Phnom Penh & Russian market: Sandab's little health secrets

Those who visit the Marché Russe have probably already come across this smiling, alert Cambodian woman who runs a spice stall in the market's 500 aisle. After the pandemic, Sandab managed to keep her business going but, like many market vendors, Sandab needs more customers, so this is a good opportunity to go and buy some of her concoctions...

Sandab

In addition to the products she buys from provincial producers, Sandab also offers her own recipes, in this case food powders and teas that she prepares herself.

The fresh leaves, flowers and plants are bought on the market and then processed in her small workshop and drying room at home. What's the choice? Sandab offers a range from the traditional green tea to noni and lotus.

“I've chosen to offer products that don't exist elsewhere, or at unaffordable prices. I've also chosen my products by listening to my mother's old natural recipes. Traditional medicine is still very much alive in Cambodia and I have the opportunity to make it accessible...”, she says.

More than accessible, since each 250-gram sachet is sold for between 2,000 and 3,000 riels.

As well as selling the products, Sandab is also an excellent adviser, teaching you that lotus can have aphrodisiac properties and that green tea has many more properties than you might think. For those who don't fancy spending a fortune in organic shops, you can find Sandab at stand 558 on the Russian market. Telephone: 012 879 609 or 015 879 609.

The lotus effect...

The lotus has a remarkable characteristic: although the plant grows in mud, the flowers and leaves are never soiled... this characteristic is known as the lotus effect. It is precisely because the plant emerges from the muddy subsoil immaculately clean, and because of the beauty of its flowers, that the lotus flower is also the symbol of chastity, purity and beauty in Buddhism.

... and the Viagra effect

The flowers, seeds, roots and young leaves of the lotus are edible and have medicinal qualities. Blue lotus has a slightly euphoric effect, like codeine. In high doses, it becomes slightly hallucinogenic.

The flower is also said to stimulate sexuality, producing an effect similar to Viagra. It is also thought that the plant was used in ancient times as a recreational drug.

However, lotus taken as an infusion of dried flowers and stems has much milder effects and should be consumed as a relaxing herbal tea. For the Viagra effect, all you need to do is increase the dose considerably...