fragrant and tangy fruit boosts immunity, aids digestion, and promotes heart health, making it a refreshing and nutritious addition to the local diet.
12. Durian (ទុរេន)
Price: 5.000 Riel per kilo (USD 1.25)
Durian is also growing well in Cambodia’s warm, tropical climate, primarily growing in provinces like Kampot, Battambang, and Kampong Cham, and along the Mekong where fertile soil and abundant rainfall support its cultivation. Known as the “king of fruits,” durian is rich in vitamins, fiber, and antioxidants, offering health benefits such as improved digestion, energy boost, and heart health support, while its creamy texture and strong aroma make it a unique tropical delicacy.
13. Cambodian Orange Jackfruit (ខ្នុរ)
Price: 7.000 Riel per kilo (USD 1.75)
Cambodian orange jackfruit flourishes in the country’s warm, tropical climate, especially in provinces like Kampong Speu, Siem Reap, and Takeo, where well-drained soil and ample sunlight create ideal growing conditions. Packed with vitamin C, fiber, and antioxidants, this vibrant, mildly sweet fruit supports digestion, strengthens the immune system, and promotes healthy skin, making it a refreshing and nutrient-rich addition to any diet.
Opening jackfruit takes effort, so getting help makes the process easier.
14. Coconut (ដូង)
Price: 2.000 Riel for one piece
Fresh, juicy, tropical coconut may not be exclusively from Cambodia but grows largely in the areas of Mekong Delta and it is largely available throughout the cities for sale. You can order it directly from the street vendors, enjoy the juice and scoop the jelly out and have fun…
15. Langsat (លាំងសាត)
Price: 3.000 VND per kilo (USD 0.80)
Langsat fruit grows in Cambodia’s tropical regions, particularly in provinces like Ratanakiri and areas near the Vietnamese border, where the warm climate and fertile soil support its cultivation. Rich in vitamins A and C, langsat boosts immunity, aids digestion, and provides antioxidants, while its sweet and tangy flesh makes it a popular seasonal treat across Southeast Asia.
16. Papaya (ល្ហុង)
Price: 2.500 Riel per kilo (USD 0.80)
Papaya is belong to any tropical country and here in Cambodia, it grows in Battambang, Kampong Cham, and Siem Reap, where farmers cultivate it in home gardens and farms for both local consumption and export. Rich in vitamins A and C, fiber, and antioxidants, this sweet, orange-fleshed fruit supports digestion, boosts immunity, and promotes healthy skin, while its price varies between 1,500 to 4,000 riel per kilogram, depending on the season and market demand.
17. Milk Fruit (ទឹកដោះគោ)
Price: 10.000 Riel per kilo (USD 2.25)
Cambodian milk fruit, also known as Plae Teuk Doh Ko, grows mainly in warm, tropical provinces like Battambang, Kampong Cham, and villages around Phnom Penh, thriving in home gardens and orchards. This seasonal fruit, typically harvested from November to February, is rich in antioxidants, vitamin C, and fiber, supporting digestion and boosting immunity while offering a naturally sweet and creamy flavor.
18. Custard Apple (មាក់បាត)
Price: 5.000 Riel per kilo (USD 1.20)
Custard apple stands out among the fruits in Cambodia with its bell shape and sweet, delicate flavor. The soft flesh melts in your mouth, making it a favorite treat. To enjoy it, peel off the skin and eat it whole or scoop out the flesh with a spoon. Packed with proteins and vitamins.
19. Plum mango (មាក់ប្រាង)
Price: 8.000 VND per kilo (USD ~2)
Cambodian plum mango, locally known as Sour Mango or “Saomao”, grows in warm, provinces like Kampot, thriving in orchards and home gardens. This seasonal fruit, harvested from March to June, is rich in vitamin C and fiber, supporting digestion, boosting immunity, and offering a refreshing balance of sweet and tangy flavors.
20. Black Sapote (ទ្រយឹង)
Price: 6.000 Rie per kilo (USD 1.25)
The local Black Sapote, often called the “chocolate pudding fruit,” grows in warm, tropical regions around Kampong Thom, thriving in well-drained soil and ripening during the cooler months from November to February. Packed with vitamin C, potassium, and fiber, this unique fruit supports digestion, boosts immunity, and provides a naturally sweet, low-fat alternative to chocolate-based desserts.
21. Lychee (គូលែន)
Price: 2.500 Riel per kilo (USD 0.60)
Cambodian lychee, mainly grown in Kampot and other warm, humid provinces, thrives in well-drained soil and is harvested during the very hot season, typically from April to June. This juicy, fragrant fruit is packed with vitamin C, antioxidants, and minerals that boost immunity, improve digestion, and promote healthy skin.
22. Cambodian Avocado (អាវ៉ូកាចេរ)
Price: 9.000 Riel per kilo (USD 2.20)
The local native avocados grow mainly in the cooler highland regions such as Mondulkiri, Ratanakiri, and parts of Kampong Cham, thriving in well-drained soil and tropical conditions. The harvest season runs from October to February, and this nutrient-rich fruit is packed with healthy fats, fiber, and vitamins, supporting heart health, digestion, and glowing skin.
Conclusion
Cambodia is more than just Angkor and its tragic past—it’s a paradise for fruit lovers, offering a vibrant mix of exotic flavors that reflect its tropical charm. No matter where you travel in the country, you’ll find an incredible fruit experience that delights your taste buds, turning every bite into a celebration.