The British first introduced Coffee to Srilanka and turned the nation into one of the world’s top producers of coffee. But due to a fungus disease, Coffee production in Sri Lanka started to dip and the British very quickly swathed on to Tea in 1865. The key figure in making this move was James Tailor who had extensive knowledge about flora in this part of the World. Even today Srilanka is one of the major Tea exporters in the World and Srilanka produces some of the best Tea in the World
Visits the Iconic Tea Plantations in Sri Lanka
When you get to the hills of Srilanka, you get to see thousands of acres of Tea that looks like a green carpet over the hills. There is a popular trail called Peako trails through the Tea plantations, which covers a distance of 300 KM in 22 stages which is the longest walking trail in Sri Lanka. If you are not into trekking, there are a lot of shorter walks to get the feel of the Tea plantations.
Nuwara Eliya or Little England is home to the best Srilankan tea that grows above 5000 feet from sea level. There are several Tea factories you could visit to see the journey from leaf to cup. You will not realize, how much hard work goes into your cup of tea until you see it. You can learn about the different types of tea such as BOPF[ Broken orange Peako finings], POB [Broken orange Peako] OP [ Orange Peako] FP [Flowery Peako], and white Tea. The Damro Tea factory is the most popular spot among visitors as they do a very clear demonstration and offer you different types of tea to try.
Ella- This is the border between the Hill Country and the mid-country. The tea grown around Ella is a bit on the stronger side and most of his Tea is exported to the Far- East.
The Halpewattha Tea Factory– is the best place to visit around Ella.
The low country tea – We grow tea in the low country as well, but this is not that known in your part of the World as you need to drink this tea with milk and sugar as it is very strong our main market is in the middle and Far East. The best area to explore low-country tea is around Deniyaya, closer to the Singharaja rain forest.
Indulge in Different Types of Ceylon Tea
Green Tea – Green tea is made from freshly processed tea leaves. They are not going through an oxidation process. Most of the time, the flavors of green tea can be changed from region to region and may frequently give distinct tastes.
Black Tea – Black tea is the most popular tea in the world going through a process of heating the leaves for several hours after being plucked. The outcome is a strong and delightful tea and the majority of tea lovers are more interested in black tea.
Purer Tea – This tea is slightly wet and stored underground to obtain a fantastic flavor with a strong taste. The amazing thing about Pu-erh tea is that it tastes similar to wine and gets even better as it gets older. In addition to these teas, you can also experiment with the exquisite flavors of White Tea and Oolong Tea, as well as a variety of other alluring types of tea.
“Come to Sri Lanka to Taste a Cup Full of Tea Bliss”
Sri Lanka is considered a Vegetarians paradise with so many options on offer. We have over 30 different types of vegetables in this Country that a widely available and on offer at most restaurants. You can pick and choose what you like. Being an Island Nation we are never short of Seafood and you can try a variety of fish, Prawns, Crab, Octopus, Calamari etc
1) Srilankan Kottu
Kotthu is the iconic street food in SriLanka. This is available in every town. You can try Vegetable, Fish, Meet and Egg Kotthu. In touristy towns you can have cheese and many variations which are not traditional, but an introduced version for tourists. The base of this dish is Roti , Nan bread or parata. The chopped up Roti is grilled with vegetables and spices. You can then add what you like to it to suit your taste. The chopping of the Roti is done on a metal plate with a metal blade which makes a sound, sometimes rhythmic, especially if the cook is experienced.
2) Fish Ambul Thiyal
This is a signature dish of Srilanka which is unique to us. This has derived from a traditional method of preserving food with Tamarind, Lime and other citrus spices. This is usually eaten with rice and has distinctive sharp taste The dish a very popular in the Southern region of Srilanka.
3) Milk Rice
Milk rice is usually served at Breakfast. This is rice cooked in coconut milk. The rice is sticky and is very creamy. The Srilankans eat it with a spicy salad, but you can have it with Banana if you wish. It is served in blocks and is very filling.
4) Pol Sambol
It is made with grated coconut, onions, and chillies. The colour of the dish indicates the level of spices being used. If it is dark red, brown or orange, it is on the spicy side and if it is yellow or cream colour it would be mild. This is a side dish and you need to eat it with rice or bread.
5) Hoppers
After Kotthu, this is the most popular street food in Srilanka. The base of Hoppers is Rice flour, Coconut milk and yeast. You can have an egg in it if you like. This is often eaten with a spicy salad made with chillies, onion, lime and salt.
6) Sri Lankan Dhal Curry
Dhal curry is also called the lentils curry. This is most common dish in Srilanka. Lentils are cooked in coconut milk. A mixture of spices called the curry powder is added to the curry to make it spicy. This is a side dish and you can eat it with rice, bread or roti. The taste of Dhal curry varies from region to region
7) Sri Lankan Chicken Curry
This is the most popular meat dish in Srilanka. The chicken is on board to add more flavour to the curry. The coconut milk and spices in the curry make it a very special Srilankan dish. This is often eaten with rice. If the curry is red or brown it is on the spicy side.
Do not miss these dishes when you are on holiday in this beautiful Island Nation. If you wish to learn more about these dishes and Srilankan cuisine please to visit https://www.theuniquetravel.co.uk for more details on visiting Sri Lanka.
You will start to look at the Cup of Tea on your table differently, after visiting the scenic Tea plantations in Sri Lanka. Tea is mainly grown in the hill country, over the altitude of 4000 feet. When you hit the Hill Country, you will see thousands of Acers of Tea being grown, that would look like a green carpet over the hills. You will see the Tea Pickers in vibrant colors moving around picking the young tea leaves at a fairly quick phase. At a Tea factory, you get to understand the Journey from Leaf to Cup and the hard work that goes into producing your cup of Tea. Hill Country is the most picturesque area of Srilanka with colorful flowers, Waterfalls, and Viewpoints. The drive through the Tea country is an amazing experience with so much to see and there is never a dull moment with Photo opportunities coming up so very often. The Ceylon Tea is one of the best in the World and has been bringing Foreign exchange into the Country for generations. There are some amazing Unique Boutique Hotels tucked in the Tea plantations offering an unforgettable experience to our travelers. These Hotels were once, owned by British Tea Planters. The Hill country experience will definitely stay as one of the Highlights of your Holiday in Sri Lanka.
No Holiday is complete without tasting the local Cuisine and some countries have more variety and unique Dishes to offer. Sri Lanka has a so much to offer with its Signature spices and authentic Vegetables. Sri Lankan curries stay creamy, because of the Coconut Milk that’s been used so very often.
Rice and curry – Anywhere, Anytime
The staple Food of Sri Lanka is Rice. Vegetables, Fish and Meet is been served with Rice. There are Sri Lankans who eat Rice & Curry for all three meals of the day. It is never boring as we have over 50 different types of Vegetables and 15 different types of rice to choose from. Al least five Dishes of Vegetables are served with Rice along with Papadams, Green Salads & Sambol [ Sambol is made with grated Coconut and Chilly] Sri Lanka is a Vegetarian`s Paradise.
Hoppers [ Aappa]
The hopper has a soft, puffy, crêpe-like texture and is part of typical Sri Lankan breakfast. The hopper is made from a batter with Rice Flour, coconut milk and palm toddy that is left to sit through the Night allowing time to ferment. A Hopper tastes a bit like a pan cake, but looks like a Bowl. The locals eat Hoppers with a Spicy Salad or a Curry, but to start with, you can try it with Jam as you are not used to eating Spicy Food for Breakfast. But after a few days in to your Holiday you can try it in Sri Lankan Style, You could have an Egg in the Hopper too if you wish.
Roti
Roti is common in South East Asia and there are so many versions of it. This is also spelled as “rotti” or “roty”. Roti in Sri Lanka is made out of flour and Coconut and looks like a Pan Cake, but a lot thicker and harder than a Pan Cake. Locals eat it with a hot Salad or a Curry. A pastry with Vegetable curry is called a Vegetable Roti and a Pastry with Chicken curry is called a Chicken Roti.
Kottu Roti
This is equitant to your Kebabs. When you are hungry after a few drinks in the late evening, this is what you eat. It is a mixture of chopped up Nan Bread, Eggs, Vegetables, Spices and Meat [on request] that has been on a Grill. This is the most popular street food in Sri Lanka. You can watch it being cooked and the Noise it makes when chopping up the Nan Bread would not go unnoticeably.
String Hoppers
String hoppers is a Rice Flour Noodle based thin, Pancake. You would need about ten of them for a meal. String Hoppers are served with at least three Dishes of Vegetable curries. It is served for breakfast and dinner.
Short Eats
This is a unique term used for Street Food in Sri Lanka. You find these in Bakeries and there is a reasonable choice of them. Mashed up Potato and some curry in a Pastry would be a Vegetable Roti, You could also try Egg Roti, Chicken Roti etc. Deep fried Lentils is called Dhal Cake [ Wade] .
Sea Food
Being a tiny Island makes Sri Lanka a great place to try fresh Seafood. There are a lot of local Restaurants selling quality Seafood on the Beaches. Tiger prawns, Jumbo Prawns, Crabs, Lobster and Langoustine are so fresh coming direct from the local Oceans. The variety of Fish is amazing. Red Snapper, Tuna, Barracuda, Sword fish are a few to name.
Drinks
Ceylon Tea it is. Being one of the major Tea exporters in the World we offer really good Tea. You can try the pure Tea such as BOPF or BOP , Blended Tea and flavored Tea. You can see the Journey from Leaf to Cup at a Tea Factory. The National alcoholic drink is called Arrack which comes from the Coconut Palm. Palm Toddy is tapped out of the Coconut Flower and distilled to produce Arrack which has a volume of around 30 % Alcohol. You can try it with Coke, Soda or Ginger Beer. Beer is not that Popular in Sri Lanka and there aren’t that many types to choose from. The widely available & popular brand is the Lion Larger.
Fruits
The island’s tropical fruit cornucopia includes non-seasonal fruits such as Pineapple, Banana, Papaya and Water Mellon. Passion Fruit, Pomegranate, Mangoes, Guava, Mangos tin , Rambutans and Star Fruits are seasonal and you can try them if you are in Sri Lanka at the right time. The Orange Coconut called King Coconut is sold by the roads and tastes so much better than the bottled Coconut Water. You might occasionally find our curries a bit too Spicy. The Hotels would water the curries down for you on request. After a few days in to the Holiday, you will slowly, but surely get used to our spicy food.
