Organic Cooking Class Sigiriya: Make Sri Lankan Curry

Cook with clay pots and a firewood stove in a village kitchen

An organic cooking class in Sigiriya where you prepare a full Sri Lankan meal from scratch in a local home, learning to make curries, flatbread and pickles using traditional methods and fresh garden ingredients. The class runs three hours with a live English or Arabic-speaking guide. Pickup is included. Vegetarian and vegan versions of all dishes are available.

The experience

You start with a herbal drink (Belimal with Hakuru, made from dried belimal flower and natural palm sugar), then move straight into the kitchen. The guide introduces you to Sri Lanka's core spices: turmeric, cinnamon, moringa and others, explaining what each one does for your body as well as your food. You'll work with clay pots, coconut spoons and a firewood stove, the same tools a village cook uses every day, and learn methods passed down through generations rather than shortcuts.

The dishes you make depend on what's fresh that day, but typically include Parippu (red lentil curry), Pol Sambol (coconut salad), a jackfruit or mango curry, Pol Roti (coconut flatbread), and Brinjal Moju (spicy-sweet eggplant pickle). You'll also prepare steamed rice with traditional accompaniments. Each one teaches you something different about how Sri Lankan cooks balance heat, coconut, spice and acid. When the cooking is done, you sit down and eat everything you made, finishing with Sri Lankan curd, kithul honey and fresh tropical fruit.

Pickup is included, and the class accommodates vegetarian and vegan diets across all dishes. Bottled water and all ingredients and equipment are provided. A live guide speaks English or Arabic throughout.

What’s included

• Pickup from your accommodation.
• Bottled water.
• All cooking ingredients and equipment.
• Full Sri Lankan meal (vegetarian and vegan options available).
• Live guide in English or Arabic.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

AgesAdult (6 to 90 years) · Under 6: can't be booked

GroupUp to 15

Live guideEnglish and Arabic

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 29 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 5 days ago

Good to know

Public transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by TASTY TASKS COOKING CLASS

Is this one for you?Three hours is long enough to learn the techniques and cook several dishes from start to finish, but short enough to leave the rest of your day free for exploring Sigiriya or the surrounding area.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Arabic.

What spices will I learn to use in this cooking class?

Turmeric, cinnamon, moringa and other local spices central to Sri Lankan cooking are introduced at the start of the class, with explanations of both their flavor and their health benefits. You'll use them as you prepare each dish.

Will the class work for vegetarian or vegan diets?

Yes. Vegetarian and vegan versions of all dishes are available, so every meal you prepare can match your diet.

What equipment will I use to cook?

You'll cook with clay pots, coconut spoons and a firewood stove, the traditional village setup. All equipment is provided.

Do I need to arrange my own transport to the class?

No. Pickup is included in the booking, so you don't need to arrange transport separately.

What happens after the cooking is finished?

You sit down and eat the full meal you prepared, which includes rice and curry, fresh tropical fruits, Sri Lankan curd and kithul honey for dessert.