The distant island of Sri Lanka is an oasis of beach holidays and exciting excursions in the middle of the vast Indian Ocean. The culture and traditions of its inhabitants, the drinks of Sri Lanka and the cuisine of the small country have Indian roots. And yet the island is different from its big neighbor, and in order to find out what exactly, it is enough to buy a tour and start packing your bags.
Sri Lanka's national drink
Once the beautiful island was called Ceylon, and it was the local tea that won the hearts of many gourmets and fans of this aromatic drink. It began to be grown on an industrial scale in the middle of the nineteenth century, and today the national drink of Sri Lanka is supplied to more than a hundred countries of the world, accounting for 15% of the state's exports. The first planters in Ceylon were James Taylor and Thomas Lipton. The latter has become a real world-class "tea king" largely thanks to the Ceylon plantations.
The main volume of tea grown in Sri Lanka is black and green, but a small proportion of oolong and white varieties are also present. Customs regulations regulate the export of the national drink, prescribing only two kilograms for each departing flight.
Sri Lanka alcoholic drinks
Don't burden your luggage with too much alcohol. First, the country's customs will not allow transporting more than 1.5 liters of wine and the same amount of spirits. And secondly, the beautiful island has everything that the soul of a vacationer can wish for, and the prices for alcohol in Sri Lanka contribute to the acquisition without undermining the family budget of buyers. Arak coconut vodka costs about $ 5 for 0.5 liters, red rum - no more than $ 9, and local beer is even cheaper than $ 1 (in prices at the beginning of 2014).
For those who like it hot, the island of Ceylon offers a wide range of locally produced spirits, within which you can satisfy any tastes and needs:
- The Lion beer, a 0.65 liter bottle, costs less than a dollar. The taste is refreshing and with a slight bitterness. It is recommended to buy in roadside shops at the entrance to any city where prices are lower and the choice is richer.
- Strong and high quality "Arak", infused with herbs in full compliance with the rules of Ayurveda. A liter costs about $ 7, a clear head in the morning is guaranteed if you postpone the Lion tasting for the next time.
- Local gin or whiskey may seem unusual to Europeans, and the health consequences are often unpredictable due to insufficient purification of these drinks from fusel oils
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