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Sri-LankaTea, coffee
Tea grown in Sri Lanka (Ceylon Tea) does not need additional advertising. Much has been written about him everywhere. I would like to express my opinion that, although it is recommended to buy better quality tea in branded stores in factories and tea plantations, their prices are greatly overestimated. In supermarkets and specialized departments there is also a good selection of tea at much more attractive prices, including in souvenir packages, although you will have to pay extra for beautiful packaging. For example, a 200-gram package of Mlesna tea in a supermarket costs 500 rupees (1.51 USD, see currency of Sri Lanka, exchange rate), a little simpler "Maskeliya" , the same 200 g. - costs 400 rupees (1.21 USD), the cheapest and most famous We have "Dilmah" for 195 rupees per 100 gr. (0.59 USD). Of course, many factors affect the taste sensations: the place of growth, which leaves are collected, the process of processing the Tea Leaf, the size of the finished tea leaves, etc. This is already everyone's choice.
It is believed that the best tea in Sri Lanka is Highland, in the south of the island in Nuwara-Eliya, Dambulla, UDA Pussellava. In weighted averages (Kandy, Uva) and lowland (Ruhuna) places tea is slightly inferior to Highland quality. Both black and green tea are produced from the collected fresh tea leaves, but black tea is still more common and popular.
There is coffee in Sri Lanka, but it is grown a little and it does not have an exquisite taste and excellent qualities. In supermarkets you can find "Island Coffee" with vanilla and ginger (200 gr. package costs about 290 rupees).
Jewelry
Both precious and semiprecious stones are mined in Sri Lanka. Among the local precious stones are sapphire, especially blue, Alexandrite, Ruby, Garnet, among the semiprecious-blue moonstone, Quartz, Topaz, Amethyst.
Stones and jewelry with them are offered to be purchased at small jewelry factories, which can be visited independently or as part of an excursion group. Visiting such places is free, in return you crave a response in the form of a purchase. Here they will tell and show the process of mining stones (from lifting from the mine to sorting), as well as the technology of manufacturing the finished jewelry. In addition, you can buy jewelry in Sri Lanka everywhere: in shopping centers and small shops. The most famous Center for the extraction and manufacture of jewelry is Ratnapura, but its Fame adds to the total value of the product an additional cheat. There are several small factories near Hikkaduwa in Meetiyagoda, specializing in the extraction of Moonstone (Moonstone Mine).
It is believed that it is better to buy only stones in Sri Lanka, due to the fact that silver and gold are very expensive here, and the finished products are not refined. However, wasting time looking for a good master, material plus work in Russia, will not come out cheaper. And, if you are a small lover of the stones themselves, it is quite possible to buy a ready-made piece of jewelry. At the same time, when buying both stones and the finished product, you can always get into a mess, having come across a fake. Check the quality of the stone, unfortunately, not a specialist will be impossible, and therefore it remains only to trust the seller or refuse to buy.
Spices
In Sri Lanka in the area Matale is home to many spice gardens, each with its own serial number. They can be visited both independently and as part of some excursion program. You will be taken through the Garden, introduced to the assortment of spices (pepper, cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, vanilla, coriander, turmeric, ginger, etc.) grown on the island, will tell their useful and medicinal properties. If desired, you can buy your favorite spices, cosmetic products (coconut or sandalwood oils, creams with aloe, mosquito repellents), ointments and balms based on herbs and plants. However, as elsewhere in Sri Lanka, there is a small caveat: Many who have visited such spice gardens consider them to be another wiring for tourists, so look at similar products in regular stores or on the market: it is there, and costs much cheaper.
Clothing
The clothes here are of good quality, there is something to choose from. Silk and cotton products are especially praised. For example, a silk pareo can be bought for 1200 rupees (3.63 USD), T-shirts, T – shirts-for 1000 rupees (3.02 USD), shirts - 1850 rupees (5.59 USD), silk blouses - for 2000 rupees (6.04 USD).
Perhaps the most original of the things brought from Sri Lanka will be sari (for women) and sarong (for men). If desired, they can be sewn or worn on special occasions.
As a rule, the final part of the trip is devoted to shopping and it ends in Colombo. Of the most famous large shopping centers, where they prefer to shop - Odel, House of Fashion, Liberty Plaza, Majestic City, Nolimit. Do not dismiss small shops, sometimes you can find good things in them.
Souvenirs
As the main souvenir of Sri Lanka, you can bring various figures of elephants, large and small, from different types of wood (from 700 rupees), including Black (the most expensive) and simple painted (from 400 rupees), from coconut, in traditional attire on the occasion of the Perahera holiday.
Masks are very popular, they have different shapes and meanings. But in most cases, the masks sold have the functions of a talisman and protection from evil spirits and other negativity. In the city of Ambalangoda, which is famous for its masked Masters, there are at least two museums of Masks, where you can not only learn the history of their origin, but also buy the ones you like. By the way, in the store at the museums there are not only masks, but also many other souvenirs. The price of a medium-sized mask starts at 1500 rupees (4.53 USD).
Drums play an important role in the life of Sri Lankans, they are present in everyday life, and in religious and other celebrations of the inhabitants. Therefore, in souvenir shops you can find different types of drums from cylindrical to flat.
Very beautiful batik products from 1500 rupees (4.53 painted paintings on fabric (from 1050 rupees), silverware, reeds, ceramics, wood carving, as well as other small things: magnets (60-400 rupees), key chains, bookmarks for books, etc.
It is best to buy in specialized souvenir shops with fixed prices. For example, in Colombo the most famous are Lakpahana Handicrafts and Laksala; prices are reasonable and the selection is huge and varied. In addition, you can buy souvenirs everywhere: in markets, in small shops, specialized departments at shopping centers, however, the promotion here will be significant.
There is also an opinion that it is most profitable to buy souvenirs in places where excursions take place and near major attractions. This is true, but only if you know how to bargain well. Initially, the price is called three to four times higher, and you need to bargain all the way.
Useful tips
Bargaining. In Sri Lanka, you can and should bargain: when shopping in the market, when renting transport, using the services of tuk-tukers and in other cases when the price is clearly not fixed. You need to bargain even in hostels and hotels. Sometimes the price can be brought down to 30%, however, they bargain here with great bewilderment and reluctance, because a tourist, in the eyes of local residents, is a piece of bread and butter: you will not fuck (deceive) – you will not live...
Shopping. In Colombo there are several large shopping centers where you can find almost everything: clothes, shoes, electronics, perfumes, toys, souvenirs, tea departments, etc., some of them have grocery supermarkets, cafes and cinemas. Among the famous: Odel, Liberty Plaza, Majestic City, House of Fashion. It is also worth noting the network of Arpico stores, which are found in large cities of the country, with a large assortment of both food and necessary items for the home. Grocery stores are represented by a developed network throughout the country called Food City.
Author: Svetka