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Imagine Asia  >  Destinations  >  Sri Lanka  >  Foodie’s guide to Sri Lanka
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Introducing Sri Lanka

Watch our video to see why our specialists love Sri Lanka...

Sri Lanka & Maldives Guidebook

We've put together a guidebook with everything you need to know about Sri Lanka and the Maldives. Written by our specialists, it details destination information, a wildlife guide, some suggested itineraries and plenty more to inspire your holiday. Fill in the form below and if you live in UK, your guidebook will arrive by post within the next couple of days. For those who live abroad, we will send you a link by email which will allow you to download your own copy.

Tea in Sri Lanka

Tea is part of Sri Lanka’s unique cultural heritage and some of the world’s finest teas are produced here. Due to Sri Lanka’s diverse climate each tea variety is uniquely different. The country is particularly famous for Ceylon tea, recognised over the world for its high quality and distinct aroma (crisp and citrus).

Sri Lanka's Big Five

Spotting the Big Five in Africa is often hailed as the holy grail of wildlife holidays, but plenty of other places around the world offer animal sightings impressive enough to rival Africa's, and Sri Lanka is certainly one of them. Here, we introduce you to Sri Lanka's own Big Five and give you all the information you need to go in search of these wild beasts...

Adam's Peak

The Tea Country is home to the iconic Adam’s Peak, well known as a holy pilgrimage site, visited by a large number of people for over 1,000 years.

Unmissable experiences

Whether you’re a culture vulture keen to explore the impressive temples and UNESCO sites of the Cultural Triangle, a wildlife fanatic who hopes to spot the elusive leopard in Yala National Park, or a fervent foodie whose mouth waters at the tantalizing aromas of cardamom and coriander, here's our pick of the top Sri Lankan experiences that are not to be missed...

Sri Lanka's festivals

In Sri Lanka, festivals are an integral part of life and culture; with a population composed of many races and religions and given its long, ancient history – they are never short of celebrations. Here are a few of the significant festivals:

Essential Sri Lanka

A diverse and good value itinerary combining cultural highlights, boutique properties and wildlife. Perfect for those wishing to experience the highlights of Sri Lanka with a private guide, whilst staying in simple but very stylish boutique accommodation.

Foodie’s guide to Sri Lanka

Here’s a guide to our favourite local street-food delicacies to sample during your stay…

Kiribath

This delicacy is one of Sri Lanka’s most well-loved dishes and perfect for those who love to try traditional local food. The basis of this meal is essentially rice cooked with coconut milk, giving it the name kiribath (milk rice). Once cooked, the rice is typically pressed and formed into large diamond shapes. To counterbalance the mild, creamy taste of the coconut, kiribath is usually served alongside a spicy side-dish or chilli paste. If you prefer sweet instead of savoury, opt for kiribath with fruit or sweets.

Kottu Roti

The ultimate Sri Lankan street food, kottu roti is supremely popular with both locals and tourists alike – it can be found on street stalls as well as in fine-dining restaurants. It is made by frying together roti (a type of flatbread) with shredded vegetables (or meat) before mixing in a delicious blend of spices, garlic and soy sauce. Kottu roti will likely taste different depending on your location as most people will use whatever ingredients they have available. Common ingredients however include onions, carrot, egg, bacon and cabbage.

Egg Hoppers

The perfect start to any day, egg hoppers is a delectable breakfast treat that will keep you full right past lunchtime. A pancake mixture (made up of rice flour, coconut milk, coconut water and sugar) is poured into a wok – or another rounded dish – to form a pancake “bowl”. The middle of the bowl remains soft whilst the outside and edges turn delightfully crispy. Sri Lankan’s make egg hoppers unique by serving it with sambal – a fiery chilli paste.

Dhal curry with rice

No food list would be complete without mentioning rice and curry – rice being the basis for many of Sri Lanka’s favourite foods. Dhal curry is very popular, consisting of delicious red lentils, thick coconut milk, fresh chillies, tomatoes and caramelised onions. Punchy and fragrant spices are a standard and typically include turmeric, mustard seeds, pandan leaves, cumin seeds and fenugreek. Traditionally prepared in an earthen pot, dhal curry expertly balances the spiciness of the vegetables and meat with beautifully cooked soft rice.

Watalappan

Sri Lanka is famous for its mouth-watering treats and delicious sweets. Watalappan for example is a dessert that has been popular since the 1900s, and can be found in most parts of Sri Lanka. It has a mousse/custard like consistency, and is traditionally made from coconut milk, jiggery (brown sugar), cashew nuts and eggs. The dessert is enhanced by the addition of cardamom and cloves, which adds a delicious hint of spice to an otherwise sweet flavour.

Interested in a Sri Lanka holiday?

Call our specialists on 020 3141 2850 for help planning a tailor-made trip.

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