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The Sri Lankan Spices
Known as the Spice Island, Sri Lanka was historically attractive to the Western nations for its spice riches. Sri Lankan Spices and Allied products Suppliers export the most sought-after cinnamon, pepper, cloves, cardamoms, nutmeg, mace and vanilla. These grow in abundance all over the island in fertile and diverse soil types and varying temperature conditions.

56% of Sri Lankan agricultural exports consist of spices, allied products and essential oils. These varieties of condiments are used to season, flavour and aromatise various forms of cuisines across the world.

Summery
The Indian Ocean tropical island of Sri Lanka formally known by names such as Taprobane, Serendib and Ceylon has been famous for its quality spices since time immemorial. The story of spices from Ceylon dates back to 14 th century and evidence has been uncovered of spice trade being conducted through roman period.

The western nations such as the Portuguese, Dutch and the English with maritime powers were attracted to the island mainly for its riches in spices, precious stones and ivory that was to be found here. As the botanical name stands “ Cinnamomum zeylanicum ” the cinnamon plant is an endemic plant to our island and we still continue to enjoy over 90% of the world market for true cinnamon. Sri Lanka being a tropical island close to the equator, the fertile and diverse soil types, varying micro climates and the favourable temperature variations, enhances the intrinsic value of most crops grown on this island.

The spices and Herbs used for flavor, aroma and Medicinal properties derive a special value from the said factors. However we are yet to obtain the true potential of these values as traditional system has been to market our produce as bulk commodities rather than to value add offer end products from the valuable spice crops. The newly emerging spice producing countries as well as the traditional large producers have been noted to adopt scientific agronomic practices as well as high yielding propagation techniques and have been able to produce large volume of crops at relatively lower cost. The bulk commodity prices of most spices have decline to this reason. The global food industry has been focusing on food safety and hygiene and the developed markets has introduce many entry requirements such as GAP (Good Agricultural Practices) GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points) for all food products entering these markets.

The market for Organic and Fair trade certified products too has been growing and the Sri Lankan Spice industry has the potential to value add our produce by gearing its products to these standards.

Cinnamon
Cinnamon is the most important spice commodity among the spice sector. People in ancient Sri Lanka used Cinnamon for many purposes such as, medicine, spice, perfumery material & soft drink. At present the cinnamon is widely used in bakery products, pharmaceutical preparations & cosmetics worldwide. Cinnamon exports in primary form as well as in the value added form such as cut pieces, powder form and crushed form. Cinnamon is considered as unique product exporting from Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka is the world largest producer & exporter of Cinnamon to the world. Cinnamon has originated in Sri Lanka & it has unique characteristics, which can be branded under GI protection. Accordingly Ceylon Cinnamon introduced to the international market as a branded product namely "Pure Ceylon Cinnamon" which reflects a combination of several intrinsic characteristics of Cinamomum Zylanicum.

As a treatment for the people who has diabetics,cinnamon is also useful as a food preservative.cinnamon is an ingredient of medicine for sore throats and coughs.Cinnamon has been used to alleviate indigestion,stomach cramps,intestinal spasms,mausea and to improve the appetite and treat diarrhea.

Pepper
Pepper is the second important commodity among spices and Sri Lankan pepper has high intrinsic quality. The Sri Lankan Pepper has higher piperine content which gives it a superior quality and pungency. Pepper is offered in different grades for grinding and extraction of essential oils and oleoresins. In Sri Lanka pepper is grown in the wet and intermediate zones mostly as mixed crops.

Black pepper was believed to cure illnesses such as constipation,diarrhea,earache,gangrene,heart disease,hemia,idigestion,Insect bites,liver problems,and toothaches.Black pepper either powder or its decoction is widely used in traditional Indian medicine and as a home remedy for relief from sore throat,cough,etc.

Cloves
Clove is the dried unopened flower bud of the evergreen tree, Eugenia Caryphyllata Thumb. The odour, flavor and oil contents are the important qualities of cloves. Sri Lankan Clove suppliers have a substantial market worldwide as Sri Lankan clove is found to be richer in oil than those from other growing countries. Clove of commerce is the dried, fully grown but still unopened flower buds of the evergreen tree Eugenia caryophyllus of the family Myrtaceae. Clove oil obtained by the distillation of flower buds, inflorescence branches left after the buds have been removed, and the leaves is the other product of commercial value. It is a colourless or slightly yellowish liquid, becoming darker with age and exposure to the light. The clove tree is a medium sized symmetrically shaped tree with smooth grey bark. Fully grown trees are usually 15 - 20m tall. This is used as a painkiller for dental emergencies.This is used to increase hydrochloric acid in stomach and to improve peristalsis.Use to decrease pain in the teeth due to its antiseptic properties.Used in formulas for any persons with fire symptoms,for vomiting due to spleen and stomach coldness.

Cardamom
Cardamom, known as the “Queen of Spices” is a perennial herbaceous plant with a pseudo stem and thick irregular shaped rhizomes. Cardamom grows wild in the Western Ghats of Southern India. Dried fruit or Cardamom capsule is traded as a spice. There are several commercial grades of cardamom including whole cardamom as primary products in spice trade, ground form as secondary processed products and in the form of extractions of oil and oleoresin as value added products. Cardamom is mainly used in the food industry as a flavoring agent. Cardamom Oil is used for flavoring of beverages and drinks such as coffee and tea.Cardamom is the dried fruit of Herbatious Perennial Elettaria Cardamomum. It is popularly known as ‘Queen of Spice’. Cardamom lands are generally termed as spice forests. Sri Lankan Cardamom suppliers export light green varieties of cardamom.

In south asia cardamom is broadly used to tret infections in teeth and gums,to prevent throat troubles congestion of the lungs and pulmonary tuberculosis inflammation of eyelids,digestive disorders to break up stones and gall stones and also as an antidote for both snake and scopian venom.

Nut meg and Mace
Nutmeg and mace are two distinctly separate spices, derived from the same plant. Sri Lankan Nutmeg & Mace Suppliers exportNutmeg Oil and Nutmeg & Mace Ground to countries such as India, UAE, Pakistan and Singapore.

Nutmeg plant is a spreading evergreen tree reaches up to 15-20 m height. The leaves are alternate, dark green, pinnatinerved. Flowers are generally unisexual and dioecious. However, bisexual flowers of varying sexual composition can also be found. Occasional trees with male and female flowers are also seen in the plantations. Fruits are fleshy drupes, broadly pyriform, drooping with a circumferential longitudinal ridge. Fruit colour turns into yellow during the ripening and the pericarp splits into 2 halves exposing purplish-brown, shiny seed surrounded by a net like red aril. Indonesia, Grenada, Sri Lanka, Trinidad, China and India are the major countries producing nutmeg and mace. The world trade of these two spices is in the range of 8,000 -10,000 MT.Nutmeg tree yield two spices, nutmeg, which is the kernel of the seed and mace, which is the net-like crimson colored leathery out growth (aril) covering the shell of the seed

In large does nut meg cause symptom and harm.Induce convulsions,palpation,rausea,eventual dehydration and generalized body pain.It is also reputed to be strong deliriant.Uses as a rational dug.Nut meg was once considered as an abortifacient,but may be safe for culinary use during pregnancy.

Betel
Betel is an evergreen, perennial climber with a semi arid stem. It is trained on poles or trellis. The leaves of this plant are economically and medically important. Betel leaves have been traditionally used for chewing purposes along with other condiments. This chewing combination is quid and type of ingredients used could be varied from country to country. Sri Lankan betel industry has a long-standing history dating back to 340 AD. In Sri Lanka more than 12 species are found and are endemic. Betel is a very good cash crop and is also cultivated in some other countries like India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Philippine Island, and East Africa.

The important constituent of the leaves is a volatile oil named as betel oil. Some of the major compounds identified in Sri Lankan betel oil are β-phellandrene, 4-terpinol, eugenol, chavibitol acetate, safrole and Allylpyrocatechol diacetate. Several value added products from betel has been formulated and those include betel toothpaste, mouthwash, shampoo, face cream, instant betel quid and pellets.

Cocoa
The world demand for cocoa is on the increase and future prospects for exports of cocoa from Sri Lanka will be better. It is envisaged that the area under cocoa could be increased by 5,000 hectares. Suitable conditions for growing cocoa are found in the Central, North Western, Sabaragamuwa, Uva, Western and Southern provinces up to 600m elevation. Cocoa can be considered the most important tree crop for underplanting coconut and rubber provided suitable soils exist.Cultivation

Shade is closely associated with rainfall and humidity of the area. Relatively dense overhead shade (40 - 50% full sunlight) is essential at the time of planting and during the first 3 years of growth.

Ginger
Since ancient times, Ginger, the underground stem, or rhizome, of the plant Zingiber officinale has been used as a medicine as well as a flavoring in Asian, Indian, and Arabic herbal traditions. Ginger in commerce, is the underground stem. The plant has slender reed-like stems with dark glossy green leaves arising from tuberous rhizomes. Plants will reach about 20 inches (45 cm) tall and the lanceolate leaves reach 7 inches (17.5 cm) long. Ginger plant has a long history of cultivation known to originate in Southeast Asia and then have spread to India, West Africa, and the Caribbean. Still India and china is the major producers and exporters. Most of the world trade in ginger is as a dried spice, however fresh rhizomes are also traded.

Ginger grows well in sandy soils, with adequate organic matter for moisture retention. Partial shade with warm temperature is preferable and can be intercropped with trees like coconut, etc. It grows well up to an elevation of 1,500 meters from the sea level.

Ginger is propagated by its stem rhizome cut into small pieces with six to ten eye-buds on each piece which generates new shoots after sowing. It can also be sown in flatbeds and on ridges, and the seed of which should not be planted deep.

Lemongrass
Lemongrass, a perennial herb with long, sharp-edged blades. It grows in dense clumps best in tropical climates. The fresh stalks and leaves have a clean lemon like odour and is due to the presence of an essential oil, which is also present in lemon peel. Mainly Lemongrass is cultivated for oil distillation and to use as flavouring in coking.How ever no clear records of when Lemongrass was introduced to Sri Lanka Cultivation.

Lemongrass grows well at altitudes between 100m and 1200m from sea level. It flourishes on a wide variety of soils but best growth on well drained sandy-loam soil. Uniformly distributed annual rainfall throughout the year is essential. However high rainfalls tend to high leaf yields but low oil contents. Temperature range of 23 - 30° C and sunshine is preferable to the development of oil in the plant.

Vanilla
Vanilla, a flowering orchid vine native to Mexico. Although it’s native to Mexico, now it’s widely grown throughout the tropics. Madagascar and Tahiti are the world’s largest producers. The vanilla orchid flower itself is scentless. When harvested, vanilla beans are green, odorless and flavorless. It takes months of curing, fermenting and drying to produce the dark brown, nearly black color and characteristic fragrance. This true vanilla requires extensive hand-processing, and is therefore expensive. The distilled oil of the bean is known either as vanillin or vanilla extract. It is also sold powdered or by the whole pod, which are used to infuse flavor into many dishes.

Termerind
Used as a germ killer.Termerind is used as a medicine for gastric/digestion problems and ins cardio protective activity.Other medicinal uses includes;examples worms,asthma,bacterial skin infections,Chest pain,Cholesterol metabolism disorders,colds,constipation,dry eyes,fever,food preservative and wound healing.

Cumin
In south asia,Cumin tea(dry seeds boiled in hot water)is used to distinguish false labour(due to gas)from real labour.In sri lanka,toasting cumin seeds and then boiling them in water makes a tea used to soothe acute stomach problems.It is also believef=d that Cumin seeds helps with digestions.

Fenugreek
Fenugreek helps in reducing fatty issue which in turns helps reducing weight.Fenugreek is cooked from help in digestions and relieve flatulence.helps in cleaning toxins in body thus helping restorations from illnesses.

Paprika
These are rich in vitamin C.Paprica is also high in other antioxidants,containing about 10% of the level fpund in acal berries.pprevalence of nutirents,However,must be balanced against quantities ingested,which are generally neglligible for spices.

Fennel
Fennel seeds or tea can relax the intestine and reduce bloating by digestive disorders.Fennel seeds also eaten raw,sometimes with some sweeter,as it is said to improve eye sight.Some people as a diuretic and it may be an effective diuretic and a potential drug for treatment of hypertension.In history,It says Fennel improves the milk supply of breast feeding mother.