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A few Km Inland of Hikkaduwa. Part time Cinnamon peeling at the rear of small shop by the road side on the way to the Highway. Peelings in front of peeler.
They also sell coconut(Rs 35-40) thambili Rs 30, and other produce.
The stem is peeled; the bark collected into rolls, left to dry in the sun a few hours only, then let to dry within the house for a week.
Rs 1200 per Kg.
But today with tourists a buzz, it is better to sell the land and do tourism. Lodging B & B.
This August the lull in tourist numbers between seasons is not there.
jksw
PS
Cinnamon was very popular in Europe in the Middle Ages. It along with black pepper, cardamom etc were the 'Spices from the East'. The earlier land route over the Middle East by caravens was blocked after the Ottoman Turks became an Empire. A sea route was pioneered by the Portugese, Dutch and later the English.
Cinnamon was used in cooking to hide the rancid taste of meat, which decomposed fast in the tropics. There was no refrigeration available those days.
The Dutch imported labour amounting to more than 30,000 from South India to cultivate their cinnamon plantations. Their descendants now form part of the Sinhalese population. They hold very high positions in present Sri Lanka.
Cinnamon powder mixed with bees honey taken in small quantities on a regular basis over three months, is claimed to alleviate the pain of arthritic joints
Philip G V
