How We Source Spices Directly from Sri Lanka

How We Source Spices from Sri Lanka

Behind every jar of Sun & Spice is a chain of care that stretches from the lush hillsides and coastal lowlands of Sri Lanka to your kitchen shelf. Sourcing spices isn't simply about finding the cheapest supplier , it's about building relationships with growers, understanding terroir, and ensuring every product meets the standards our customers expect.

Here's how we do it.

Why Sri Lanka?

Sri Lanka , the island once known as Ceylon , has been at the heart of the global spice trade for over two thousand years. Its unique combination of tropical climate, rich volcanic soil, and traditional farming knowledge creates growing conditions that are almost impossible to replicate elsewhere.

The country produces some of the world's finest:

• Cinnamon , Sri Lanka grows over 90% of the world's true Ceylon cinnamon
• Turmeric , High-curcumin varieties thrive in the island's central and southern regions
• Coconut , The coastal "coconut triangle" produces premium coconut products year-round
• Black pepper , Known locally as "black gold," Sri Lankan pepper is prized for its pungency
• Cardamom , Grown in the cool central highlands alongside tea

For us, sourcing from Sri Lanka isn't just a business decision , it's a commitment to quality at the source.

Direct Relationships with Farmers

We don't buy through brokers or commodity traders. Instead, we work directly with a network of smallholder farmers and farming cooperatives across several regions of Sri Lanka.

What this means in practice:

• Fair pricing , Farmers receive a premium above market rate, paid promptly after harvest
• Quality control , We specify harvesting methods, drying times, and grading standards for each crop
• Traceability , Every batch can be traced back to the farm and harvest season
• Long-term partnerships , Many of our farming partners have worked with us since our founding

Direct sourcing eliminates the middlemen who typically squeeze margins for both the farmer and the end customer. It also means we can ensure freshness , our spices spend weeks in the supply chain, not months or years sitting in warehouses.

The Harvesting Process

Each spice follows its own seasonal rhythm.

Ceylon Cinnamon

Our Ceylon Cinnamon comes from the southern coastal region around Galle, where cinnamon has been cultivated for centuries. Skilled peelers , often from families who have practised the craft for generations , strip the inner bark by hand, roll it into delicate quills, and dry it slowly in the shade.

This traditional method preserves the essential oils that give Ceylon cinnamon its distinctive sweet, complex flavour.

Golden Turmeric

Our Golden Turmeric is harvested from farms in the central province. The rhizomes are dug up by hand, washed, boiled, and then sun-dried over several days. Once dried, they're ground in small batches to retain maximum curcumin content and aroma.

We select high-curcumin varieties specifically , not all turmeric is equal, and the curcumin percentage varies significantly between cultivars.

Coconut Products

Sri Lanka's Desiccated Coconut comes from mature coconuts harvested in the coastal lowlands. The white kernel is removed, dried at low temperatures, and finely shredded. This careful process preserves the natural oils and sweet coconut flavour that distinguishes premium desiccated coconut from the dry, flavourless versions found elsewhere.

Quality at Every Stage

From harvest to your kitchen, we maintain quality checks at several critical points:

At the farm , Visual inspection, moisture testing, and grading

At the processing facility , Cleaning, grinding or preparation, and lab testing for contaminants

Before export , Independent third-party testing for heavy metals, pesticides, and microbiological safety

On arrival in the UK , Final quality check, packaging, and date labelling

We refuse batches that don't meet our standards. It happens, and it's part of working with natural agricultural products. But it's a non-negotiable part of our process.

Sustainability and Fair Trade

We believe that sustainable sourcing benefits everyone in the chain , from the environment to the farmer to the end customer. Our approach includes:

• Supporting organic and low-intervention farming methods wherever possible
• Paying above market rates to incentivise quality over volume
• Investing in farmer training on sustainable cultivation and post-harvest handling
• Minimising packaging waste throughout our supply chain

Sri Lankan spice farming is inherently small-scale and traditional, which means it's already more sustainable than industrial monoculture operations. By supporting these farming communities, we help preserve both livelihoods and biodiversity.

From Sri Lanka to Your Kitchen

Our supply chain is deliberately short. Spices are harvested, processed, tested, and shipped to our UK facility within weeks of harvest. They're then packed into airtight jars and dispatched to customers or retail partners promptly.

This matters because spices lose potency over time. The turmeric, cinnamon, and coconut products you buy from Sun & Spice are genuinely fresh , and you can taste the difference.

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Explore our Sri Lankan range: Golden Turmeric, Ceylon Cinnamon, and Desiccated Coconut , sourced with care, delivered fresh.