Your options for buying spices in Colombo
Pettah market
Colombo's old trading quarter, with sacks of chillies, pepper and cinnamon on every street. Great for atmosphere and low prices. The catch: loose spices are hard to judge, grades are often mixed, packing is basic, and prices depend on your bargaining.
Supermarkets
Keells, Cargills Food City and others stock sealed, branded spices at fixed prices. Convenient, but the range is aimed at everyday local cooking, so you won't usually find top-grade Alba cinnamon, whole vanilla or gift packaging.
Spice gardens on tour routes
Many tours stop at spice gardens outside Colombo. A garden walk is a lovely way to see how spices grow, but the shop at the end is often the priciest place you'll buy, and you'll usually be buying after a sales talk.
A specialist spice shop
Graded, sealed, clearly labelled spices at fixed prices, plus advice on what to buy and how to use it. That's what we do at Ceylon Spice Haven — the same spices we supply to Colombo restaurants and hotels, packed for retail and travel.
How to spot real Ceylon cinnamon
Most "cinnamon" sold around the world is actually cassia. True Ceylon cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum) is Sri Lanka's most famous spice, and it's easy to tell apart once you know what to look for:
| Ceylon cinnamon | Cassia | |
|---|---|---|
| Look | Many paper-thin layers rolled into a tight quill, like a cigar | One thick, hard layer of bark, curled inward from both sides |
| Colour | Light tan to golden brown | Dark reddish brown |
| Texture | Brittle — crumbles easily in your fingers | Very hard; difficult to break |
| Flavour | Delicate, sweet, complex | Strong, hot, one-dimensional |
Grades: Ceylon cinnamon is graded by the thickness of the quill. Alba is the thinnest, palest and most prized grade; the Continental (C) grades such as C5 are slightly thicker and great for everyday cooking. If you're buying a gift, Alba is the one to choose. See our cinnamon grades and prices →
The best Sri Lankan spices to take home
- Ceylon cinnamon — Alba-grade sticks are the classic Sri Lankan gift. From Rs. 1,000 (30g taster) to Rs. 2,280 (80g Alba).
- Green cardamom — intensely aromatic; keeps well as whole pods. 100g from Rs. 3,620.
- Black pepper — Sri Lankan pepper is prized for its high piperine content and punchy heat. Buy whole and grind at home. 100g from Rs. 900.
- Cloves — rich and sweet-pungent; a little goes a long way. 100g from Rs. 1,300.
- Nutmeg & mace — two spices from the same fruit, both far better freshly grated.
- Vanilla beans — real cured Sri Lankan vanilla for bakers. 50g from Rs. 4,220.
- Sri Lankan curry mixes — roasted curry powder, black curry and Jaffna curry blends let you recreate the curries you ate on your trip.
- Goraka — the souring fruit behind Sri Lanka's famous fish ambul thiyal; hard to find outside the island.
Spice gift boxes for travellers
Scented Tapestry
Reusable wooden box with cinnamon, cloves, cardamom and black pepper (25–30g each). 19 × 9cm — easy to fit in a suitcase.
Rs. 3,000Spice Isle Treasure
Alba cinnamon, white pepper, cloves, cardamom and mace — a complete introduction to Ceylon's signature spices.
Rs. 8,000Artisan Sampler
Choose any 4 taster packs — a light, inexpensive way to bring home several spices or blends.
from Rs. 1,750 + packsArtisan Quartet
Any 4 glass spice jars in a gift box, for friends who cook.
from Rs. 1,600 + jarsPacking spices for your flight
- Buy sealed, labelled packs. Commercially packed and labelled spices are far easier at customs than loose spices in paper bags.
- Whole spices travel best. Cinnamon quills, cardamom pods, peppercorns, cloves and nutmeg keep their aroma for many months; powders fade faster.
- Put powders in checked luggage. Some airports apply extra screening to powders in hand luggage, so it's simplest to pack ground spices in your hold bag.
- Double-bag strong spices. A zip-lock bag around each pack stops your clothes smelling of cloves for a week.
Bringing spices through customs
Dried, commercially packaged spices for personal use are allowed into most countries, but the rules differ:
- Australia and New Zealand have strict biosecurity rules. You must declare all food, including spices, on your arrival card. Sealed, commercially packed dried spices are normally allowed after inspection; some whole seeds may be checked more closely.
- United States — dried spices are generally allowed, but food must be declared on arrival.
- UK and EU — dried spices for personal use are generally permitted.
Rules change, so check your own country's customs website before you fly. If in doubt, declare — declared items that are allowed simply go through.
Visit Ceylon Spice Haven in Colombo
Address: 11 Fife Road, Colombo 05, Sri Lanka
Opening hours: Monday–Friday 9:30am–5pm · Saturday 10am–5pm · Closed Sunday
Phone / WhatsApp: 070 626 8269 · 071 873 3300
Short on time? Message us on WhatsApp with your order. We deliver within Colombo 1–14, and we also ship internationally.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the best place to buy spices in Colombo?
For graded, sealed spices at fixed prices, visit a specialist spice shop such as Ceylon Spice Haven at 11 Fife Road, Colombo 05. Pettah market is cheaper and full of atmosphere, but quality varies and you'll need to bargain. Supermarkets carry everyday branded spices.
How do I know if cinnamon is real Ceylon cinnamon?
Real Ceylon cinnamon is made of many paper-thin layers rolled into a tight quill, is light tan in colour and crumbles easily. Cassia is a single thick, hard, dark reddish layer of bark. Alba is the finest and thinnest grade of Ceylon cinnamon.
Can I take Sri Lankan spices home on a plane?
Yes. Dried, commercially packaged spices are allowed by most countries for personal use. Pack powders in checked luggage, and declare food on arrival where required — Australia and New Zealand require all food, including spices, to be declared.
What spices is Sri Lanka famous for?
Ceylon cinnamon above all, along with black pepper, cardamom, cloves, nutmeg and mace, and Sri Lankan roasted curry powder.
Can you deliver spices to my hotel in Colombo?
Yes, we deliver within Colombo 1–14. Send your order and hotel details on WhatsApp to 070 626 8269.