Sombai (from Khmer: សុំបាយ – "some rice, please"[1]) is a liqueur manufacturer in Siem Reap founded in 2012.[2] Its beverages have become a national drink of Cambodia[3][4] and symbolic of Siem Reap.[1] Sombai is one of the most popular brands in Cambodia.[5]
 Sombai production workshop | |
| Industry | Alcoholic beverages |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2012 |
| Founder | Joëlle Jean-Louis and Lionel Maitrepierre |
| Successor | Akim Ly |
| Headquarters | , Cambodia |
| Products | liqueur |
| Website | sombai |
Products
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The Sombai liqueurs were created in 2012 initially from rice wine by the Mauritian Joëlle Jean-Louis and her husband Lionel Maitrepierre[6] drawing inspiration from the Cambodian traditional infused rice wine sraa tram (Khmer: ស្រាត្រាំ).[7][8][9] The Sombai bottles are hand-painted.[1] There are 10 different flavours which are always a combination of 2 fruits or spices.
It is usually consumed either neat or on the rocks. Sombai infused rice wines is also an ingredient in several Cambodian cocktails[10][11] such as Asana Sling, Lemon Lemongrass Tini, Sombai Blue, Sombai Fizz, Siem Reap Monsoon, and Sombai Sour.[12] Several leading establishments in Siem Reap sell Sombai rice wine and its cocktails and use it in their cooking,[13] such as Chef Pol Kimsan at Embassy[14] and the Park Hyatt[15] or as a gift at Raffles Angkor.
Production workshop
editIn 2014, a Sombai workshop and tasting parlour[16] was set up in the artist Leang Seckon's house, and has become a tourist attraction in town.[17][18] After 2022, Sombai relocated closer to the city centre and set up their workshop in a traditional wooden house in the Wat Damnak area.
References
edit- ^ a b c Dunston, Lara (31 October 2014). "A Taste of Siem Reap — Sipping Sombai Infused Rice Spirit". Grantourismo Travels. Archived from the original on 28 July 2017. Retrieved 28 July 2017.
- ^ Sullivan, Nicky (7 September 2012). "Fruit-flavoured infused rice wines make a splash". The Phnom Penh Post. Retrieved 28 July 2017.
- ^ Rice, Jessica (22 August 2013). "59 national drinks from 59 awesome countries". Matador Network. Retrieved 28 July 2017.
- ^ Grant, Lara (29 August 2016). "6 Local Liquors Around the World You Haven't Heard Of". Oyster.com. Retrieved 28 July 2017.
- ^ Carruthers, Marissa (31 January 2018). "11 Local Brands All Cambodians Love". Culture Trip. Retrieved 23 November 2018.
- ^ Cassiau, Julie (2012-08-24). "DECOUVERTE - Sombaï, une nouvelle boisson locale à Siem Reap". Le Petit Journal (in French). Retrieved 28 July 2017.
- ^ "Associated Press: Rice wine spirit is rebranded as a tourist tipple". YouTube. 16 November 2014. Retrieved 2015-08-03.
- ^ Dunston, Lara (10 July 2014). "Cambodian rice wine revival". Gourmet Traveller. Retrieved 28 July 2017.
- ^ Starkey, Tom (24 June 2020). "Distilling a new direction for Cambodian rice wine". Khmer Times. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
- ^ "Khmer cocktail class at Asana". Travelfish. 19 February 2017. Retrieved 28 July 2017.
- ^ Baussay, Céline (22 November 2018). "Le top 5 des endroits à ne pas manquer autour d'Angkor". Le Point (in French). Retrieved 28 July 2017.
- ^ "Khmer Cocktail Ideas". Sombai. Retrieved 28 July 2017.
- ^ Mathew, Elisabeth (11 February 2017). "Move over Angkor Wat". The Hindu. Retrieved 28 July 2017.
- ^ Osborne, Lawrence (14 December 2015). "The New Tastes of Old Siem Reap". Saveur. Retrieved 28 July 2017.
- ^ "Cambodian rice wine". AsiaLIFE Cambodia. 31 January 2014. Retrieved 28 July 2017.
- ^ Glasser, Miranda (1 August 2014). "Taste Sombai rice wine purveyors open new showroom". The Phnom Penh Post. Retrieved 28 July 2017.
- ^ Eckhardt, Robyn (22 July 2015). "36 Hours in Siem Reap". The New York Times. Retrieved 28 July 2017.
- ^ Ter, Dana (19 August 2015). "Searching for serenity in Siem Reap". Taipei Times. Retrieved 28 July 2017.
External links
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