Sri Lankan Spices, Fine Food and Well Being

Matale Spice Gardens, Traditional Ayurveda, Sinhalese Cuisine

Apr 1, 2009

Sri Lankan spices are abundant, varied and versatile. Praised since ancient times, widely traded in colonial days, they remain one of Ceylon's most important crops.

From the mountains to the coast, in cities or out in the country, the aroma of Sri Lankan spices is never far away. It lingers around the village huts, the luxury spas in five star hotels, the food stalls along the beach and most of all in the lush gardens where they are grown for Sinhalese cuisine and traditional Ayurveda massage and therapies.

Sri Lankan spices are for fine food and well being and a valuable source of income for small farmers. The Sri Lanka Spice Council has earned world wide recognition.

Just 25 km from the hill capital of Kandy, the Matale spice gardens are among the best on the island. A processing and training unit has been set up in the area and farmers are grouped in a cooperative to ensure fair prices.

Gardens are open to visitors, a delightful place to stroll in fragrant greenery and learn about nutmeg, pepper vines, clove trees and curry, cinnamon and the precious cardamom, a relative of ginger. It grows in the shade of high jungle trees and can only be harvested by hand.

Visitors may buy spices, traditional remedies and cosmetics, taste a herbal brew and in some venues, enjoy the full flavours of Sri Lankan spices over lunch or an Ayurveda massage based on natural products from the garden.

Sri Lankan Spices, Traditional Ayurveda Massage and Therapies for Well Being

The wealth and variety of Sri Lankan spices provide ideal grounds for traditional Ayurveda.

Practised for thousands of years, Ayurveda is an ancient form of medicine, the Science of Long Life, using natural remedies to achieve physical and mental well being. Herbs, spices and their natural oils figure prominently in Ayurveda massage and alternative therapies.

Nutmeg and black pepper stimulate digestion, ginger alleviates motion sickness, cloves are recommended for toothache and sore throats. Spices mixed with king coconut oil make an excellent sun cream while citronella repels insects. Sri Lankan spices are used in a range of perfume, soap and other cosmetics, aromatherapy essential oils and an Ayurveda toothpaste based on 24 herbs and spices.

Sri Lankan Spices, Sinhalese Cuisine

Curry is Sri Lanka’s staple diet, at its best with fresh curry leaves, plenty of rice and spices to taste, cumin, nutmeg, coriander seeds and more, freshly ground or mixed into chili or five spice powder. Black mustard and turmeric are popular, adding flavour and colour to fish, meat and vegetable dishes. Sri Lankan spices also creep in cakes and desserts, especially the aromatic cardamom in coconut crème caramel.

In tourist hotels, Sinhalese cuisine is generally adapted to western palates but authentic fiery dishes, rich in chilli and spice, are widely available in local eateries.

The copyright of the article Sri Lankan Spices, Fine Food and Well Being in Sri Lanka Travel is owned by Solange Hando. Permission to republish Sri Lankan Spices, Fine Food and Well Being in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.