In a delicious celebration of culture and community, Cambodia has claimed a Guinness World Record for crafting the world’s largest sticky rice cake, known locally as Num Ansorm (នំអន្សម) in April 2015. Weighing in at a staggering 4,040 kilograms, this culinary masterpiece honored traditional Cambodian cuisine.
Num Ansorm is a cherished Cambodian delicacy, traditionally made with sticky rice, mung beans, and pork or banana, all wrapped neatly in banana leaves and steamed to perfection. Typically prepared for major festivals like Pchum Ben or the Sankranta (Khmer New Year), the dish symbolizes prosperity, family bonds, and good fortune.
During the Angkor Sankranta event in Siem Reap province, the monumental cake was cooked and assembled by the Cambodia Chefs’ Association, whose skilled members dedicated time, talent, and precision to ensure everything met world record standards. The team spent approximately $20,000 USD on ingredients alone, sourcing massive quantities of sticky rice, mung beans, and pork — the essential elements of this beloved Cambodian delicacy.
But this was no ordinary batch of sticky rice. The record-setting cake required the collective effort of chefs, students, volunteers, and local artisans — a nationwide collaboration that stirred together tradition and teamwork. The result was not just a world record, but a heartfelt expression of Cambodia’s culinary heritage and communal spirit.
A Regional Cake with Many Names
While Cambodia now holds the world record, sticky rice cakes are a beloved staple across Southeast Asia, each country giving it a unique twist:
- In Vietnam, the cylindrical Bánh Tét is a staple during Tết (Lunar New Year), often filled with mung beans and pork belly, wrapped in banana leaves, and steamed for hours.
- Laos offers Khao Tom, typically a sweet version with banana or mung bean filling, highlighting local ingredients and festive traditions.
- In Thailand, the popular Khao Tom Mat combines sticky rice, banana, and coconut milk into a sweet, portable package found everywhere from temples to street markets.