Sombai

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
IndustryAlcoholic beverages
Founded2012 (2012)
FounderJoëlle Jean-Louis and Lionel Maitrepierre
Headquarters
Siem Reap
,
Cambodia
Productsliqueur
Websitesombai.com

Products
Bottles of Sombai liqueur with hand-painted images of Angkor temples

The Sombai liqueurs were created in 2012 initially from rice wine[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 Pola Siv at Mie Café[14] and the Park Hyatt.[15]

Production workshop

In 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]

References
  1. 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.
  2. Sullivan, Nicky (7 September 2012). "Fruit-flavoured infused rice wines make a splash". The Phnom Penh Post. Retrieved 28 July 2017.
  3. Rice, Jessica (22 August 2013). "59 national drinks from 59 awesome countries". Matador Network. Retrieved 28 July 2017.
  4. Grant, Lara (29 August 2016). "6 Local Liquors Around the World You Haven't Heard Of". Oyster.com. Retrieved 28 July 2017.
  5. Carruthers, Marissa (31 January 2018). "11 Local Brands All Cambodians Love". Culture Trip. Retrieved 23 November 2018.
  6. Cassiau, Julie (2012-08-24). "DECOUVERTE - Sombaï, une nouvelle boisson locale à Siem Reap". Le Petit Journal (in French). Retrieved 28 July 2017.
  7. "Associated Press: Rice wine spirit is rebranded as a tourist tipple". YouTube. 16 November 2014. Retrieved 2015-08-03.
  8. Dunston, Lara (10 July 2014). "Cambodian rice wine revival". Gourmet Traveller. Retrieved 28 July 2017.
  9. Starkey, Tom (24 June 2020). "Distilling a new direction for Cambodian rice wine". Khmer Times. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
  10. "Khmer cocktail class at Asana". Travelfish. 19 February 2017. Retrieved 28 July 2017.
  11. 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.
  12. "Khmer Cocktail Ideas". Sombai. Retrieved 28 July 2017.
  13. Mathew, Elisabeth (11 February 2017). "Move over Angkor Wat". The Hindu. Retrieved 28 July 2017.
  14. Osborne, Lawrence (14 December 2015). "The New Tastes of Old Siem Reap". Saveur. Retrieved 28 July 2017.
  15. "Cambodian rice wine". AsiaLIFE Cambodia. 31 January 2014. Retrieved 28 July 2017.
  16. Glasser, Miranda (1 August 2014). "Taste Sombai rice wine purveyors open new showroom". The Phnom Penh Post. Retrieved 28 July 2017.
  17. Eckhardt, Robyn (22 July 2015). "36 Hours in Siem Reap". The New York Times. Retrieved 28 July 2017.
  18. Ter, Dana (19 August 2015). "Searching for serenity in Siem Reap". Taipei Times. Retrieved 28 July 2017.
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