Each country has special things, souvenirs and products that you can’t buy anywhere else. For travelers heading to sunny and warm Sri Lanka, this island has a lot to offer.
Here is the list of ideas on Sri Lanka souvenirs and things to buy; keep reading this post to get insiration on what to buy and bring back home as memorable gifts, where to buy and other important information.
Sri Lankan Tea
Keeping in mind that Sri Lanka’s tea is one of the most popular in the world, Ceylon tea is the first one on the list of souvenirs to bring back from the island.
In terms of brand you can choose whichever you likes the most. But you should pay attention to very important thing – a local quality mark – the badge of a lion with a sword. The most popular in many countries tea brands such as Lipton or Dilma are not the best option to purchase. In Sri Lanka, they are sold everywhere, but their quality is not the best one. The price of good tea starts from 2$ for 1 pack.
You can buy white tea, which is considered quite exclusive. It is sold only in special outlets. You can also find varieties of green tea, which is sold everywhere. if you’re not sure what kind of tea to buy, make sure to visit tea plantations in Nuwara Eliya, which is considered the tea center of the country.
How much tea you can bring back home from Sri Lanka? According to the law, the maximum is 6 kg.
Spices
There are a large number of gardens on Sri Lanka island, where spices are grown. They used not only for production of seasonings, but for other goods, different kinds of ointments, creams and medicines for any ailments.
Such produce is legal and organizations are official. Each company has a state number, and their produce undergo quality control. Due to this, seasonings are safe and of highest quality. But, there are also “illegal” gardens, so be careful and ask for documents, certificates.
Most gardens are located in Kandy and Matale. For example, one of the oldest in Matale is Ranweli Spice Garden.
Aromatic spices give local Sri Lankan food a special taste and aroma. Returning home, you can remember the pictures of a happy vacation, inhaling spicy aromas. Or give a particle of the sunny land to relatives and friends. A reminder of a vacation in Sri Lanka will be allspice, cinnamon sticks, sweet vanilla, nutmeg, cardamom.
You can find a selection of spices in shops and markets. Prices for seasonings start from 1.5-2 dollars per 100 g. Cinnamon sticks sell for $10 per kilogram (which is about 1500 rupees). Whole sets of spices can be a great gift.
Cashew Nuts
Sri Lanka’s climate is perfect for growing nuts, in particular, cashews. The taste of fresh nuts is significantly different. If you would like to buy cashews as a delicious souvenir, the best way is to buy them in the market: prices in special stores are usually higher.
Fruits
Exotic fruits are on the island of Sri Lanka in a very wide variety. Among them there are those that our compatriots never heard of in their lives.
What fruits to bring from the island? First of all, these are those that have already become classic: mangoes, coconuts, pineapples. Interestingly, many fruits in Sri Lanka are imported.
Not far from the beach resorts, only coconuts and cinnamon are grown here. In more distant territories – pineapples, rambutans, lychees. Sri Lankan strawberries also grow here. It grows in the highlands, in the very center of Sri Lanka.
Certain fruits ripen on the island during each month. But the greatest variety can be expected from October to the end of March – it is this period that can be called the fruit season.
Export of fruits from the island
According to tourists, if fruits are taken home, it is necessary to take unripe ones. They sing very quickly even in the refrigerator. So you can buy fruit only a day or two before departure. You can ask the seller to pick up the most unripe fruits. Then they may “live” for three days.
It is worth remembering that the export of fruit in hand luggage is prohibited. They can only be put in a suitcase. Otherwise, at the airport you will have to throw away everything that is.
Souvenir products
From souvenirs, you can bring various products created by local craftsmen: carved boxes, figurines, kitchen utensils. Also popular are amulets, statuettes of Buddha and elephants, and jewelry.
