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11 Delicious Ways to Experience the Best of Sri Lanka

Some lessons are best learned at the dinner table, and culturally-diverse countries like Sri Lanka have plenty to teach through food. Every meal on this reemerging island tells a tale. Each ingredient has a backstory that locals are eager to share.

Exploring Sri Lanka on an Intrepid Travel Real Food Adventure, I experienced much more than just the tastes of authentic curries and confections. My small group discovered the culinary adventures that lurk around every corner, from coconut sap tappers who expertly climb towering palm trees, to stilt fishermen perched among the waves of the Indian Ocean.

Each bite of traditional Tamil food, colorful South-Indian cuisine, succulent seafood, fried snacks from street vendors, and hearty family-style meals taught me more about this island and its people. Here are 11 dishes you shouldn’t miss in Sri Lanka, plus something that each will teach you about the country.

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Associate Editor Shannon McMahon writes about all things travel. She visited Sri Lanka on a Real Food Adventure as a guest of Intrepid Travel. Follow her adventures on Instagram @shanmcmahon and on Twitter @shanmcmahon_.

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