Sri Lanka, historically renowned as Taprobane, Serendib and Ceylon, was famous for its high-quality spices throughout history. Back in the days it maintained relations with the Greeks, Romans and Arabs through its spice trade. Sri Lanka was popular mainly for its spice & ivory found in the island and as a result in the Old 14th century trade route maps of the world have proved that almost all trade routes passed through Sri Lanka. Even the Portuguese, Dutch and English found the country attractive, when they conquered Asia, mainly due to its spice and ivory trade.
Many spices, some of them native, are grown in tropical Sri Lanka due to its different microclimates and soil types, which has led to a successful spice trade throughout history. Spices improve the flavor, color, and aroma of food. Many of them also have numerous health advantages. When used in the appropriate combination, spices can transform even the most basic dish into a flavorful and aromatic culinary experience.
As Sri Lanka is a multi-cultural country, you cannot expect anything less when it comes to Sri Lankan food. Our country is filled with its regional flavors while the cuisine is known for a rich combination of rice specialties, spices, herbs, seafood, seasonal vegetables and fruits and of course, legumes.
Culture plays an essential role in the food scene in Sri Lanka while many Sinhalese food items are derived from the chena cultivation. There will be a variety of traditional Sri Lankan foods available, including milk rice, sweetmeats, and spicy curries as accompaniments, for everything from the most revered and momentous Sinhala & Hindu New Year to numerous day-to-day occasions and festivals.
Many of these dishes are centered around the main staple rice, rice flour and coconut while seafood also plays quite an important part in Sri Lankan. Most Sri Lankans prefer vegetable curries while the main go-to meal in any part of the island is the good old “ Rice and Curry”. The curries have immense flavour and colours which are derived from a list of Sri Lankan Hot Spices.
Since Sri Lankan food is regionally diverse, you can expect the same dish prepared in various methods and with different flavors. For an example, the dishes from the South of Sri Lanka have a distinctive quality and is mainly blended with seafood. “Ambulthiyal” is a unique spicy fish preparation that uses a thick gamboge (goraka) paste while the preparation in the South is different from the other parts of the island.
If you’re the kind of traveler who follows your taste buds, Sri Lanka will give you the perfect blend of authentic Sri Lankan culinary experiences with mouth-watering local cuisine!
Source: ASTL team
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