Num ansom facts for kids
Num ansom filled with pork and mung beans (num ansom chrouk).
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| Alternative names | Num ansorm, ansom |
|---|---|
| Course | Snack |
| Place of origin | Cambodia |
| Main ingredients | Glutinous rice, banana leaf, meat or vegetarian filling (such as mung beans) |
| Other information | Traditionally consumed during Pchum Ben and Cambodian New Year |
Num ansom (pronounced "nom an-som") is a special traditional cake from Cambodia. It is also known simply as ansom. This delicious treat is made from sticky rice. It is quite similar to a Vietnamese cake called bánh tét.
Contents
What is Num Ansom?
Num ansom is a cake shaped like a cylinder. It is made using glutinous rice. The cake is wrapped in banana leafs before it is cooked.
Delicious Fillings
Num ansom can have different yummy fillings inside. Some common fillings include sweet bananas. This type is called num ansom chek. You can also find it filled with jackfruit. This version is known as num ansom khnao. Another popular filling is pork, which makes it num ansom chrouk.
How Num Ansom is Cooked
Most of the time, num ansom is cooked by steaming. But depending on the occasion, people might also fry or grill it. This gives the cake a different taste and texture.
Num Ansom's Special Meaning
A Symbol of Family
In Cambodian culture, num ansom is often seen as a symbol. It is usually paired with another cake called num kom. The cylinder shape of num ansom represents the father or the male head of the family. The pyramid shape of num kom represents the mother or the female head of the family. Together, these cakes show the importance of parents and family. This idea is part of a tradition called Mea Ba, which means respecting your mother and father. These two cakes are very important at traditional Cambodian weddings.
For New Year and Ancestors
Num ansom is a very important food during special times in Cambodia. It is a traditional treat for the Cambodian New Year. This is a big celebration for the whole country. The cake is also given as an offering during Pchum Ben. Pchum Ben is a special holiday when people remember and honor their ancestors. They offer these sticky rice cakes to ask for blessings for their rice fields.
World's Biggest Num Ansom
In April 2015, something amazing happened in Siem Reap, Cambodia. During an event called Angkor Sankranta, Cambodia broke a Guinness World Records record! They made the Largest Sticky Rice Cake ever.
A Giant Cake
This giant num ansom weighed an incredible 4 tons (4,040 kilograms). It took about 100 Cambodian chefs almost two full days to cook this massive cake. The Guinness World Records officially approved it as the biggest cake in the world on April 13, 2015. This happened right during the Khmer New Year celebrations.
More Than Just a Cake
Some people who comment on politics thought this record-breaking cake was more than just a fun event. They believed it might have been a way to make young people happy. This was because it happened after some big street protests and disagreements about the 2013 Cambodian election results.
