Palm sugar is Cambodian candy

To our surprise, we were standing in what could basically be called a roadside kitchen.  There a mother and her young child stood stirring a boiling pot of liquid that looked kind of like maple syrup, but thinner.  The equipment was simple, but crude.  Our guide explained that this was the sugar of palm leaves, and offered us a brown-sugar like candy to try; the rich, earthy flavour cannot be described.  Palm sugar is Cambodian candy, but because it has no preservatives or additives, it is the sugar sweet taste without the downside.  If you don’t have the opportunity to stop by one of the roadside stalls (they are hard to spot), just pop into the central market where you’ll find it at many food stalls, usually wrapped in palm leaves.