PHNOM PENH / LONDON — Three Cambodian premium rice varieties have been awarded top honors at the Great Taste Awards 2026 in the United Kingdom. The victories highlight the growing international footprint of Cambodia’s agricultural exports and the impact of trade capacity building across Southeast Asia.
The British Embassy in Cambodia congratulated local producers who participated in the UK Trade Partnerships (UKTP) programme, an initiative funded by the UK government and implemented by the International Trade Centre (ITC) to help developing nations scale exports to international markets.
Award-Winning Brands and Blind-Tasting Notes
Organized by the UK Guild of Fine Foods, the Great Taste Awards are considered one of the world’s most rigorous food accreditation schemes, judged entirely via blind-tasting by panels of professional chefs, food critics, and retail buyers.
The Cambodian rice producers earned recognition across multiple star tiers:
- Cambodian Premium Jasmine Rice (Primalis Corporation Ltd): Awarded a 1-Star (“Simply Delicious”) rating. Judges praised the long, glossy grains for their subtle natural sweetness and complex, rewarding flavor profile.
- Kroya Fragrant Rice (Khmer Foods Group): Received a 2-Star (“Outstanding”) distinction. Judges lauded the variety as “honest and moreish,” highlighting its distinct cereal sweetness.
- Kroya Phka Romduol Jasmine Rice (Khmer Foods Group): Earned a 1-Star rating. Admired for its signature fluffy texture, slightly sticky bite, and warm, nutty finish.
Expanding Cambodia’s Agri-Export Presence
The recognition comes as Cambodian agricultural producers secure a growing share of international culinary accolades. Across the wider 2026 competition cycle—which evaluated over 15,000 global entries across 116 countries—Cambodian artisanal products, including Kampot pepper and Palmyra blossom sugar, claimed 38 total awards.
Diplomats at the British Embassy noted that these achievements affirm the technical quality of Cambodian crops and validate the role of the UKTP program in equipping micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to navigate stringent UK and European retail standards.
The accolades are expected to boost premium export orders for Cambodian fragrant rice varieties, reinforcing the country’s brand reputation alongside its previous titles as the “World’s Best Rice” at global trade forums.
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