Spices

Sri Lanka is a land of spices.Of all the spices used in Sri Lankan cuisine, Ceylon cinnamon, also known as real cinnamon, is the most famous. It is a spice that has given Sri Lanka an important position on the spice map. In addition to cinnamon, Sri Lanka produces other spices, some of which are also used for medicinal purposes. Here are the most used spices grown on the island. It is worth buying them when traveling to Sri Lanka.Black pepper is the second most grown spice in Sri Lanka after cinnamon, and is exported all over the world. Some say that black pepper comes from India, while others believe that it comes from Sri Lanka, and this tropical plant grows in the Sri Lankan jungles. Sri Lankan cuisine uses a lot of black pepper in curries and other dishes. Sometimes even plain rice is seasoned with a few unground black peppercorns.

"The Queen of Spices" is the nickname of cardamom. It is a spice used in both savory and sweet dishes. While Sri Lanka's cardamom comes from India, the country remains one of the main suppliers of both white and green varieties. Cardamom is often found in curries, sambolas, as well as spiced tea, and is one of the most sought after and expensive spices. The end product used in cooking is the dried seed pods. cloves Cloves do not come from Sri Lanka or India, yet they grow here successfully. The islanders add cloves to rice as a flavoring spice. A few grains are simply thrown into the water in which the rice is cooked. It is worth mentioning that cloves have healing properties. Clove oil is a natural antibiotic. Nutmeg is native to Indonesia, but like cloves, this plant grows well in Sri Lanka. It adds flavor to everything from curries to cookies and other sweets. Along with cloves, nutmeg is one of the most popular spices worldwide. Turmeric is gaining huge recognition recently as a medicinal plant. It is mainly used in face masks and to treat hair. Turmeric root powder gives dishes a wonderful yellow color and has many healing properties. Chilli pepper Chili peppers are a popular spice for any Sri Lankan dish. Dried red varieties are used whole or as a powder. Powdered seasoning comes in two forms: roasted and unroasted chili. Each has a distinct flavor. Green chili peppers are added fresh to the dish and sometimes added at the end of the cooking process.