Hot
Beverages
Tea would easily top the list. Indeed, Sri Lanka producers the
best tea in the world. ‘Ceylon Tea’ is recognized
world-wide as the best in its kind. Though many flavored teas
are available, most Sri Lankans prefer to drink their tea with
plenty of sugar and milk. A popular variation of the milk tea
is the plain tea, especially if there is a chunk of jaggery
to nibble on. Often, crushed ginger is added into the plain
tea.
Though Sri Lanka produce fine coffee, the coffee is not as popular
as tea and often diluted as much as possible with milk. Coffee
is generally served after a heavy meal in tiny cups.
Herbal drinks made from boiling herbs such as ranawara, pol
pala are taken as a health drink. The dried flowers from the
beli fruit tree are taken to cure minor stomach ailments. Coriander
seeds boiled with ginger are a popular beverage for those suffering
from colds.
Cold Beverages
Fresh fruit juices are very popular. The oranges from the province
Bibile is considered the best. A typical mixed fruit drink would
consist of pineapple, papaw, mango and lime. Sugar is often
liberally added to these juices.
The juice of a king coconut is the best thirst quencher. It
has the correct mixture of sweetness and sourness. Coconut water
(or juice) is also considered the best for the sick and the
elderly.
Faluda, is a very popular drink in Sri Lanka. This is a mixture
of rose syrup and milk with poppy seeds. Many often add bits
of jelly and a scoop of vanilla ice cream to make it more interesting.
Increasingly spring water is gaining the ‘drinks’
market. Sri Lanka has an abundance of natural springs in the
mountainous regions.
Alcoholic Beverages Arrack,
the locally brewed alcohol is quite a favorite among the Sri
Lankan men. There is also a number of beer brewing plants, whose
produce is well sought after by the general public.
Energy Beverages
Kanji and herbal drinks are taken mainly for its medicinal properties
and beliefs. Kanji is often part of the breakfast menu on a
weekend and is made from leaves such as gotukola, hathawariya
and penala (though penala is not given to young children as
it is believed to have aphrodisiac properties). The juice of
these leaves are extracted and added to boiling rice. Salt and
sliced garlic is also added and consumed after boiling it thoroughly.
