Embark on a flavourful journey with affection in Sri Lanka as you savour the rich flavoured Sri Lankan delicacies. Sri Lanka's cuisine is an exciting combination of regional cuisines displaying the nation's culinary diversity that is uniquely and carefully assembled from the country's rich cultural elements. The journey of the culinary arts in Sri Lanka includes aromatic rice specialties, savoury spices and herbs rich in flavour, fresh seafood delights and seasonal veggies. Sinhalese cuisine is deeply rooted in cultural traditions and frequently utilises ingredients from Chena cultivation and you can find treats like milk rice, sweetmeats, and bold curries at celebratory events. The main ingredients, which are rice, coconut, and fish, become the base for numerous meals. The classic "Rice and Curry" is a global delight with its vivid curries offering both the flavour and ayurvedic value thanks to the use of Sri Lankan strong herbs and aromatic spices. The regional variances in the cuisine give each meal a unique personality and this is evident in the seafood-centric dishes from the southern part of Sri Lanka as well. Expect to enjoy the powerful combination of fiery, spicy, sour, and sweet flavours that portrays Sri Lankan cuisine throughout the unique culinary experience.
Spices is another word that would remind anyone of Sri Lanka as this country is popular for its trade of spices since the ancient times. Sri Lankan cuisine is rich in spices that originates and enhances the stability, health, and longevity which has been deeply utilised in even the healing art of Ayurveda which promotes mind and body wellbeing. If you are more interested in getting a more deeper insight to the spices of Sri Lanka, how it is used in both the Sri Lankan cuisine and Ayurveda, how it is grown and the benefits of these spices, then you definitely must read “Matale Spice Gardens - The Aromatic Treasures of Sri Lanka’s Spice Utopia” here at Oasis Travels website.
The hidden elements that give Sri Lankan food its distinctive flavour and richness are its herbs which adds an array of flavours and aromas that are uniquely Sri Lankan to these recipes. From aromatic curry leaves to fragrant cinnamon and the vibrant turmeric, all these herbs add a harmonious blend of flavour and wellness to everything from classic curries to revitalising drinks. These herbs not only enhance the taste of the food but also its nutritional value. The herbs that are used a lot are pandan leaf (rampe), curry leaf (karapincha), coriander leaf, shallot, goraka, lemongrass, tamarind, garlic, cayenne pepper and tabasco pepper.
There are also sweeteners that are renowned among the locals for its mouthwatering sweetness like kithul jaggery, coconut jaggery and palm jaggery. These sweet flavours enhance the taste in different beverages or desserts that are made in Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka is a paradise of tropical fruits which are unique to the island and which only gives that rich aroma and taste once you try it out from the island itself. Nourish the soul by sipping the sweet coconut water from thambili (king coconut) under the shade of coconut and palm trees and give the tangy embrace of veralu and naminam a try as well. The vibrant red bananas, luscious mangoes, and the sweet and sour woodapple, all add to the amazing blend of flavours of the tropical fruits this island has to offer.
Try the velvet textured breadfruit and papaya, along with the exotic rambutan and mangosteen that surprises you with its juicy gems hidden beneath their delicate skin. You can try the balanced fruity-nutty cashew apple, and if you want a burst of flavour then gooseberry, kakiri, jambu and annoda (soursop) that boasts their individual flavour and uniqueness would be a great option. Guava and jackfruit will make you happy with their earthy sweetness while sapodilla boasts its caramel-like richness. Pomegranate will be a sweet delight with so many jewel-like sweet delicacies in it while the pineapple and passion fruit refreshes you with its zesty burst of sweetness.
Savour the creamy elegance of avocado, the starry and soft touch of starfruit, the strongly aromatic durian, the cool and juicy watermelon that drives off the tropical heat while you also discover the hidden treasures cacao and uguressa along with the sweet and vibrant dragon fruit. This island boasts its richness of tropical fruits where each fruit contains its own flavour, aroma and a story to tell with its growth in the natural splendour of this country. These tropical delicacies encourage travellers to experience a sensory adventure that will become an ode to the sun-kissed vistas by delighting them with the very essence of Sri Lanka.
Indulge in the various delightful beverages that refresh and nourish your body with its amazing flavour and aroma of it. Each type of beverage will deliver a different feel and taste. Ceylon Tea becomes the main beverage that is renowned globally because Sri Lanka is known to be one of the biggest tea exporters in the world. Ceylon Tea is a definite beverage that is offered in every household when guests arrive as it is a gesture of hospitality and warm welcome of the locals. Sip a cup of locally grown and brewed Ceylon Tea as you take in the gorgeous highland scenery which gives off an amazing blend of the fresh brew and the cool mountain breeze.
Refresh yourself by drinking king coconut water from the king coconut itself and drive away the tropical heat with its sweet and hydrating nectar. Want a beverage with a more sweet and cool allure? Then Faluda would be your best option as it is a beverage consisting a rich blend of layers of flavour and texture. If you love fresh fruit juices, then you can try the best out of the island’s best fruit juices made out of tropical fruits such as Wood Apple juice which offers a burst of tropical dynamism with every sip.
Embark on a unique experience of indulging in the realm of traditional beverages where the art of fermentation is showcased. Quench your thirst with Toddy that is made out of the sap of the coconut flower and feel the subtle natural buzz of it. Dive deeper into the deeply rooted spirit that is delivered by Arrack that is distilled and aged to create a beverage that boasts robust flavours which reflects the soul of Sri Lanka and its culture.
Discovering these beverages will take you on a delightful sensory journey that not only quenches your thirst but also introduces you to the very essence of the richness in flavour, diversity in traditions and culture, and also the wide variety of Sri Lanka's healthy beverages that could heal your mind and body.
There is a variety of main dishes that would be a delight to your taste buds thanks to the rich flavours that the Sri Lankan cuisine boasts. You can try the globally known delight, Rice and Curry, as you savour rice by blending it with different types of curries made out of several different vegetables or meat. One most popular curry that is mixed along with rice is the lentil curry and then you can add a few other dishes, such as pol sambol (coconut sambol) or gotu kola mallung sambal (pennywort salad), to it which will enhance the flavour and fill your taste buds with a blend of amazing aromatic flavours. Another healthy and rich flavoured curry is the Polos curry, also known as the Sri Lankan green jackfruit curry which is sliced and boiled along with onions, ginger, garlic, other necessary spices, and coconut milk. All these dishes together is just a chef’s kiss of a rich blend of delicacies.
You can try kiri bath (milk rice) which is a very creamy and milky textured rice that will melt in your mouth. Gotu kola kanda (or kola kanda) is a herbal beverage like meal prepared for breakfast that you can savour along with another dish. Another favourite sensory delight of the locals is eating bread with seeni sambol. You can also eat seeni sambol with rice and curry which will add an extra kick to the taste. Seeni sambol is a spicy side dish made out of chilli flakes, onions, Maldive fish, salt and a few other herbs and spices with a hint of sugar which gives it the perfect balance of flavours.
Every person that visits Sri Lanka has not gone back without trying kottu and it has become very famous among tourists as it is a delicious stir-fry made out of finely sliced roti flatbread together with meat or vegetables while adding garlic and spices to enrich the flavour and spice it up. Another two sensory delight which is very soft yet flavourful are hoppers and string hoppers. Everyone who tries hoppers, especially the egg hoppers, are amazed because of its crispy crust that surrounds a very soft centre that melts in your mouth creating the perfect balance.
If you love seafood then Kool is a great dish to try as it is a seafood broth originating from Jaffna that contains crab, fish, cuttlefish, prawns, and crayfish along with long beans, jak seeds, manioc, spinach, and tamarind which is then thickened with palm root flour. Don't forget to try Pittu , a very sweet but rich flavoured dish made out of rice flour and grated coconut which is then steamed to create a cylindrical food dish with a cake like texture that would melt in your mouth once you eat it with coconut milk.
There are also several types of Rotis you should try and a few of them are Godamba Roti made out of wheat flour, the well famous Pol Roti where shredded coconut is mixed in the dough, and the variant of that pol roti which is the spicy roti , where chopped onions and green chillies adds to the flavour to make it spicy. Malay Achcharu , also known as Sri Lankan Malay pickle is a dish with a blend of sour and spicy flavours put together with vegetables in a pickled sauce that is renowned among all ethnic groups of the country even though it is a dish that originated from the local Malay community.
You can also savour a variety of short eats or snacks that are made here in Sri Lanka that never fails to amaze and cheer up anyone who takes a bite of it. Several types of Vade are available such as Parippu Vada made out of lentils, the soft and doughnut-like Ulundu Vade, the Isso (shrimp) Vade and the Crab Vade which is a bit more crunchy and savoury. Chinese rolls, egg rolls, fish rolls and meat rolls are all well famous among locals and even foreigners and they are snacks that you should never miss out on. You would love the different patties and pastries with different fillings which will be the perfect balance of crunch and soft textures. Once again you can try on Rotis that are filled with fillings made out of various spices with vegetable or fish and even eggs therefore you should definitely give a try on Vegetable Rotis, Egg Rotis, Fish Rotis and Meat Rotis. All these snacks suit people with all sorts of food tastes and needs whether you are a vegetarian or a meat lover or a mix-of-both-vegetable-and-meat lover.
Indulge in the diversity of unique Sri Lankan desserts that will give you a boost of dopamine. Try out the traditional sweets like the sweet and nutty Aluwa, the sweet and milk based fudge-like treat which is Kiri Aluwa, and the sweet Aasmi that is widely used in festive occasions.
If you are a cake and pudding lover then you need to try these desserts that have a very soft texture that bursts out the sweetest and most unique flavour balances. Bibikkan is a very famous dessert that is a cake full of rich flavour made out of grated coconut, spices and treacle. Indulge in the soft and sweet treat of Weli Thalapa, which is a steamed dessert made out of coconut, jaggery and rice flour. The next favourite dessert is Watalappan which is loved by anyone and everyone because of its fragrance and the creamy pudding that is so sweet and soft. It is made out of jaggery, coconut milk and various spices therefore it bursts in fragrance and sweet flavours. Kalu Dodol is another rich and dark sweet that has a dense and chewy texture which is made out of jaggery, coconut milk and rice flour.
You should also give a try on other festive desserts and sweets such as the flower-shaped Kokis which are delicate but crispy, the sweet and crunchy Wandu Appa, the festive dessert made with sesame seeds and jaggery which is the sweet and crunchy Seenakku, then the deep fried Pani Walalu which is sure to be delightful, the very unique dessert with a combination of different flavours which is Aggala, and then we have Thala Guli, the sweet and sticky sesame seed balls which are a very popular snack among the locals and foreigners.