Highlights
- Learn how spices are grown and harvested
- Taste dishes cooked with fresh spices
- Buy natural cosmetics and herbal remedies
- Some gardens offer Ayurveda massages with herbal oils
Overview
Spices drew Arab, Portuguese, Dutch and British traders to Sri Lanka for centuries, and cinnamon remains one of the island's best-known exports. Spice gardens along the roads around Kandy and Matale let visitors see how spices grow and learn how they are used in cooking and Ayurveda, the traditional medicine of the island.
What a visit involves
A guide walks you round the garden, pointing out plants such as cinnamon, black pepper, cardamom, cloves, nutmeg and mace, vanilla, turmeric, ginger, and cocoa. You see how cinnamon bark is peeled and rolled, and learn about each plant's uses. Many tours end with a demonstration or short massage using herbal oils, and a visit to the shop.
How long it takes
About thirty to sixty minutes.
When to go
Any time. Mornings are cooler.
Getting there
Many spice gardens line the A9 road between Kandy and Matale, so they are easy to visit on the way to Dambulla or Sigiriya. Others are near Kandy.
Practical tips
- Entry is usually free, but the visit leads to a shop where prices can be high. There is no obligation to buy.
- Compare prices with markets and supermarkets before buying.
- Ask about Ayurvedic products before use if you take medicines.
Combine with the Peradeniya Botanical Gardens or Temple of the Tooth, or join our Cultural Triangle package. See things to do in Kandy and Kandy hotels.
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