Traditional and health beneficial spices of Sri Lanka

Spices can be simply defined as dried seeds, dried leaves, roots, or barks. Spices are mainly used for food preservation, and natural food flavoring as well as in the production of medicines and perfumes.

Sri lankan spices 

The quality, taste, and health benefits of Sri Lankan spices have earned a special place for Sri Lankan spices both domestically and abroad. Like Sri Lankan tea production, Sri Lankan spices also have a special place in the world. Throughout history, evidence has been found that Sri Lankan spices were exported to India, Burma (Myanmar), and European countries.

When Sri Lanka became a colony of the Portuguese in 1505 AD, the spice trade, which was previously occupied by Arab traders, passed into the hands of the Portuguese. Later, when Sri Lanka was colonized by the Dutch, the spice trade in Sri Lanka expanded further. The Dutch started the cultivation of spices in Sri Lanka and employed special teams to formally export the spices. After the Dutch, Sri Lanka became a British colony and the spice trade in Sri Lanka expanded further during the British colonial period. 

Types of Sri Lankan spices 

Spices like Cinnamon, Cloves, Nutmeg, Vasavasi, Black Pepper, Cardamom, etc. can be known as spices in Sri Lanka. In addition to this, spices such as Curry leaves, Ginger,  Fenugreek seeds (Uluhal), Suduru, Goraka (Garcinia Morella), and Fennel are also natural food flavorings that are good for health.

Cinnamon 

Cinnamon  is a spice that has been used since ancient times. Cinnamon has been used as a spice, for the production of cinnamon oil, as a medicine, and for many other purposes. During the Portuguese, Dutch, and English colonial times, cinnamon cultivation in Sri Lanka became more extensive and cinnamon cultivation spread throughout Sri Lanka.

Sri Lankan Cinnamon 

Cinnamon is used as a natural food flavoring and adding cinnamon bark to curries makes them tasty and healthy. Also, a cinnamon is  commonly used spice in Sri Lankan cooking. 

cinnamon drinks made from cinnamon  are also very tasty and have many health benefits. By adding cinnamon to food, and drinking the cinnamon drink, you can get many health benefits such as cholesterol control in the body, reduced blood sugar, facilitated blood circulation, facilitated diet, created appetite, and killing bacteria.

Also by lighting a lamp at home using cinnamon oil,

A fresh scent  repels insects such as mosquitoes in the home.

Black Pepper

Black pepper 

Peppers, which grow as pods on the pepper plant, are green in early stages and red when fully developed. Pepper pods are separated into seeds and dried and used as a spice. Black pepper is used to flavor food and as a medicine and is a popular spice around the world.

Black  peppers are often powdered and used in food. Black pepper is used especially to get the chili flavor in the food.

Nutmeg

Nutmeg is a spice of high economic importance. Also, Nutmeg is an economically important spice as well as a medicine, a natural food flavoring, and a spice with many health benefits.

The seed of nutmeg is called nutmeg and the red bark around the seed is called vasavasi.

There are various products related to nutmeg, and there is a high demand for nutmeg oil in the market.

Other spices

garcinia Morella (Goraka)

Cardamom

Traditional spices in Sri Lanka

Turmeric and coriander seeds

Garcinia Morella (Goraka)

Garcinia Morella or Goraka is a medicinal spice found in countries like Sri Lanka and India. Garcinia Morella is known by different names and in Sri Lanka it is mostly known as "Goraka" in addition the Tamils ​​call it Irevarshinni. The Garcinia Morella plant is a fairly large Growing plant and the Garcinia Morella (Goraka) fruit is green in color early and turns red when ripe. Garcinia Morella is used as a spice by separating red, ripe Garcinia Morella into flakes and drying them in the sun. Garcinia Morella (Goraka) is black in color after being dried and processed into a spice. 

Goraka is used to preserve food, flavor food, and as a traditional food in Sri Lanka. Garcinia Morella (Goraka) is sour in taste. Also, in Sri Lankan cuisine, meats such as chicken and fish are mostly used in cooking. Also, Garcinia Morella or Goraka is used in Ayurveda and Sri Lankan medicine as a medicine to control blood cholesterol levels and gastritis.

Cloves

Dried Sri Lankan Turmeric pisces 

Turmeric

Turmeric is used as a powerful natural antiseptic in Sri Lanka as well as around the world. Turmeric is also widely used as a spice to enhance the color and flavor of curries in Sri Lankan cooking.

Turmeric grown in the first quarter of the year in Sri Lanka is usually harvested in December. After harvesting, the Turmeric is are boiled with steam and cut into fine pieces and the Turmeric pieces, which are dried well, are processed into turmeric powder using a blender or similar machine.

Turmeric is used as a spice in cooking and as mentioned above is also used as an antiseptic. In addition, it is used in Ayurveda as a medicine for skin infections like acne. That is, turmeric is a multi-purpose spice with multiple benefits.

Sri Lankan Turmeric, Coriander seeds, and fenugreek (Uluhal)

Sri Lankan Uluhal (fenugreek) and Coriander seeds