02/11/2026
“The Flavours of Ceylon”: Bringing the Rich Heritage of Sri Lankan Spices and Tea to Belgium
On 26 October 2026, the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Belgium hosted “The Flavours of Ceylon” at the Sri Lanka Residence in Brussels. Welcoming over 50 distinguished guests, including representatives from the European Commission, industry professionals, postgraduate students from the University of Antwerp, and other invited guests, the evening showcased Sri Lanka’s world-renowned Ceylon tea and unique spices while highlighting the quality, history, heritage, and diversity of its native products.
Welcoming the guests, Ambassador Chandana Weerasena highlighted Sri Lanka’s history, its longstanding association with tea and rich spice heritage, and how the island has been a trading hub for tea and spices for centuries. The Ambassador also mentioned that Sri Lanka has a wide variety of explosive flavors that are made out of aromatic spices and a heavy reliance on coconut milk and coconut oil. Sri Lankan food and food habits have become one of the distinctive tourism attractions in Sri Lanka among foreigners. He invited participants to visit Sri Lanka to explore the diversity of the island along with the authentic flavours of Sri Lankan cuisine.
Catherine Combette, Head of Unit for Asia and Australasia at the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development, explained the importance of granting Geographical Indication (GI) status to products. This status is a special sign or intellectual property right used for products that come from a specific region and possess qualities, a reputation, or characteristics unique to that place. She noted that Sri Lankan cinnamon was granted EU’s GI status in 2022, and highlighted the ongoing application process for Ceylon tea to obtain the EU’s GI status.
Thavishya Mullegamgoda, Minister (Commercial) at the Embassy, delivered a comprehensive presentation on Ceylon tea and Sri Lankan spices, highlighting their commercial potential in international markets. The presentation detailed the rich diversity of Ceylon tea, along with the unique chemical compositions, flavours, and aromatic profiles of Sri Lankan spices such as Ceylon cinnamon, pepper, cloves, cardamom, nutmeg, mace, and vanilla, emphasizing their versatile applications across various industries.
An interactive workshop on Sri Lankan spices was conducted by Stijn Van Schoonlandt, tea master and owner of Kruze Coffee & Tea in Belgium. The workshop demonstrated how Sri Lankan spices can be incorporated into Belgian cuisine, showcasing their versatility through a selection of four culinary creations.
The dishes included salmon served with a sauce made using Ceylon lemongrass, the well-known Belgian dish Filet Américain prepared with Sri Lankan spices, an apple and Ceylon cinnamon drink, and ice cream featuring Belgian speculoos biscuits. The latter highlighted the traditional spice blend associated with speculoos, which includes spices such as cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, star anise, cloves and cardamom from Sri Lanka.
The culinary session was complemented by a tea-tasting experience during which Stijn Van Schoonlandt prepared three varieties of Ceylon black tea blends infused with Sri Lankan ingredients, including vanilla, cinnamon and cardamom. The evening offered guests an opportunity to discover the distinctive aromas and flavours of Sri Lankan spices and Ceylon tea and explore innovative ways of pairing tea and spices with food.
Pradeep Wijethunga, Managing Director of Exotic Trails in Belgium, presented the Ceylon
Tea Trails, highlighting Sri Lanka’s tea heritage and its appeal as a destination for travellers
seeking authentic experiences and tea trail adventures.
A display of Sri Lankan spices, Ceylon tea and value-added products of tea and spices was
arranged at the venue enabling guests to explore aromas, textures, diversity and packaging of
Sri Lankan products firsthand.
The evening concluded with a reception featuring Sri Lankan snacks, allowing guests to
experience the country’s culinary traditions and exchange views on Sri Lankan spices, Ceylon
tea and related commercial and tourism opportunities.