Sri Lanka is famously known as the “land of spices” due its abundance of a variety of home-grown organic spices and herbs. Spices are an essential part of Sri Lanka’s culinary practices and come together to create a truly interesting culinary journey that even satisfies a vegan lifestyle, whilst working together to tease out the unique, rich flavours of every main ingredient or produce, through the mastery that is mixing in spices and herb. 

Here are 10 must have Sri Lankan slices for your spice rack – where flavour, aroma and richness of Colour are concerned.

1.Red chili powder

Red chili is one of the main spices used in Sri Lankan cooking which provides most dishes with the spice of tropical Ceylon, as well as the Colour and texture of an orange or red curry.

2. Coriander

Most Coriander has a mild, fragrant aroma, and the addition of it to your curry gives your dish a delicate yet sharp flavour that teases out the deep flavours of your meat or vegetable item. Roasted coriander in fact allows your cooking dish to marinate better, adding to its deep aroma, making it a favorite for use particularly with meat items.

3. Turmeric

Besides being known as a natural vitamin and immune-booster Turmeric has been used in Sri Lankan cuisine throughout the ages. Used as the spice that gives Sri Lankan dishes its distinct golden yellow Colour, it also adds a smooth and creamy texture to most curries particularly when mixed with coconut cream. Most popularly, turmeric is used when making mildly spiced curries such as potato curry or even used for more flavourful curries such as fish curry.

4.Black Pepper

Ceylon Black Pepper is famously known around the world for its quality and high amounts of piperine, which gives it a strong spicy flavour.  This high-quality black pepper is not only important when making authentic Sri Lankan dishes, but is also a running favorite even with general dishes or more western food.

5.Cinnamon

Ceylon Cinnamon is known for its high-quality, purity, Colour, flavour AND aroma. Unmatched by any other Cinnamon producing nation, the quality of cinnamon from Sri Lanka has become a must-have not only when making curries or bringing a piece of Sri Lanka to your dining table – but has also become the preferred ingredient type in quality baking and fine-dining. Sweet and delicious in fragrance and in small doses, a little bit of cinnamon goes a long way to adding a nice aroma to almost any dish including vegetarian and meat dishes.

6.Garlic

As one of the most essential spices in Sri Lanka, Garlic truly is a versatile herb integral to the taste and aroma of a majority of Sri Lankan dishes. It can either be used to tease out the flavours of the main ingredient, ever so subtly or as a means to complement the flavours of the main ingredient with a slightly larger addition of garlic. Either way garlic is a must have if you’re considering a Sri Lankan inspired meal.

7. Ginger

Ginger is one of the most heavily used spices in Sri Lanka. It can either work to provide a sharp, somewhat peppery flavour to a mild, sweetness that provides a unique taste for each curry. Ginger in fact is used to cook many meat dishes because it can tender and flavour the meat, whilst giving it a truly refreshing and inviting aroma.

8.Goraka

‘Goraka’ is an orange-colored fruit that when cooked gives a sharp, almost sour taste. Mainly used when cooking meat or fish, it tends to add to the individual flavours of the meat whilst thickening the gravy. A particular must have when making that authentic Sri Lankan fish curry, goraka paste gives it that little extra oomph, which otherwise without – would leave your curry tasting bland and lifeless. We’d recommend keeping goraka away from your primarily vegetarian dishes.

9. Cloves

Ah the aroma of Cloves. Unmistakeable, cloves are used to flavour and lightly scent rice, meat and vegetables. Its incredibly intense aroma and warm spicy flavours somehow blend seamlessly with your main curry ingredient, making it the perfect addition for your Sri Lankan culinary masterpiece. Experience a burst of aroma and flavour a mere few minutes in after adding it to your dish. A taste enhancer if we’ve ever seen one. 

10. Tamarind

A notably sour-tasting spice from a curved brown pod of the tamarind tree, it is mainly used as a flavoring agent with both sour and mildly sweet tastes which adds a delicious fruity tartness to fish or meat dishes. Versatile enough to work well with meat or veg curries, tamarind is the final and equally important must have spice addition to your Sri Lankan inspired spice rack.

Pro tip: Coconut is one of the main ingredients in Sri Lankan cuisine and particularly to make that curry remarkable. The perfect combo of spice and coconut milk/ cream brings it all together whether mild or spicy. Adding coconut cream also helps mellow down an overly spicy curry, if you tend to overdo it on the spices. 

That’s our round up of the must have Ceylon spices to ensure your Sri Lankan inspired meals embody the authentic taste and aroma of paradise island cooking. 

Visit https://www.unicomtea.com/spices/ to get your spices and learn more.