During my trip to Sri Lanka, I (Adina) had a few goals in mind. To see with my own eyes where we at The Good Spice source our spices. But also to learn more about the ancient wisdom called Ayurveda.
Ayurveda literally means 'knowledge of life' and is an ancient health philosophy from India that is also deeply rooted in Sri Lanka. It's not just about herbs or treatments, but about how you live: what you eat, how you structure your day, and how your body maintains balance between the three doshas – vata, pitta, and kapha.
After visiting several spice gardens and attending cooking workshops, I noticed that many locals still keep Ayurveda in mind when cooking and using spices. According to them, spices, besides flavor, also have health benefits.
For example:
- nutmeg is said to help calm the nervous system and a restless mind,
- black pepper adds warmth and depth to a dish and stimulates digestion,
- and cinnamon contains many antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties, which regulate digestion and blood sugar levels.
In Sri Lanka, spices were therefore never just commodities. They were part of religious rituals, local medicine, and daily food, naturally blending taste, health, and spirituality.
As someone who has been involved with Ayurveda for a while, it was quite special to see with my own eyes that spices are used daily here. Something that, in my opinion, we could do a bit more of in the Netherlands. :)
Curious about our spices from Sri Lanka? We source black pepper, cinnamon, and nutmeg from Ekoland in Sri Lanka. Take a quick look at the webshop and start your own spice journey.
