Asiatic Clam (Etak) in Cambodia: An Exploratory Study of Social Economy and Business Activities

Abstract

Kelantan is renowned for its heritage and is named the cradle of the Malay culture in Malaysia. Due to its geography near Southern Thailand and Indochina, it shares many similarities in terms of social culture, including foods with people of the said places. Eating etak as a snack is common amongst Kelantanese, but not many Malaysians have known or heard of the clam, let alone taste it. Judging from the geographical background of Kelantan and its close relationship with its neighbouring countries, an academic guess was made that etak is also consumed in Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam. The purpose of the current paper was to answer the proposition based on the short trip to Cambodia. In general, Cambodians eat etak as their favourite snack. Hence, Cambodians are similar to Kelantanese that they favour eating etak, but the former prefers sundried, while the latter prefers eating smoked etak. Culturally, Cham and Kelantanese are similar in many ways, including clothes, foods, and manners. Physically, both are of small stature, with brown skin, black jet hair, and a small, beautiful nose. The researchers observed the source of the supply of etak and the clamming process in Tonle Sap Lake. Judging from the ample supply of etak from this lake, and its texture, size, colour, and information gathered on the ground, the clams imported to Kelantan via Thailand, may originate from this lake.