2024 Volume 15 Issue 1 Pages 92-106
In Cambodia, most historical materials have been lost due to the genocide and the book-burning policy under the Pol Pot regime, and therefore, limited scientific records of the names, raw materials, manufacturing methods, and ingredients of traditional foods exist today. Current changes in the Cambodian lifestyle, such as the westernization of eating habits and increased food safety awareness, are driving factors that may result in the gradual disappearance of traditional foods. The Elaeocarpus hygrophilus Kurz fruit, known as Madenh or Romdenh in Khmer, is one example of a traditional food under pressure from changing eating habits. This study aimed to identify the consumption trends of Elaeocarpus hygrophilus Kurz and its processed products. The field survey revealed six ways of eating Elaeocarpus hygrophilus Kurz, including pickled, smashed-in-sugar, raw, caramelized, pickled-in-honey, and pickled-in-rice liquor. Additionally, the results of interviews with 514 customers in the local market about their habits regarding the product showed that younger customers tended to consume more pickled, smashed-in-sugar, and fresh fruit than the older generations. Further studies on the nutritional content of these products are needed to explore their relationship with eating habits and to prevent the decline in traditional food preferences.
